1. 2013 FIU PANTHERS SOFTBALL PREVIEW
2/5/2013 10:30:00 AM
Miami, Fla. (FIUSports.com) –FIU's second-year Head Coach Jake Schumann's outlook on his team
and preparation has taken a 180-turn since taking over the reins of the FIU softball program a season
ago. FIU is looking for a big jump from a 2012 season that saw them finish 28-27, good for third place
in the Sun Belt Conference. The program welcomes back seven players, including six starters.
Schumann and his staff worked extensively on the recruiting trail to bring in talent that fits with what
they want to accomplish at FIU. The program welcomes six freshmen and five transfers, highlighted
by former national champion and Arizona State Sun Devil Bre Kaye and former All-Big East
selection, Amber Curry, formerly of St. John's University. FIU will be one of four teams participating
in the season-opening Panther Invitational this weekend, Friday, February 8 through Saturday,
February 9 at FIU's Softball Complex. (Kansas, UConn and NC State).
“When discussing season expectations, if you don't answer it as in our goal is to win the conference, I
think you're selling the program short,” said Schumann. “Our goal and optimism revolves around that
one idea. This year, that idea is a little more realistic.”

2. 2013 Outlook
The Panthers will have a strong core of returning players from 2012. Junior second team All-Sun Belt
Conference selection Mariah Dawson anchors the pitching staff. Seniors and four-year starters Jessy
Alfonso,Brie Rojas and Kayla Burri will close out their college careers in Miami. Junior Rachel
Slowik and transfers Kaye, catchers Krystal Garcia and Aleima Lopez are being counted on to
complement the main core.
“We're deeper with our pitching staff – Mariah [Dawson] is a lot more mature,” Schumann said. “The
kids that are returning, [Jessy] Alfonso, [Brie] Rojas, [Kayla] Burri are outstanding leaders. Rachel
Slowik is coming into her own and swinging the bat really well. It culminates with the players coming
in. Krystal Garcia is a junior-college All-American. Aleima Lopez was a catcher for the Puerto Rican
National Team and Bre Kaye has a national championship with Arizona State, so we have some
experience. You also can't overlook team chemistry. When the chips are down, you can look into the
dugout and see a group of girls that will have your back and help you out when you're struggling and
help celebrate when things are going well. I'm excited about the season from those aspects.”
Coaching this year's group compared to the 2012 team
Schumann and his assistant coaches, Mandy Schuerman and Gabe Alfaro, worked together to
establish a winning culture for their softball program. Last season, Schumann worked mostly with
players from a previous coaching staff who weren't familiar with his style of play. This season, with
12 new players and seven returners from 2012, the coaching staff feels like they have all the pieces in
place to make a run at the Sun Belt Conference title.
“There's going be that first year of taking over a program with another coach's philosophy,” Schumann
said. “There is never an ideal situation when you take over a new program. This year is a lot different
because every single kid on this team is wanted by this coaching staff, either kept or recruited. The
girls understand that and it makes their life a lot easier [from an expectations perspective].”
Catchers
FIU will field a brand new catching tandem this season. Freshman Aleima Lopez, a Puerto Rican
National Team member, and sophomore Krystal Garcia, one of Schumann's previously sought-after
recruits from his days at Texas A&M Corpus-Christi. Lopez will start with Garcia serving as the
backup.
“[Lopez is] a very talented, very mature freshman – she handles herself very well and may be one of
our better hitters,” he said. “She's the total package. Garcia is the backup catcher and she's
outstanding. Whoever is catching, we're going to throw runners out and we're excited about that.”

3. Third Base
Bre Kaye is going to be the anchor at third base with Jessy Alfonso making the transition to center
field. Kaye will bat leadoff and be the table setter for the rest of the lineup.
Shortstop:
Coach Schumann will have former Phoenix College star, sophomore Krystal Garcia, cover shortstop.
“Krystal is a girl I signed in Texas [at Texas A&M Corpus-Christi] and found her way to our program.
She has a very good arm, excellent stick, just an excellent player overall.”
Second Base
Back for her senior season and looking to close the book on a standout career at FIU, Brie Rojas will
play second base and hit clean-up in the batting order. Rojas enters the season as FIU's fifth-leading
hitter in the school's history at a .324 clip.
First Base
Kayla Burri, who is coming off an offseason surgery from a torn labrum will platoon with Rachel
Slowik.
“It's a coin toss defensively between Kayla Burri and Rachel Slowik,” Schumann said. “Slowik is
probably our best utility player. Game one we will probably go with Burri at first and Slowik as our
DP [designated player], or vice versa – they're reversible. Slowik allows us to rest a player or if
another player goes down [due to injury].
Left Field
Junior Nicole Rascon, a transfer from Pima Yavapai in Tucson, Ariz., will play left field and bat in the
lower third of the lineup to start the season.
Center Field
With Bre Kaye locking down the third base spot this season, Senior Jessy Alfonso, a starter for the
fourth-straight season, will make the move from third base to center field.
“Jessy is probably our best athlete,” Schumann said. “She can run, throw and field and is very saavy,
softball-wise.”

