Less than
Two weeks away: 
Florida sunshine! 

Start packing. It is less than two weeks away. The University of North Florida (UNF), Jacksonville, Florida, hosts the Delaware State Hornets, Princeton and St. Bonaventure in the Third Annual Osprey Invitational.  Each team plays two games on both Friday and Saturday, with Saturday's second game being seeded. On Sunday, a consolation game and a championship game takes place.
  
Third Annual Osprey Invitational
March 1-3, 2013 - UNF Softball Complex
 

 

Friday, March 1

UNF softball complex

10:00 a.m. - St. Bonaventure vs. Princeton
12:30 p.m. - Delaware State Hornets 
                        vs. St. Bonaventure

3:00 p.m. - Princeton vs. UNF
5:30 p.m. - UNF vs. Delaware State Hornets



Saturday, March 2

10 a.m. - Delaware State Hornets vs. Princeton

12:30 p.m. - UNF vs. St. Bonaventure
3:00 p.m. - No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed  
5:30 p.m. - No. 1 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed 

Sunday, March 3

10:00 a.m. - Consolation Game
12:30 p.m. - Championship Game

Scrimmage: 2/ 15/ 2013
Delaware State Hornets vs.
Wesley College Wolverines

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Season opens in Norfolk,
next weekend, Feb 23, 24

The 2013 Delaware State University Hornets' season opens in eight days with four weekend games, Saturday & Sunday, February 23 & 24. First pitch will be tossed at the NSU Spartan Clash Tournament on the Norfolk State University softball field on the south side of the campus (700 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA).

Game times are...

Saturday, Feb. 23 
9 a.m. Delaware State Hornets vs. Monmouth University Hawks 
1 p.m. Delaware State Hornets vs. Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights

Sunday, Feb. 24 
9 a.m. Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights vs. Delaware State Hornets 
11 a.m. Monmouth University Hawks vs. Delaware State Hornets
 
Then, the following weekend, it's the Third Annual Osprey Invitational, March 1-3, in Jacksonville, Florida!
 

Head Coach Janice Savage

Three high school standouts 
commit early to the Hornets

"This is a very exciting time for the Delaware State softball program," declares Head Coach Janice Savage.

It definitely is that -- and more!  The team is forecast to win the MEAC Northern Division championship. It is loaded with returning and new freshman talent. Plus, early signings promise great success for the future.

Meet three new Hornets for next year's 2014 season...

1. “EXTREMELY TALENTED”: Pitcher Tara Tursellino (Rancho Verde, Cal.), an ESPN All-America nominee, MVP of Inland Valley (Cal.) League and First Team All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) as a junior.

Tara Tursellino

Tara recorded 171 strikeouts in 14 league games and ranked ninth among California high school players with 278 strikeouts.

"Tara is an extremely talented pitcher who comes from tremendous high school and summer ball programs," Savage said.

2. “ OUTSTANDING COMPLEMENT”: Pitcher Vanessa Ciacatto (La Habra, Cal.) who helped lead La Habra to three Freeway League (Cal.) championships (2012-12).

In 2012, she led the league in every major pitching category, posting a 22-7 overall record with 142 strikeouts and 2.21 earned run average.

"Vanessa should be an outstanding complement to our pitching staff," said Savage. 

"She is a hard worker who continues to improve. I'm really excited to see the growth she makes this season."


3. “FIRE AND EXCITEMENT": Infielder/utility Danielle Velez (Ayala, Cal.), a four-year varsity letter winner, is a 2012 All-Sierra League (Cal.) Second Team selection.

In 2010, she helped lead her team to a CIF championship and fourth place finish in Premier Girls Fastpitch.

"Dani is a scrappy player who seems to always get on base. She has a tremendous work ethic and great heart. I can't wait for her to bring the fire and excitement she has about the game of softball to our team,” Savage said.

“Not only are these newcomers talented on the field, but solid in the classroom and very hard workers” Savage added.

