Softball | 2/25/2016 10:00:00 AM

Romeoville, Ill. - If the Lewis University softball team learned anything from the 2015 season is that pressure is a part of the process.

The Flyers, after all, rattled off four victories in the final regular-season weekend, including two walk-off wins, to avoid missing their first Great Lakes Valley Conference in school-history.

They proceeded to win two games in the conference tournament, including a victory over No. 13 Southern Indiana, before bowing out to eventual Super Regional finalists Missouri-St. Louis and Indianapolis.

"What we were able to accomplish at the end of last season was amazing," Lewis head softball coach Becky Pearl said.  "It was so exciting to see that and to then take it up another notch for the GLVC Tournament gives me chills."

With a majority of her 2015 roster coming back this season, the second-year head coach believes that the Flyers are capable of competing with any team in the GLVC.

"We know what it takes to be successful in this conference," Pearl said. "If we come together as a team, there is no limit as to what we are capable of."

Pearl brings back a squad that had eight different position players net at least 20 starts and returns senior pitcher/designated player Ali Brems (Kenosha, Wis./Harborside) to the line-up after missing the 2015 season due to injury.

Brems was an All-GLVC East Second Team selection in 2014 after batting .288 with three homers and 25 RBI. She is an equally adept pitcher, as she owns 29 victories, including 296 strikeouts in three seasons.

"Ali is very excited to play softball after (missing) last year," Pearl said. "She's a gamer and a great competitor.

"She definitely takes it to the next level when she's playing."

Pearl believes that she is a valuable mentor to junior pitcher Lainie Schweickert (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy). As a sophomore in 2015, Schweickert went 10-9  with 121 strikeouts, but was plagued by 102 walks.  

"Lainie loves to pitch outside, but if she throws more inside, she's unstoppable," Pearl said. "She's throwing with more speed this year, and will be focusing on her location."

Pearl will also count on freshmen hurlers Paige Fossey (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) and Dara Sanders (Crestwood, Ill./Mother McAuley) to take the load off of both Brems and Schweickert.

Lewis returns All-GLVC Third Team selection Carly Jaworski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont). Jaworski, a junior shortstop, has started in all 95 games that she has appeared in and owns a .330 career batting average with 11 home runs and 60 RBI.

"Carly is one of our most consistent performers," Pearl said. "She leads by example and gets the job done."

Pearl has her pick of several different options to fill in at second base and third base, including senior Frankie Castagna (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle), junior Carolyn Nojiri (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North), sophomores Cori Reynolds (Lansing, Ill./TF South) and Emily Espinosa (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech); or freshman Jessica Lofthouse (Oswego, Ill./Oswego).

Reynolds could also compete for time at first base with freshman Carley Maupin (Peotone, Ill./Peotone), while Lofthouse and Nojiri could see time in the outfield as well.   

Lofthouse and Nojiri are among a gluttony of outfielders that Pearl has the luxury to choose from, including sophomores Kaylee Prieto (Chicago, Ill./Marist) and Jenna Cairo (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick). Both hit .290 in their rookie seasons with the Flyers and started a combined 75 games.

Senior Nicole Kappelman (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central), junior Dani Knaak (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), sophomore Alise Perna (Naperville, Ill./Metea Valley) and freshman Lauren Brennan (Cantonment, Fla./J.M. Tate) are jockeying for time in the outfield as well, while three-year starter Brittany Russell (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East) has an extensive background shagging fly balls. Russell is a career .321 hitter and has appeared in 108 games for the Flyers.

"You can't deny Brittany's bat," Pearl said. "She puts the bat on the ball and gets things through for us."

Russell spent most of 2015 splitting time between designated player and catcher with sophomore Sarah DeMasi (Lockport, Ill./Lockport). As a rookie, DeMasi batted .260 for the Flyers and was second on the team in doubles with nine.  

"Sarah is stronger this year and if she brings that extra strength along with her confidence, she has the ability to have a very successful season," Pearl said.

Freshman Angie Giancarlo (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) is also competing for time at catcher for the Flyers.

This kind of roster flexibility allows Pearl the ability to tinker with her line-up and play the 'hot hand' without sacrificing defense.

"We have a lot of talent and I wish there were 21 different positions on the softball field," Pearl said. "We are two-deep at every position and everyone is working their tails off to grab that one spot."

All that talent aside, Pearl knows that a winning mentality could be the difference in the Flyers' season in 2016.  

"We're entirely capable of winning our league, but we have to believe that we are capable," Pearl said. "If the end of last season is any indicator, then we are in store for an exciting 2016."