VOORHEESVILLE — The Voorheesville softball team will have some familiar faces in place this season.

All the infield positions will be filled with returning players with the only change being in the pitching circle.

But it is a big change.

Gone is Cyrilla Suker, who was a four-year starter and one of the top pitchers in Section II the past three years. Suker is currently a member of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell softball team.

The Lady Blackbirds do have a talented pitcher, Sarah LaFave, who saw some action on the varsity team last year as a sophomore.
"She will kind of be the catalyst for the team this year," said Voorheesville Coach Matt Fiato. "I think she’ll take some enjoyment and pride stepping into the starter’s role.
"She pitched some last year," Fiato added. "I’m looking for her to rise to the challenge. She had a good off-season and preseason. She added velocity to her fastball."

Also returning for the Blackbirds are four-year players Amanda DeZalia and Brittany Weineinger. DeZalia will play at third base and Weineingar will play in the outfield.

Claire Gravelin will play at first base and, with Weineingar and DeZalia, is one of the team’s three seniors.

Jenna Massaroni will be at second base. Massaroni, a junior, is entering her fourth year on the varsity.

Jillian Blair returns as catcher, a spot she has held for the last two seasons. Brittany Vogel rounds out the infield. She will move to shortstop after playing in the outfield last season.

"Team oriented"
"We have a decent team this year," Fiato said. "We’ve had a great preseason so far and the girls on the team are very motivated and team oriented. It’s great, they have good goals for this season."

New to the varsity team are a bunch of talented players up from the junior varsity.

Rebekkah Coons, Brittany Logan, Brittany Holcomb, and Jackie Moreau are the newcomers.
"They were all strong j.v. players," Fiato said.

Fiato is confident in his on field line-up.
"The infield is very solid," the coach said. "We only made one change from last year. Pitching and catching will be strong. The outfield will be solid as well. We’ll be a hard team to beat.
"And hitting," Fiato added. "This team, as a group, is one of the better hitting teams in the past few years. We also have speed and athleticism, especially on the bases. That will help score runs."

Fiato said the Colonial Council will be tough, as usual.
"Mechanicville won the state title in Class C and they moved up to the B’s," he said. "So they can get us in two spots. And Broadalbin-Perth moved into the Colonial and they went to the state semifinals in Class B last year. We battled them in sectional semis. Both of those teams return key starters.
"But we have a lot of key starters," Fiato added. "We’ll be okay if we come to play evryday. We are looking for the new players to step in right away and produce for us."

The Blackbirds have meshed together and look ready to be competitive for the season."The biggest thing this season," Fiato said, "is if this group plays and acts like a team. They enjoy being out here together."