Syracuse held the lead over South Florida in its last game of the 2009 season for the majority of the matchup. The chance to advance in the Big East tournament was within reach. But in the span of a few innings, the Orange went from second-round shoe-ins to early round exits.

‘We’re not too happy with that one, still,’ sophomore infielder Steph Watts said. ‘It left a bitter taste in our mouth, and we’re definitely not going to let that happen again.

With the start of the 2010 season, the Syracuse women’s softball team (2-3) will look to heal the bitter sting of agonizing defeat. The Orange has several pieces in place, including 2009’s Big East Rookie of the Year in pitcher Jenna Caira, to remove the stain of last season’s finale.

Despite the presence of several seniors last season, Syracuse’s youth and inexperience caught up to the team during its biggest game of the year. Now, 2009’s stellar freshman class returns to lead the way in hopes of reaching the next level.

Most importantly for the Orange, Caira returns for her sophomore season. In 2009, Caira posted 16 wins, 192 strikeouts and a 2.33 ERA in 186.1 innings. She also pitched 16 complete games, including six shutouts and one no-hitter.

‘It was a definite surprise, to be honest,’ Caira said of winning the award. ‘Last year we set goals and we did accomplish them, as did I personally. But I’m going to look at this year as not looking in the past, but looking in the future and not just holding that award.’

In her second season, the hurler will be looked upon to be a leader for a Syracuse squad ltrying to take the next step. After last season abruptly came to an end, SU is looking to have the motivation to get it done.

After earning significant play time last season and eventually becoming the ace of the pitching staff, Caira now knows what it means to play in high-pressure situations. And she appears ready. Caira said she will try to incorporate the rise ball, a pitch she has been perfecting for a year, into her arsenal this season.

While Caira will anchor the pitching staff, a newcomer promises to provide a spark to the Syracuse offense. Lisaira Daniels, a sophomore transfer who played for Georgia last season, came to SU during the offseason.

Daniels started 53 games for the Bulldogs, who advanced to the Women’s College World Series last season. She batted .333 in that series. This season, the players are excited to have someone with championship-level experience on their side.

‘She’s already taken all the outfielders underneath her wing,’ Watts said. ‘She’s taught them everything she knows. She has a lot of experience, so it’s a great contribution to the team.’

As for Watts herself, she said her main contribution to the team is to lead by example. She will also have to lead on the field and at the plate.

Syracuse’s two major offensive powerhouses from last season, Amy Kelley and Jamie Kelling, are no longer with the team, but Watts certainly has the ability to fill their shoes. The sophomore batted .318 last season with seven home runs and 22 RBIs. She also led the team with 36 walks and 28 steals.

Despite the losses of the two key seniors, Syracuse is more prepared to make a deep postseason run this year. The leadership of Watts, the ability of Caira and the big-game experience of Daniels will all be instrumental in pushing Syracuse through the ceiling that the squad has reached each of the past two past seasons.

The talent for Syracuse has been present for the past few years, but the intangible element that could propel Syracuse into the spotlight hasn’t manifested. Caira, Watts and Daniels each have a year of experience under their belts to go along with their natural talents.

And that talent will be tested early and often. The Orange will need peak production from its major players this season because the Orange’s schedule provides no relief whatsoever. Eleven of Syracuse’s opponents are in the RPI top 50. Seven of SU’s nonconference opponents are currently ranked in the Top 25.

The task may be daunting, but Syracuse head coach Leigh Ross believes her team will be ready.

‘I think we just need to expect that we can play at that level,’ Ross said. ‘Playing those opponents, it’s all about the day. It’s all about one hit or one pitch. We’ll be in every game. We’ve got the pitching and the defense so we can stay in every game. The win, that’s the part where we don’t know quite now whether we’re going to win the game or not.’

The Orange’s grueling nonconference schedule could prove to benefit the team by the latter half of the season. If Syracuse hopes to take down Big East powerhouses like Louisville, and ultimately dethrone DePaul, it must use the experience gained from playing national title contenders early in the season.

And an integral part of that plan will be the variable that is Daniels’ experience.

‘The more you see it, the less afraid you are of playing that level,’ Ross said. ‘Being in the SEC last year, she’s faced real tough competition. Seeing it day in and day out, that helps. The more you see it, the more used to it you are. It doesn’t seem as impossible.’

If the team consistently fires on all cylinders throughout the season, ‘impossible’ will be a word that will be used less and less when referring to the 2010 Syracuse team.

But for now, the thought of the loss to USF at the end of last season still lights a fire in the team’s heart.

‘A good chunk of us made a promise to ourselves,’ Caira said. ‘We will never let that happen again. We know what that feels like, and we don’t want to experience that.’

azmeola@syr.edu

Published on February 16, 2010 at 12:00 pm