The Morrisville softball team will start their season Saturday, March 15 with an away game at Mount Mercy College. The Mustangs played a scrimmage against Hamilton College on Sunday, March 1 and beat the Continentals by a score of 15-3.

This year for spring break the team will be going to Florida to the National Training Center, where they will be playing teams from places like Iowa, Wisconsin, and New Jersey. Head coach Robin Penoyer said the Florida trip will likely prove challenging, but with a few scrimmages under their belt, the team just may be more prepared and have more confidence.

After arriving in Florida on the 14th, the Mustangs will have a couple days to practice and get ready for their games. Before leaving on the 21st to come home for Easter, the Mustangs will have played nine games throughout the week.

"Our leaders will emerge as spring training comes to an end showing us who will lead us the rest of the way throughout our spring schedule," said Penoyer, now in her fifth season with Morrisville.

With last year's team coming in with less than a .500 record, Penoyer said she is looking forward to the upcoming season. She said with the combination of returning players and new recruits, the team definitely has the talent to finish above .500 this year.

According to the Morrisville website, this year's team boasts a single senior, outfielder and shortstop Jill Pedulla from Peru, NY. The squad then has three juniors, six sophomores and seven freshmen for a total of 17 players.

Coach Penoyer had nothing but good things to say about her team. "They are a wonderful group of young ladies," she said, "working hard together to achieve one common goal." That goal, Penoyer said, is to put the best team out on the field each and every day this spring.

"We have returners who are ready to play," said Amanda Cikowski, one of the team's three juniors.

"We have a lot of talent and we are working hard to get wins this season." She added that the team's freshmen have "loads of talent" that the squad is trying to put to good use.

 "I think this team has great potential to be one of the best softball teams to ever step foot on the field at Morrisville," Penoyer said, "and will be the continuing support structure for years."

After a week in sunny Florida and a week of practice at home the Mustangs will have their home opener Friday, March 28 against Fredonia State. Out of 24 total games scheduled for this season, only nine of them will be played at home.

"Make sure that students come out and support us," Cikowski said. "We'll make sure to give them exciting games."