4. Right Field
Amber Curry, a St. John's transfer, is penciled in as FIU's starting right fielder. She did not play last
season and was granted her release by the university prior to the season.
“Amber is an All-Big East shortstop, and an excellent infielder,” Schumann said. “We feel right now
that she gives us the best opportunity in the lineup and to win in right [field].”
Overall Team Synopsis
“Overall, we have a potent lineup with speed, home run power and gap power,” Schumann said. It's
an exciting brand of softball. It's the way I coach – it's all about the team, we give each other up by
doing a lot of bunting, and hit and run. I like to put as much pressure on the opposing defense as
possible. We don't sit in the box and play for the three-run home run. We put players in motion which
forces the defense to move around. It requires the defense to stay focused for 21 outs and make plays.”
Bounce-Back Years
Coach Schumann is keeping his confidence high on various players that worked hard last season to
learn his program. He is counting on Rojas, Burri and Alfonso to not just rebound with good seasons,
but provide the senior leadership that a young team will look towards.
Brie Rojas: “She 'struggled' last season. She hit .400 her freshman year and hasn't sniffed that
[number] since. She's relaxed. She doesn't have to be that 'go-to player.' They don't have to be the one
that has to make the play –just do your part, relax and I think Rojas will be a part of that.”
Kayla Burri: “Kayla is just a solid softball player. She can throw and has had a great career here. If
she can keep her mind focused on softball and not her injury I think she will have a very good year.”
Jessy Alfonso: “Jessy is a .260-.270 hitter, but she's capable of being a .300 hitter. I believe moving
her to the outfield is going to take pressure off of her, defensively, which will allow her to focus more
on her offensive capabilities.”
“I think they are three seniors, three kids that have started for four years. You look at them and say
they're FIU Panthers and great representatives for our program.”
Coach's Second Season in Sun Belt Competition
After a 15-9 mark in his first year of conference competition, Schumann and his staff will re-assess
the best that the Sun Belt has to offer in 2013. ULL will look to defend the conference crown, but
FIU's competition is fierce from top to bottom.

5. “Whenever you take over a program, number one priority is to get out and seek players. You have to
learn who the top [high school] programs are. Second, you have to figure out who fits your profile on
your team. We did that fairly quickly. Every month we had conversations with our staff and
administration – who is FIU and where do we want this program to go? Third, we take good notes on
each coach and each program that we're going to play for that year. Fortunately, we are in the Sun Belt
for one more year and we will be able to use those notes again. Next year will be different moving to
Conference USA. We will be focused on beating the teams that are projected to finish in top half of
the conference.”
Non-conference and Conference Opponents
FIU faced the 32nd
toughest schedule last season and is set to face more solid foes in the 2013
campaign. Awaiting FIU is Kansas, UConn, NC State, Florida State, Central Florida and South
Carolina.
“The Sun Belt is tops in terms of RPI, we finished 7th
out of 31 conferences. People that underestimate
this conference are sadly mistaken. It's very tough from top to bottom. Our non-conference is not as
tough as last year. We had the 32nd
toughtest non-conference schedule last year, playing four of the
top five teams in the country. All teams we're playing are in top 150. Florida State, Central Florida
and next weekend we got Florida Gulf Coast. Our opponents all come from very big conferences. You
want to schedule teams in those conferences that are going to win in their conference. When we beat
them, we inherit those power points. You will play some teams that are higher than 150 and hopefully
below 200. I like our non-conference [schedule] – it will prepare us for our conference schedule.”
New Stadium
The FIU softball team isn't the only aspect of the program going through changes as the season
approaches. New stadium renovations are on the horizon in May, which include an upgraded press
box, new bleachers and stadium-style seating directly behind home plate.
“It [renovations] helps in recruiting when you can promise a recruit we're going to have this or we're
going to have that. When you go up against teams like the Florida States, Auburns, North Carolinas,
bigger schools with more established facilities, it makes it more challenging. Obviously, we play in
Miami, and now we will have a facility to go along with our location so it can only help. Winning will
put butts in the seats and that will help even more. I'm more excited than the girls are [about the
upgrades]. Come May, I will be smiling ear to ear that's for sure.”
The Blue and Gold will play 33 home games at the FIU Softball Complex. Season tickets for the 2013
season cost only $35 for public seating, $20 for FIU employees and alumni, or $70 for the Family

6. Plan (2 Adults and 3 Youth). To purchase single-game or season tickets, call the FIU Ticket Office at
(305) FIU-GAME, or online at FIUSPORTS.com.
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports.
Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and
Biscayne Bay), including U.S. Century Bank Arena and Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium.
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its
colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelors, masters and doctoral programs in fields such as
engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor
institutions, FIU is worlds ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most
challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission and
enrolls nearly 48,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on
Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. More than 140,000 alumni live and work in South
Florida. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.
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