Four years ago, 11 players stepped onto the newly constructed Syracuse Softball Stadium with the dream of starting a competitive Big East softball program at Syracuse.

Now, after several graduations, injuries and transfers, only five of those players remain — pitcher Tara DiMaggio, outfielders Kristen Collins and Christina Holowich, designated player Julie Dunn and second baseman Rachel Park. Except for Park, who redshirted her sophomore year, all will graduate in June.

Despite SU’s 12-20 mark heading into this afternoon’s home doubleheader against Cornell (24-6, 7-3 Ivy League) at 3:30, the five Orangewomen have lived that dream — and more — at SU.

When Syracuse head coach Mary Jo Firnbach began making phone calls and home visits for recruiting, she found herself in an unusual position.

‘It was difficult because there were no players here for them to hang out with,’ Firnbach said. ‘I was kind of a teammate and coaching personality at the same time.’

Firnbach’s strategy worked. First, she signed DiMaggio, who has served as the pitching staff’s backbone during the last four seasons with a 1.82 career ERA.

‘She’s very competitive and a perfectionist,’ Firnbach said. ‘She has realized that hitting your spots is the most important thing. She pitches to hitters’ weaknesses.’

One of Firnbach’s top recruiting priorities was finding athletic and academic high achievers. She had limited athletic aid to give and was forced to find players who would also receive academic aid.

Park and Dunn have spent every semester at SU on the athletic director’s honor roll for having a grade-point average greater than a 3.0, a level which Firnbach insists the Orangewomen must meet as a team. The other three seniors have also seen time on the honor roll.

‘You’re here as a student first before an athlete,” Dunn said. “Coach has always been very flexible with practice.’

Firnbach recognizes the challenges her players face, especially the seniors who are pushing to graduate. The players are in various schools, and each has a different schedule. Dunn is in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Collins is an engineering major.

DiMaggio’s schedule has perhaps been the most challenging. She is in the communications design program, which requires several lengthy studio classes. Sometimes she misses practices and even arrives late to games.

‘Tara’s studios have forced us to arrange separate flights for her to games at times,’ Firnbach said. ‘Kristen takes 18 credits a semester. It’s hard to be a student-athlete.’

Despite its demanding academic schedules, the fivesome led the Orangewomen to the Big East tournament last season in SU’s third year in existence. That run set high expectations — expectations that the team has failed to live up to this year.

‘Last year we were so underrated,’ Holowich said. ‘It was fun showing teams not to underestimate us.’

A 12-1 record last fall season — which included a 6-4 win over 2002 College World Series-participant Michigan — set the bar even higher. Before the season-opening tournament at UNLV, several Orangewomen talked of a trip to the NCAA Regionals.

‘It’s hard to go out knowing you had so much potential and not realizing it,’ Dunn said. ‘We haven’t shown people what we’re capable of.’

Said Park: ‘It’s a confusing disappointment. You ask yourself why we messed up or didn’t jell sooner.’

Even with this year’s disappointment, the five have grown close and said they fight like a family.

The group affectionately calls Holowich Chip, a nickname she picked up in high school. Park and Holowich live together and have a running joke that whoever has the most money in 10 years will buy the other an ‘ugly Syracuse helmet mailbox.’ Park described several instances when her southern background caused her some funny run-ins here in the North.

‘Freshman year I called a professor ‘sir,’ and he gave me a look like I shot him,’ Park said. ‘I get accent jokes all the time. The first time it snowed I didn’t go to class.’

Now, as the original Orangewomen get set to move on, they leave the team to Park and a group of overachieving freshmen. Next fall will be the first time Park takes the field for SU without the other four.

‘They all got me through my injury sophomore year,’ said Park, who blew out her Achilles tendon. ‘It’s going to be weird not having them there. It will be unique and different.’

Freshmen Alexis Switenko, Jennifer Orpitelli and Cassie Morales have all contributed already and should continue to do so next year. Orpitelli is second on the team with a .380 average. Switenko leads SU with eight home runs. Morales has contributed several game-winning hits.

‘The freshmen are very focused, enthusiastic and independent,’ Dunn said. ‘Sometimes they look to us like coaches and not players. They look to us a lot for technique, and Chip gets them fired up and excited.’

Before these Orangewomen worry about passing the torch, they still have some unfinished business. They stand at 4-8 in the Big East, and although a Big East tournament spot is unlikely, it’s possible. SU must win out and get some help. But still looming on the schedule is Big East-powerhouse Boston College (22-14, 9-1).

While most college seniors look forward to their graduation date, these Orangewomen never intended on attending theirs. Syracuse graduation falls on the same weekend as the Big East tournament in Salem, Va. Most players didn’t even bother booking hotel rooms for their parents.

‘I have no plans and no cap and gown,” Dunn said, “because we didn’t expect to be here.’

As Firnbach prepares to watch her first four-year class graduate, both her and her players know it will be difficult. Firnbach said there will be special recognition for the five players at the Orangewomen’s annual banquet. She plans to also include Park, because this was supposed to be Park’s last season at Syracuse. Park will begin graduate school next year while playing out her fourth year of eligibility.

‘Coach is very enthusiastic,’ Dunn said. ‘She pours her heart and soul into this program. The tarp blew off the field today, and coach pulled it back on by herself. She’s willing to change her schedule for us.’

Said Firnbach: ‘They’ve been through thick and thin. It’s sentimental in two ways: They are my first recruiting class, and we haven’t had the season we’d hoped for.’

Published on April 21, 2003 at 12:00 pm