NEWARK, NJ – This is the season that third-year head coach Patty Clarke expects to start seeing the fruits of her recruiting and coaching labor in the development of the Rutgers-Newark Softball team.

The Scarlet Raiders open their season on Saturday against the University of St. Francis in the Rebel Games in Kissimmee, Florida, with just six letterwinners returning from last season's 5-31 club. Clarke expects an infusion of young talent to produce immediate results in the 8-game stint before the team returns to Newark.

“There are so many unanswered questions with such a new group,” Clarke said. “They have a great chemistry and everyone has stepped up and worked extremely hard this preseason. This team is inspiring, and I hope it will set the tone for future teams and create a legacy of leadership and success.”

Junior outfielder Jessica Zelaya, junior third baseman Ashley Angeli, junior second baseman Emily Ibarra and sophomore shortstop Tina Aita return to starting slots while senior Amber Affholter moves to her natural position behind the plate after having pitched for the Raiders last season.

Rookies will have a tremendous impact on the squad starting with pitchers Angela Riscinti and Samantha Veneziano shouldering starting duty.

OUTFIELDERS
The speedy Zelaya hit .360, drove in 14 runs and stole four bases in five attempts in her second season as the starting centerfielder, but she is the only veteran performer in the outfield. Senior reserve Jackie Guas will compete for playing time with rookies Nicole Odell, Quiana Gleaves and, when she's not pitching, Riscinti.

INFIELDERS
Angeli and Ibarra are in their third seasons in the starting lineup while Aita started at shortstop in every game as a freshman. Affholter, an exceptional all-around player, could also see some time at short. Freshman Monica Liotto, who is also a catcher, is slated to give Angeli competition in the hot corner. Ibarra hit .256 as a sophomore while Angeli turned in a team-high 95 assists. Aita posted team highs of 17 RBIs and three home runs.

Monica Bagan and Veneziano are penciled in at first base. Bagan was a three-sport letterwinner at Wallington High School.

CATCHERS
Affholter, who was a starting catcher at Division I Rider University to begin her collegiate career, is slated to get back behind the dish as a senior with Liotto also in the mix. Affholter hit .254 with eight RBIs while tying for the team lead in runs scored with 15 in her first season in Scarlet & Black.

PITCHERS
Riscinti, an All-Union County pitcher at Linden High School, and Veneziano, a second-team All-BCSL pitcher and first team all-league infielder at North Arlington High School, constitute a major upgrade at the key position.

COACHING STAFF
Assistant coach Jackie Davis and graduate intern Kayla Crager have proven a tremendous addition to Clarke's team. Davis, an outstanding catcher at Post University, and Crager, an outstanding infielder at Defiance College, bring energy, playing experience and enthusiasm to their tasks.

THE SCHEDULE
After the 8-game Florida visit, the Scarlet Raiders prepare for the always rugged New Jersey Athletic Conference slate with doubleheaders against Brooklyn, Baruch, Wells and Stevens. The first three twinbills will be played on Alunmi Field.

The NJAC slate gets underway with a road trip to Richard Stockton on April 3. Picked to finish last in the NJAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll, the Raiders are hoping to prove the skeptics wrong.