Depending upon how you want to look at it, the glass is either half empty or half full for the Bloomsburg University softball team in 2001.

On one hand, the team returns four starters from a year ago, including All-Americans Erica Miller and Vanessa Sterner, and should once again contend for the PSAC title and a berth in the NCAA playoffs.

On the flip side, the team did lose five starters, including its catcher, second baseman, third baseman, center fielder and one of its top pitchers from last year's team that advanced to the NCAA championship round.

�We have suffered big losses in terms of personnel,� said Jan Hutchinson. �But, our two top hitters in Erica (Miller) and Vanessa (Sterner) are back to lead the team. Plus, we have had a good year recruiting and in the fall some of our other returning players improved a great deal. So despite our losses, we think we have the talent to be back in contention for the top spot in the league and in the region.�

And of course having players like Miller and Sterner back in the lineup give the coach reason for such optimism.

Miller made a mockery of opposing pitching staffs a year ago by hitting .483 with 17 homers and 61 RBI. She broke several school and conference single season and career marks and will approach a few others this year. In one stretch a year ago, Miller had 14 consecutive hits, three shy of the NCAA Division II record. She also had 31 multiple-hit games, 16 multi-rbi games and hit .500 with runners in scoring position (38-76) and .600 with runners on third base and less than two outs (12-20). Miller earned her second straight PSAC Eastern Division Player of the Year award as well as the ECAC Division II South Player of the Year honor.

Sterner was equally as dominant for the Huskies hitting .365 with a team- and conference-high 18 homers and 68 RBI. Sterner was solid under pressure leading the team with 25, two-out, runs batted in.

While it helps that Miller and Sterner are such dominant hitters, the experience gained last year in the NCAA playoffs will go a long way in helping this year's team.

�We had not been to the final round since 1995 and getting there last season showed our team what it takes to be with the best of the NCAA,� said Hutchinson. �That type of experience is something that cannot be taught and I know it will help us when we get into some big games this season.�

INFIELD

Liza Pepper had a solid freshman year for the Huskies after moving from her natural position of second base. Pepper was a second team All-PSAC selection and a member of the NCAA All-Tournament last year and blasted a game-winning homer against West Florida in the NCAA championships. Look for Pepper to see the majority of time at first with Christie McHale and Mylan Le also seeing time there.

At second base, McHale will compete for time with freshman Samantha Basalik with Le backing her up. McHale can play several infield positions and was solid with the bat as a sophomore. Basalik will also see time at second after having a solid fall season.

While Miller will again play shortstop, Sterner, a natural third baseman, will move in from the outfield to man the hot-corner. Sterner is expected to be more valuable in the infield by being vocal and providing solid defense.

OUTFIELD

The outfield will have several new looks with graduation and a shifting of players to new positions. In centerfield, Lisa Mull, a starter in right field for much of the past two years, will move to center and will see time there along with freshman Jessica Shnyder. Mull hit .254 for the Huskies and does have good speed as evidenced by her 5 triples a year ago. Shnyder, a lefty with a good bat, will see also see time in center and left.

Junior Alison Necci and freshman Amanda Phillips will work out in right field. Necci hit .268 a year ago and made some big strides in the fall season. Tricia DePoe will also see time in both right and left.

CATCHER-PITCHER

At catcher the Huskies lost last year's standout Melanie Anderson to a career-ending back injury. Look for two newcomers, Becky Kehler and Kendra Schell to battle for the starting job. Kehler looked good in the fall, while Schell begins her first semester with the program. Both players were all-league selections in high school.

Kerri Cooper will again lead the Huskies' pitching staff. The native of Canada came on strong last year and posted a 27-7 record with a 1.53 ERA. Cooper has worked hard in the off-season to improve her delivery, get faster, while adding another pitch to her repertoire.

Joining Cooper as the Huskies' second pitcher will be freshman Amber Cowher. An all-state performer in high school, Cowher will contrast Cooper with her hard throwing style that helped her set her high school's all-time strikeout record.

�We have a tough schedule down south,� Hutchinson said.. �We have 10 to 14 teams ranked in the top 25 on our schedule down there.

�The PSAC will be tough. Kutztown has a lot of players returning, while Shippensburg is going through a transition with a new coach and some new players. East Stroudsburg returns its entire team from last year while adding a strong pitcher and will also be tough.