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John Carroll University Athletics

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Gavin Hunter

Softball Preview: Culture Key to Upward Trajectory Heading into NCAC Era

| By: Jack Stephens, Staff Writer

The Blue Streaks are hoping to continue their ascent in the NCAC

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS — It's year two of the Tony Scibelli era, and after doubling their win total from 2024 to 2025, expectations are on the rise for the John Carroll Softball squad. 

The Blue Streaks started 2025 on a blazing winning streak, rattling off six consecutive victories at the Space Coast Springs games to start the year 6-0. The rest of the season would have its ups and downs, but the Blue Streaks ended on a high note with a 9-4 victory over Wilmington. 

"We've bought into our four pillars of culture, respect, positivity, growth and service and it seems like the chemistry on this team is really good," Head Coach Tony Scibelli commented on the improvement of his squad this year.

The top returners for the Blue Streak are a pair of sophomores who had incredible freshman campaigns. Alyssa McPeek and Izzy Coode will lead JCU offensively after combining for 51 hits, 24 RBIs and 10 walks. Both hit for an average above .300, Coode also tallied two home runs and an OPS of .878. 

"Last year's freshman class brought a lot of depth to our program and those two in particular had really successful seasons," Scibelli stated about the impact of his freshman class. "Having experience at the college level is huge, and them being able to have the good year they did last season is only going to help them deal with the ups and downs of a season."

A bigtime key returner for the Blue Streaks is senior catcher, Melissa Smith. The veteran from Williamsville, New York racked up a team-high four home runs, to go along with 20 RBIs, nine walks, 10 doubles, and a .944 OPS, which led the team. Smith also holds the single-season program record for runners caught stealing, with 15 in 2024. 

"She is essentially the quarterback of this team with all of the games she has caught in her career," Coach Scibelli said. "She's got an incredible arm, so base runners know her now, so they aren't trying to steal. She's really important to our culture because she is as driven as anyone I've ever coached."

In the circle, the Blue Streaks lost their leader in innings pitched from a year ago, Danielle Orendi, but returned two arms who both pitched very solid a year ago. Junior Kristin Dems pitched 57.2 innings a year ago, striking out 36, only giving up 32 earned runs for an ERA of 3.88. Dems has proved to have some effective outings, against Rose-Hulman last season, the Mentor native threw seven one-hit scoreless innings, striking out five in the process.

Senior Casey Cash made 15 appearances, 14 out of the bullpen, only allowed 20 earned runs across 30 plus innings, striking out 17. Cash does a good job of avoiding barrels as batters only hit six extra base hits against the Valley City native. 

"We are not entirely sure so far about who is going to fill that role but we have multiple talented arms who have pitched for this program, which is huge," Scibelli on his pitching staff. "In comparison to this time last year, I feel they are all a little sharper and they understand how I work as a pitch caller. So they have big shoes to fill, but we have a couple people who are able to pick up that slack."

This season marks the first for the Blue Streaks in the North Coast Athletic Conference, who proved to be a very strong conference in softball a year ago. Five of the eight teams in the conference finished with a winning record. DePauw won the conference title in a close finish over the top seeded Denison who both finished the regular season 12-2 in conference play. 

"There are some really good teams, so it is not going to be easy," Tony Scibelli when asked about the transition of moving conferences. "We aren't taking anything for granted, but we are looking forward to playing some new teams and some programs that John Carroll hasn't played in a long time."

JCU is in search of their first winning season since 2015, but the Blue Streaks have the pieces and the right leader to make that jump this season. John Carroll will begin their season in Cocoa Beach, Florida for their first eight games. Their first game at Bracken Field will be March 18 against Oswego State. 
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