The Fontbonne University women’s softball, men’s baseball and men’s lacrosse teams have started practice for the 2012 season.
Women’s softball is coming off one of its most successful seasons in program history as they finished 29-10 last season. The Griffins won the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Championship with a 15-1 conference record and went on to win the SLIAC Tournament Championship. Fontbonne advanced to the NCAA Division III National Softball Tournament last season for the fifth time in school history.
This year, Fontbonne softball head coach Bill Rosner has seven women returning from last year’s team, including the 2011 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year Marissa Simon. Top pitching performers Rachel McCarthy and Kourtney VonBehren also return for the 2012 season. The women’s softball team starts the season on March 3 against Millikin University at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.
As the men’s baseball team prepares for the upcoming season, the Griffins have their eyes on qualifying for the SLIAC Tournament for the fourth straight season. Last year, Fontbonne finished with a 18-25 overall record and a 13-11 SLIAC record.
Fontbonne baseball head coach Ryan Good welcomes back four SLIAC All-Conference selections from last year including outfielder Matt Suda who finished second on the team in hits and runs scored and first in RBIs.
The men’s lacrosse team opens its practice with its sights on qualifying for the Midwest Lacrosse Conference Tournament for the first time in school history. Coach Nick Silva’s team is coming off a 5-10 season, which included a 3-5 MLC record.
Travis Peter, Colin Benecke and Adam Walker return to the team this year. Silva’s defense will be anchored by senior Zac Moore and goalie Chad Meurer. The season opens on Feb. 18 when the Griffins host Sewanee University.
View the Griffin team schedules.