With nearly an entire roster returning from a season ago, Head Coach Niki Cognigni and the Pitt-Johnstown softball team look to continue to make positive strides in the program's third year as the 2017 season is set to kick-off with the annual trip to Florida.

Pitt-Johnstown, coming off of a 10-23 overall record and 7-13 mark in the PSAC Central Division in 2016, is scheduled to play 10 games in Clermont, Fla., beginning on Sunday against Nyack (NY) College and Winona State (MN) University on Sunday.  The team will make its 2017 home debut with a non-conference doubleheader against Shippensburg University at the V.E. Complex on March 18.
        
Coach Cognigni, who took over the program last year, returns both of the team's top-pitchers as well as the bulk of the starting line-up.
        
In the circle, Pitt-Johnstown will rely on junior right-handers Melissa Wagner and Emily Moore.  Wagner and Moore combined to pitch every inning last season and combined to split the 10 victories.  Wagner led the team with 143 innings-pitched and 122 strikeouts, while Moore tossed 73 innings and fanned 22.
        
All nine position players also return, including 2016 All-PSAC Central selection Morgan Cannin, who led Pitt-Johnstown in hits (34), at-bats (109), runs (17), stolen bases (4), and walks (12) during the 2016 season.  Cannin also finished her first collegiate season ranked second on the team in batting average (.312), total bases (39), and on-base percentage (.380).
        
Joining Cannin in the outfield are returning starters Marley Elbin and Ashley Shor.  Elbin led Pitt-Johnstown with a .317 batting average.  She also had three doubles, a triple and eight RBI.  Shor hit .266 with a double and eight RBI as a true freshman.  Lyndsey Weiser also returns in the outfield after an injury shortened her junior season.  Weiser shared time in the outfield a year ago and is expected to contribute again this season.
        
In the infield, Amber Maurer (.164/3 2B/9 RBI) returns to second base, and McKenna Kern is expected to be the starter at shortstop (.151/1 2B/8 RBI).  Third baseman Montana Mang was third in hitting at .286 and led Pitt-Johnstown with eight doubles and 15 RBI, while first baseman Taylor Hoover belted a team-best three homeruns and drove in a dozen runs.
        
Catchers Amanda O'Toole and Kelsey Feeney also return for Coach Cognigni.  The duo combined for a pair of doubles, one triple, and eight RBI platooning behind the plate.
        
Pitt-Johnstown, picked by the league's coaches to finish fifth in the PSAC Central Division in 2017, continues to move in a positive direction under Coach Cognigni.  With one more year of experience under their belts, this year's team will look to take the next step and earn its first berth in the annual PSAC post-season tournament.