2020 Senior Day Celebration: Softball

Seven seniors from the University of Rochester softball team have graced the Southside Field dirt for the last time in their careers, but before we bid adieu to them, we salute their Yellowjacket careers, both on and off the field.

Over the last four years, Rochester has accumulated nearly 60 wins and has reached two Liberty League conference tournaments. The group helped UR head coach Margaret Yerdon-Grange to reach her 200th career win and pushed the Yellowjacket softball programs win total to over 450 in its 23rd season of existence.

As first-years, Rochester got off to a lightning quick start to the season, going 9-1 over the opening ten games of the season. The Yellowjackets finished the year 21-15 overall and were 6-6 in the Liberty League, including winning their final three games of the season, all of which were conference wins. UR was among the countries leaders in double-plays, also excelling in ERA, shutouts and doubles.

The 2018 season saw Rochester finish at .500 for the season, but it was 8-4 in the conference and qualified for the Liberty League Tournament. The Yellowjackets battled an extremely tough schedule, 16th hardest in Division III, one which included eight games against top-25 opponents. Two of those were victories, coming against #19 Lynchburg and #9 St. John Fisher.

Last season, UR ended 21-19 overall, had nine wins in the conference and reached the championship round of the Liberty League Tournament. Rochester had a nine-game win streak during the middle part of the season, including a key doubleheader sweep of #19 RPI.

The 2020 campaign was only four games old, but the Yellowjackets amassed over five runs per game and were poised to compete in the Liberty League playoffs for the third year in a row. UR’s young talent along with a wealth of experience, led by the seven seniors, allowed for a good mix amongst Rochester’s roster.

Let’s meet the class of 2020:

#10 Meghan Bocyck
Position: Outfield
Hometown: Syracuse, NY
Majors: Health, Behavior & Society and Psychology

Bocyck appeared in 31 games for Rochester over her career, with 22 starts. As a first-year, she saw the field in 22 games, mostly in the infield and recorded a strong .939 fielding percentage. She added eight runs scored in limited offensive action and drew a career-high three walks in one game against Staten Island, ranking as fourth most in a single-game in UR history.

Next year, Bocyck plans to work at Teach for America at the Miami Dade County Public Schools in K-6 levels. Head coach Margaret Yerdon praises Meghan’s effort towards the team.

“Meg’s dedication to the team and ability to make her teammates better both on and off the field is incredible.  During her four years she filled whatever role she was asked to, and still continued to make herself a better player, teammate and leader”

#3 Abby Broomfield
Position: Catcher
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Major: Biology

Injuries unfortunately derailed Broomfield’s career, as she was limited to 20 games played as an undergraduate. In her limited action she hit a respectable .304 at the plate with 5 RBI, 3 runs scored and 6 walks. During her first-year season, she was 7-for-14 and smacked two doubles against Fredonia, one shy of the UR single-game record.

After graduation, Broomfield will be attending the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Pharmacy.

From the coach, “Abby is the true definition of a team player. She battled through injuries during her four years, but through it all always maintained a positive attitude.  Her role shifted this year due to her medical retirement, but she proved to be a tremendous asset to the team and coaching staff.”

#23 Jessica Conforti
Position: Infield/Outfield
Hometown: East Northport, NY
Major: Chemistry

Conforti has been a regular in the UR lineup throughout her four-year career. She has appeared in 108 games, starting 107 of those contests. Her career batting average is .259, going 57-for-220 at the plate. The East Northport native added 12 doubles, 1 triple, 42 runs scored and added 16 RBI.

In addition, she was 8-for-10 stealing bases and fielded at a .940 clip at key middle infield positions. 2019 saw Conforti hit .319 and through four games this year, she was 5-for-12, a .417 average. She continually was among the leaders in the Liberty League in multiple defensive categories including double plays and assists.

She plans on pursuing her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at Baylor University next year.

“Jess demonstrates the passion she has for the game every time she steps on the field.  She makes everyone around her better,” says Yerdon.

#20 Anne Marie Cortes
Position: Outfield
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Majors: Financial Economics and Political Science

The next senior was a mainstay patrolling the outfield for Rochester. Cortes played 79 games, making 72 starts. Over her career, she had 12 RBI, 25 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. In 2018, she recorded eight sacrifice hits, ranking inside the top-50 in NCAA Division III. Off the field, Cortes was elected student body Vice President and earned the Seth and Harriet Terry Prize from the University this year.

Following earning her degrees in Financial Economics and Political Science, Cortes will be working as an Analyst at Barclays Bank. She is going to be part of the companies Markets Division on the ross Assets Team.

“Anne Marie’s ability to play softball at a high level and contribute to campus culture through her involvement in student government is something really special.  In her four years Anne Marie displayed an excellent work ethic with unwavering dedication.”

#15 Kathleen Desmond
Position: Outfield
Hometown: North Falmouth, MA
Major: Mechanical Engineering

Desmond joined the Yellowjackets as a sophomore and was primarily used as a pinch-runner during her time on the squad. Off the field, she excelled by being a 3-time All-Academic selection from the Liberty League, is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi and maintained Dean’s List honors for all her semesters in college.

Next year she will be working at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Bethesda, Maryland. While there, she will part of the Systems Development Branch at the Ship Signatures Department.

According to her coach, “Kathleen is a team player who always puts her teammates first.  In her three years on the team she was an asset on the bases and in the dugout with her positive attitude.”

#21 Lydia Petricca
Position: Infield
Hometown: Orchard Park, NY
Major: Biochemistry

The next senior appeared in nearly 100 games in her career in Yellowjacket colors. Her career batting average was .285 and she was a key run producer, recording 52 RBI, 29 runs scored, 17 doubles and 5 home runs. In the field she held down a corner infield spot and produced over 200 putouts and assists combined.

A 2nd Team All-Liberty League performer as a first-year, Petricca also is a two-time Academic All-Conference honoree. During the 2018 campaign, Petricca was nationally ranked in the top-100 in Division III with her sacrifice fly total and is fourth in school history in that category.

Petricca will be attending the University of Virginia for graduate school in the fall. She was accepted into the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program and will be concentrating on Biophysics. She plans to work on understanding the impacts muscle contraction and signaling pathways have on vasculature diseases and hypertension.

“Lydia grew as a player over her four years developing into an unselfish leader who would do anything to help her teammates reach their goal of success.”

#24 Addy Szczerba
Position: Pitcher
Hometown: Oneida, NY
Major: Marketing

Szczerba transferred to UR and joined the softball team as a junior in 2019 and made an immediate impact for the Yellowjacket pitching staff. For her two seasons, she compiled a 5-6 record with one save and a 4.84 ERA. She had 68 total innings in the circle and accumulated 28 strikeouts and three complete games.

Two of her big wins as a junior came against Clarkson in a Liberty League Championship elimination game and against St. John Fisher when she tossed a complete game and allowed just one run.

Szczerba plans to stay at Rochester and use her additional year of eligibility to play with the Yellowjackets pending acceptance into an academic program.

“Addy grew into a leader in the circle this season and was poised to have a great senior season.  She has battled through adversity and has unfinished business on the field, we are looking forward to having her back next season.”