JoAnne Graf Classic Game Notes

FARMVILLE, Va. – Opening day looms, and Longwood softball finally takes the field this week after months of preparation. The Lancers bring back plenty of battle-tested veterans for a team that advanced all the way to the Big South Championship game in 2022 after playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country.

Under the leadership of head coach Dr. Megan Brown, now entering her third year at the helm of the program, the Lancers are primed for another great season at 'The Farm'.

After a rigorous regular season schedule that saw Longwood face nine Power 5 schools, the Lancers posted their best team batting average since 2013 (.282). Longwood recorded 441 hits (148 more from the previous year), 36 home runs, allowed 44 fewer runs from the year prior and had the top offense in the conference.

"Last year's team made some huge strides offensively, defensively, and in the circle," Dr. Brown said. "Continuing to strengthen the foundation of our team is so important, because without a strong foundation, you're not going to be able to build higher and go farther."

Eleven players return from a team that battled through the lower bracket of the Big South Tournament, coming up one game short of the program's sixth Big South title.

"We are excited to have strong leaders returning for us this year," said Dr. Brown. "They have come back this year hungry to pick up where they left off last year and are ready to accept the challenge of a new season. They are kind and wise mentors to our younger players and we look forward to seeing them continue to chase excellence."


In the lineup, Longwood brings back key contributors from last year's squad that won a share of the Big South regular season title. Jaden Pone, the reigning Big South Freshman of the Year, returns for a follow-up campaign after batting for a .414 average (.510 in conference). Second-Team All-Big South selection Kayley DeVivi comes back to the Longwood lineup off the heels of a dominant Big South Tournament performance that saw her earn Big South All-Tournament Team honors. Senior shortstop Lauren Taylor also returns as a stalwart in the middle of the infield.

"Lauren Taylor and Jaden Pone have worked really hard up the middle, making sure that they're strong defensively as well as their offensive strengths that they've been pushing towards," said Dr. Brown.

"Kelly Park has continued to grow in different roles within our team. She saw some time last year and has continued to grow defensively as well as offensively," said Dr. Brown. "Korynna Anderson is going to do the same. She's continued to build. Emily Vinson, Lauren Fox, and Kayley DeVivi all came back with a lot of purpose and to be intentional with what they were doing and how they want to help grow our team."

On the pitching staff, Brown trusts returners Er'ron Burton, Reggie Kanagawa and Leigha Hill to pick up where Sydney Backstrom left off. Backstrom, who graduated last May, became the latest in a long line of dominant hurlers in the circle for Longwood, and she etched her name in the Lancer record books as the career and single season leader in strikeouts. Now, Burton, Kanagawa and Hill can build on a staff ERA that was second in conference games a season ago.

Burton, a sophomore, came on strong down the stretch last year. She worked her way up to the #2 spot in the rotation and notched a solid 2.81 ERA with 78 strikeouts and a 5-4 record. As a freshman, she dominated Presbyterian with 11 strikeouts in an elimination game in the Big South Tournament.

Kanagawa battled through an injury last season and still struck out 42 batters. Hill has provided a solid option when called upon and has a pair of saves in her career.

"Every returner we have came back ready to go and is growing," said Dr. Brown. "Having Er'ron Burton, Reggie Kanagawa and Leigha Hill return for our pitching staff, they all worked really hard and came back better than they left which is encouraging."

The returners aren't alone, as a talented group of newcomers joined the fold to foster strong competition in the fall that has helped elevate the level of the team. Transfers Peyton Coleman (East Tennessee State) and Rileigh De Weese (UConn) along with freshmen Maggie Chapin, Sophia Knock, Kate Westmiller, Maryanna Guy and Abby Wyatt round out the rest of Longwood's roster in 2023.

"Peyton and Rileigh came in hungry to make an impact as transfers, and have done that. They came in and it's almost like they've always been here," said Dr. Brown. "They fit really well with our team and come with a great sense of belonging with us. They've both grown and bought into what we do offensively and defensively.

"Our freshmen came in hungry and to play a tough schedule. One of the reasons they came to Longwood was to play a top schedule against really good teams, and they have bought into what we're doing and each of them has grown on and off the field."

The tough schedules are a feature, not a bug, in her time at the helm of Longwood softball.

Longwood's non-conference opponents include eight teams that received votes or are ranked in the NFCA Top 25, including the unanimous No. 1 and defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners and No. 5 Florida State Seminoles.

"Players are excited for that level, not being content with where we are. They want to continue to grow and challenge their skills against the best in the country," said Dr. Brown. "When you approach difficulties with optimism and excitement, it can go a really long way. That's what our team is embracing, the grind and the difficult schedule…let's go play the best in the country and see where we line up, and that's an exciting time for them."

The Lancers begin their season on the road this weekend at the JoAnne Graf Classic in Tallahassee, Florida hosted by Florida State. They play five games over three days to kick off the 2023 campaign.

They will face the Purdue Boilermakers and No. 5 FSU on Friday followed by a tilt against Lipscomb and rematches with both Purdue and FSU on Saturday and Sunday. Longwood's home opener will be on Sunday, Feb. 26^th as the team hosts St. John's University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
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