Fischer leads rebuilding Lady Trojans on the softball diamond

For the Weston softball team, this season is best described as a rebuilding one. The Lady Trojans finished with a 6-14 record, but the girls fought through adversity to develop a strong core of players.

Coming off a season in which five senior starters graduated, Weston knew it had a lot of work to do in order to succeed this spring.

"We had a very young and inexperienced team," said Coach Dave Lustberg. "Only six varsity players [four starters] returned from the 2010 team that finished 11-9, and only one of those starters returned to the same position [LiannaHursh at first base]."

As a result, a number of girls switched positions this season. Sophomore Kat Fischer moved from third base last year to pitcher this year, senior captain Becca Schwartz moved from right field to catcher, and senior captain Sammy Fino took over in right. Also, junior KaidyWollman moved from centerfield to second base, only to switch over to shortstop when senior starter Kellie Nalbandian broke her hand six games into the season.

Nine girls were varsity first-timers this year, but the team remained competitive without the experience it had in past seasons. New starters included freshman Shelby Merberg (third base), sophomore Kate Goldberg (center field), and juniors Sami Briggs (left field), Kelsey Sacane (second base), and Sofia Santacaterina (designated hitter).Sacane and classmate Jordan Dunn also pitched at times.

"The team struggled to hit at times with so many first time varsity players, and Fischer was still a young varsity pitcher and will continue to get better," said Lustberg.

Though Fischer was the main Weston pitcher this year, she really earned her stripes at the plate. After an explosive rookie year in 2010, she finished this season with a .545 batting average (BA), 606 on-base percentage (OBP) and 1.091 slugging percentage (SLG), collecting 30 hits, 17 runs, 31 RBI, three doubles, six triples, and five home runs.

"I think I did well this season and lived up to the expectations I had set after my freshman year," said Fischer. "In the beginning of the season, [I just wanted] to do better than last season and be high in the state standings. I was very happy [with my] .545 batting average, compared to last season's .515. The team was supportive throughout the season, which I think was a major component of my success."

Even though Weston scored 15 runs or more in four of its six wins, the team's 5-4 victory over New Milford stood out to Coach Lustberg more than anything else this season. It was the first time Weston had ever won the teams' matchup, and the Lady Trojans fought back from a 0-4 deficit to take it.

"Jordan [Dunn] threw a complete game and Kate [Goldberg] made a game-saving catch with two outs and bases loaded in the sixth inning, and we also got out of a bases loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the seventh," he said.

The team also came close to beating Newtown, a consistently strong team.

"We were leading 6-5 going into the last inning, but Newtown rallied for three runs to win 8-6," said Lustberg.

Fischer, never ceasing to impress, had her best game in a 7-6 extra inning loss to Notre Dame. She hit three home runs, one over each of the outfielders' heads, including a game tying shot in the seventh to send it to extras.

The Lady Trojans were very successful in terms of year-end awards.

Wollman was named the team's Most Valuable Player, finishing the year with a .455 batting average, .531 OBP, 25 hits, 9 walks, 15 runs, 7 RBI, and 7 steals. She was also awarded SWC All Patriot Division honors. Merberg, with her .407 OBP, 11 hits, 12 walks, 15 runs, 9 RBI, and 6 steals, was named varsity Rookie of the Year.

"Shelby had an excellent year for a freshman," said Lustberg.

Fischer finished as the team's Most Outstanding Player, picking up All-SWC and All-State accolades along the way. She had the highest slugging percentage in the state, the second-most homers, and finished among the Connecticut leaders in nearly every other offensive category.

Looking forward to next year, Weston is returning seven starters, including 2012 captains Hursh, Sacane, Santacaterina, and Wollman.

"A win-loss record is irrelevant as long as [the players] are having a good time and learning from [their] mistakes," said Fischer. "With the experience and playing time that everyone has gained this season, we will do a lot better in 2012."