POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam softball team opens its 26th season in Fort Myers, Fla. tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. against Pitt-Bradford. The Bears are coming off a 14-21-1 (5-10-1) campaign where they matched the program record for overall and conference wins.
Sixth year head coach
Brianna Ferchen, second year assistant coach
Hannah Thornhill and former Potsdam standout
Kaylee Dobransky '25, now an assistant, lead a young team into 2026. This year's roster is comprised of eight veterans and nine newcomers, including two transfers.
Pitching
Sophomore
Sam Horne (Buffalo, N.Y./Kenmore West) is back after throwing 99 innings, striking out 31 and posting a 6-11 record in 17 starts. Junior
Emily Birmingham (Pulaski, N.Y./Pulaski) comes to Potsdam from Jefferson Community College. She was 11-4 and struck out 99 hitters in 82.2 innings for the Cannoneers in 2024. Birmingham also hit .415 (27-94) with 35 runs scored and 29 RBI. Freshman
Kendall Thompson (Potsdam, N.Y./Madrid-Waddington) was first team All-Northern and MVP of the Eastern Division with Madrid-Waddington last spring.
Infield
Senior
Alexys Rosick (Hudson Falls, N.Y./Hudson Falls) hit .328 (22-98), scored 14 runs and drove in 21 in her first season with Bears. She also played strong defense at shortstop, recording 50 putouts. Sophomores
Mia Cooper (Scotia, N.Y./Scotia-Glenville) and
Grace Rabin (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) are the other returning infielders. Junior
Maddalyn Wasserman (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) transferred from SUNY Adirondack. In two seasons with the Timberwolves, she hit .342 (49-143), slugged .643 with 26 extra-base hits, scored 33 runs and drove in 29. Three freshmen join the infield this season.
Chloe Kuttruff (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) was second team all-league at Marcellus.
Kaidence Cronin (Onondaga Nation/LaFayette) was All-Central New York twice and first team all-league every season at LaFayette.
Cassidy Richards (Jay, N.Y./AuSable Valley) comes to Potsdam from AuSable Valley.
Outfield
Junior
Sophia Pleat (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) and senior
Lily Gray (Chaumont, N.Y./Thousand Islands) are the veterans in the outfield. Pleat started nine of the 12 games she played last season, hitting two doubles and driving in three runs. Freshman
Payton St. Clair (Brewerton, N.Y./Paul V. Moore) and
Courtney LaBaff (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) are the new additions. St. Clair was a multiple all-league selection at Paul V. Moore.
Catcher/Utility
Sophomore
Hannah Fagan (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) will be behind the plate for Potsdam. She made nine starts in 10 games, recording 17 putouts and a .957 fielding percentage. Sophomore
Kalissa Young (Winthrop, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central) saw limited action at the plate but was a regular in the outfield. She played in 31 games with 29 starts, including 31 in the outfield, recording 24 putouts and a .931 fielding percentage. Junior
Sara Richards (Au Sable Forks, N.Y./AuSable Valley) joins the Bears after three years as a member of the Potsdam women's basketball team.
Schedule
The Bears open with Pitt-Bradford at 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, followed by a 3 p.m. matchup with La Roche. Potsdam plays six more contests in Florida before returning North. The Bears face Rockford and RIT on March 10, followed by Bethany and Brooklyn on March 12. They finish with Crown and Westfield State on March 13. After three road doubleheaders (Skidmore – March 27, Cobleskill – March 28, Clarkson – April 1), Potsdam has its home and SUNYAC opener against Cortland on April 3, kicking off a six-game homestand. The Bears host Morrisville on April 4 and future SUNYAC foe Delhi on April 7. Potsdam heads to Oswego on April 10 and Canton the next day. The Bears host Oneonta on April 17, New Paltz on April 18 and St. Lawrence on April 21. They head to Plattsburgh on April 24. Potsdam is home to face Clarkson on April 27 and SUNY Poly on April 29. Potsdam wraps up the regular season at Buffalo State on May 1 and Fredonia on May 2.
Coverage
Live video and statistics of all home softball games will be provided. Check out
potsdambears.com for all the news and schedule updates.
Follow all Bears home softball games at the links below throughout the season:
Potsdam Live Stats:
https://webspace.potsdam.edu/groups/sports/sb/XLIVE.HTM
Potsdam Live Video:
https://potsdambears.com/sports/2015/10/15/SB_1015151544.aspx
