Getting ready to head to the new location at Westfield HS. A friend I mentioned last year, Amanda, works at the school, and she has been instrumental in getting things worked out between the team, school, and county. From what I hear, it's been chaotic. Just yesterday, she said we had seats, but no numbers on the seats. We also have the new electronic ticketing this year, so it should be interesting to see how things go tonight.

Once again, we open the season with a home series against New England. Last year, NE was coming in as the defending champions, and their starter was the MVP of the championship game (Jocelyn Forest). Our starter, Sarah Pauly, was the Pitcher of the Year the previous season, playing with Connecticut (which disbanded for 2007). Fast-forward to tonight, and it will be the Glory as defending champions, quite likely starting the 2007 Pitcher of the Year, Desiree Serrano. Eileen Canney lead the league in Ks and ERA last season, so we will probably face her tonight.

We won last year's opener with a 4-zip shutout. It's interesting to look back and see what's changed. For instance, starting at third that night was Jen Chamberlin instead of Sara Larquier, and we all know how Sara's season turned out (3rd in HRs, 5th in RBIs). The DH that night was Brooke Marnitz, and although she hit a HR that night, that was about the extent of her hitting last year. Neither Jen nor Brooke is with the team this year. Kelly Kretschman is the only other starter that is not with the team (she's with Team USA). Christa Dalakis, a little-used player from the area, is also not returning, along with pitcher Jen Musillo.

New players for the Glory this year include draftees Taryne Mowatt, Courtney Bures, and Cambria Miranda. Mowatt's Arizona team is playing in the College World Series (starting today), but the other two should be available. Free Agent new faces are Bianca Cruz (who pinch-ran in the game against Team USA on May 10) and Lisa Ferguson. The team's MySpace page also lists a free agent catcher who is expected to sign after the college season. No team is given, so who knows if this person's season is over, but we might have another new face as a surprise tonight.

New England did not change their roster as much. The only draftee on their website's roster is catcher TJ Eadus, who will likely start over weak-hitting KJ Kelly. Another draftee, pitcher Angelica Seldon, is still busy with UCLA. Free agents listed on their roster are utility players Carrie Embree and Carmen Paez, who both hit very well in college.

As for last year's series, we won 3 of 4, giving up just 5 runs over 4 games. It seems that we only faced Forest and Erica Beach, not Canney, so this year's series might not be so easy.