CLICK HERE for the full story.

Rochelle Sablay

                                                                                          ____________________

Committed players to reunite with 
travel ball friends as 2014 Hornets

Hornet freshman #22 Rochelle Sablay (catcher, infielder/ undeclared) and Vanessa Ciacatto,  incoming pitcher for the 2014 season, played the game together last summer as SoCal Wicked 18 Gold teammates.

Wicked is a class "A" fastpitch softball organization, based out of La Habra, California. 

Chloe Oro (left) & Jordan Stamps (right)

Meanwhile, both Hornets' freshmen #15 Chloe Oro (utility/ sociology major) and #5 Jordan Stamps (utility/ movement science major) will teamed up next year with infielder/utility Danielle Velez. The trio have played together on the club ball circuit with the SoCal Strikkers 18 Gold.

Strikkers are a showcase fastpitch softball team, based out of Westminster, California.

  LOVE SOFTBALL. Today. Everyday...

DE, MD, NY players

round out 2013 roster

West Coast provides plenty of talent for the DSU Lady Hornets, but the East Coast also will more than make their presence known in this certain to be exciting upcoming 2013 season! Many are right from the local Delaware diamonds, too. Five are pictured here.

Roots in MD/ DE...

#17 Nkili Matthews (bottom left) comes from Waldorf, MD, just across the bay. She is a Freshman/ utility, majoring in Physics who plans to pursue a bio-engineering career ... #8 Samantha Gross (top left) with her hometown of Glasgow, DE, is a Junior/ infielder, pitcher, majoring in Mathematics Education ... #10 Kelsey Doherty (bottom right) hails from Harbeson, DE. She is a Sophomore/ utility, majoring in Elementary Special Education with a minor in coaching ... #24 Jennifer Fischbach, Freshman/ utility, arrives from across town in nearby Camden, DE ... #18 Ashley Bennett, Freshman/ infielder calls Delmar, DE, home.

New York contingent...

#23 Kelsey Lewis (top right) travels back to Mt. Sinai, NY, whenever she can catch a school break. She is a Senior/ infielder, majoring in Early Childhood Education ... #2 Sandy Hawthorne is a Smithtown, NY, resident. She is a Freshman/ utility ... #6 Nicole Gazzolla is of Coram, NY. She is a Freshman/ utility.

Jennifer Fischbach connects with a pitch during last 2012 fall season

A West Coast crew steps

to the Hornet Nest's plate

There are seven Californians on the 2013 DSU Lady Hornet's roster this year. Five of the seven pictured here are Freshman.

They will make their first appearance in a home game at the Hornet's Nest softball field, Dover, DE, after a long trip south, when Delaware State University takes on North Carolina Central, Thursday, March 14.

These players from the pacific time zone are...

#22 Rochelle Sablay (top left) from La Mirada, Freshman/ catcher, infielder, is an Undeclared major ... #5 Jordan Stamps (top center) from Torrence, Freshman/ utility, is a Movement Science major .... #3 Stephanie Martello (top right) from Oxnard, Freshman/ infield, is a Psychology major ... #16 Miranda Pedersen from Segundo (bottom left), Freshman/ first base, is an Undeclared major ... #15 Chloe Oro from San Pedro (bottom center), Freshman/ utility, is a Sociology major ... #7 Stephanie Sarris from Rohnert Park (bottom right), Junior/ pitcher, is an English Education major ...

Rachel Meagley

Not pictured is #1 Jessica Madrid from Santa Ana, Freshman/ outfielder.

Not to be forgotten, there's also #4 Rachel Meagley, a Junior/ pitcher who hails from Spokane, Washington.

__________________

CLICK HERE for related story about three early California commitments for the 2014 season.

HORNETS PICKED TO REPEAT AS

MEAC NORTH SOFTBALL CHAMPS

Stephanie Martello

The Delaware State University Hornets are picked to win their second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division championship during the 2013 season, according to a poll of league head coaches and sports information representatives.

The 2013 Hornets will feature 11 newcomers and just four key players from last year's squad. 

Topping the list of DSU returners is infielder Stephanie Martello (jr.; Oxnard, Cal.), who batted .339 with team highs of five home runs and 32 runs batted in last season. Delaware State's top returning pitcher is Stephanie Sarris (jr.; Rohnert Park, Cal.). Sarris posted an 8-5 won-loss record and 2.37 earned run average in 2012.

Stephanie Sarris

SEASON OPENS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23

Delaware State opens the 2013 softball season on Saturday, Feb. 23 in Norfolk, Va. The Hornets begin the season against Monmouth (N.J.) in the Norfolk State Invitational.

The home opener is Thursday, Mar. 14 against North Carolina Central.

CLICK HERE for the FULL STORY at DSU's softball pages. 

CLICK HERE for the MEAC announcement.

Stephanie Martello

12 DAYS !!

The season is right around the corner ! Everybody has passed their conditioning test and working hard in practice, ready to play. Yesterday we had a successful prospect camp, even with the blizzard that hit the upper east coast. The MEAC preseason picks are in and Delaware State is picked to win the MEAC Northern Division. The team is ready and eager to play in 2 weeks when we head down to Norfolk, VA to start of the season. Along with working hard on the feild the team is preparing for midterms that are coming up this week. Please come out and suport the Lady Hornets this season as we work and play hard for  the MEAC Championship.

It's practice time!

Hornets working hard!

Jessica 

Rochelle

Sarris and Meagley

Merry Christmas

The DSU softball team wants to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year. We are getting closer and closer to the beginning of the season!

Social Media

Follow us on Twitter @ Delstatesb

Add us on Facebook Dsu Sb

Like our fan page on Facebook DSU Softball

Follow us on Instagram @ Delstatesoftball13

Ugly Sweater Party

The DSU softball team had our annual Christmas Party and the theme you ask......Ugly Sweaters!

Fun at the Equestrian Barn

The Equestrian invited the DSU softball and Lacrosse team to their barn to get to experience the typical day of being a part of the Equestrian team. 

Bell Ringing

Thanks to the Salvation Army for letting us be a part of helping out by bell ringing. The girls really enjoyed it! Tis the season for giving back

One Hornet Nation

The Softball team joined forces with the Lacrosse team with efforts to make each other better.  Both teams worked out together and did team building activities. It’s all about supporting one another here at DSU!

2 Sport Athletes

The Delaware State Softball team competed in their Cross Country meet on Sept. 7th. All the girls had alot fun. They worked very hard and almost scored points for DSU. Keep up the hard work ladies!!!

Fall Ball Updates

The Lady Hornet’s first fall ball games were on Saturday October 6^th.  The first game was against Coppin State. The score was DSU 9 Coppin State 2 and the second game was against the Community College of Baltimore County. The score was DSU12 CCBC 1.  This was a good first showing for the lady hornets and we are ready to get back to work because there is always room for improvement.  The next fall games are scheduled for this Thursday October 11^th games at 1 and 3pm.  And our last games for this fall will be at the University of MD on Saturday the 13^th 10am & 4:30pm and on Sunday the 14^th 10am & 2pm.

DSU Softball Camp

The Delaware State University Softball team hosts a free camp opened to all ages at the Hornet’s nest September 22nd.  There were 58 campers that participated in the camp. This was a great turnout for our very first.  The camp included instruction from all the aspects of the game including hitting, fielding, and pitching.  There were three groups, infielders, outfielders and pitchers and catchers.  Each group had about 45 minutes of instruction and drills about defense and offense. The campers also went on a tour around Delaware State's beautiful campus.  There was also a Q&A time at the end of the camp for the campers and parents to ask questions.  We would like to take the time to thank everyone who came to the camp and we look forward to seeing all of you guys at our games. Go State!