There is no doubt the need for competition will drive the 2011 SUNY Potsdam softball team when the regular season begins this Sunday, March 6, in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Bears head coach Shannon Dillabough hopes – and believes – that competition has fueled his players to perform during the preseason as well.

According to Dillabough, who enters his sixth season at the helm, several starting spots are still up in the air as the preseason winds down and regular season play begins.

“For the last couple years, we really haven’t had a lot of competition for spots … this year, we have a lot of competition,” Dillabough said. “The freshmen have worked hard, which is good, because it’s pushing the girls who have been here for a while.”

In 2010, Potsdam finished ninth in the State University of New York Athletic Conference with a 4-16 league record to go along with an 8-24 overall mark. The Bears finished last in the conference in earned run average and fielding percentage, two areas Dillabough is confident the team can improve this season.

The team hopes to be in the top three in the conference in fielding percentage, earned run average and walks allowed.

“For the last couple years, defense and pitching have been, unfortunately, our weaknesses,” Dillabough said. “This year, we’ve really tried to refocus on the basics and just playing the game right.”

Offensively, the Bears return several key hitters from a season ago. Dillabough believes this will be an area of strength for the 2011 team.

“We’ve got some power in the middle of the lineup, we have versatility and we have some speed at the top of the lineup,” Dillabough said. “We can do a couple different things with the bat, so hopefully we’ll be able to move runners over better than we have in the past and drive them in.”

Potsdam’s four seniors – Allison Breivogel, Susan Garrett, Jessica Brower and Dana Vollmuth – lead a group of 11 returners, who welcome eight newcomers to the program. Dillabough hopes for a group leadership effort instead of only relying on Breivogel, the team’s captain, to take charge.

“Allison has done an excellent job as far as the leadership role goes, but I’m really looking for more like a team attitude or atmosphere from everybody,” Dillabough said. “We’ve got a different mix, so I’m just kind of looking for everybody to find their place … whatever is asked of you to do, you do it for the better of the team.”

After a slate of 10 non-conference games at the Gene Cusic Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla., from March 6-11, the Bears open their home schedule on April 1 against SUNYAC rival Plattsburgh.

In addition to the regular line-up of league opponents, Potsdam takes on North Country foes SUNY Canton and St. Lawrence, as well as SUNYIT, in a busy April.

“The SUNYAC is one of the toughest softball conferences in Division III in the country,” Dillabough said. “Every year we have one, if not two, teams ranked nationally. The goal (of the Florida games) is, ultimately, to get ready for SUNYACs. We don’t want to have any question marks or injuries, and we need to be healthy and have a good idea of what our team strengths are.”

Here is a position-by-position look at the 2011 Bears.

Pitcher

Junior Brittany Pawlowski (West Seneca, N.Y.) headlines a pitching staff which returns its top three contributors in terms of appearances from last season.

Pawlowski, who has been the staff ace for the last two seasons, finished with a 5.29 earned run average while picking up a team-leading five wins in 19 appearances, including 10 complete games.

“Brittany suffered a little bit of a shoulder injury last season, but she’s put a lot of hard work into getting back in shape and getting her shoulder where it needs to be,” Dillabough said. “A key to our success is her staying healthy and pitching the way she’s capable of pitching.”

Juniors Katie Nawrot (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Meghan Patterson (Malone, N.Y.) also return to the staff. Nawrot posted a 3-9 record in 16 appearances, including a team-high 15 starts, while Patterson, who is projected to be a reliever, registered a 6.39 ERA in 11 appearances.

Other players projected to earn a spot in the rotation include freshmen Molly Zehler (Penfield, N.Y.), Ashley Thayer (Winthrop, N.Y.) and Megan Johnson (Heuvelton, N.Y). Thayer has been impressive in the preseason and will be in the mix to start.

Catcher

Potsdam will begin the season with two catchers – Garrett (Queens Village, N.Y.) and sophomore Amanda Perry (South Glens Falls, N.Y.).

Perry was named first-team All-SUNYAC in 2010 after batting .286 with a rock-solid .991 fielding percentage. She threw out eight potential base stealers, good for second in the league. Dillabough sees Perry having a big 2011 season.

“Amanda ended up catching the majority of the games last year,” Dillabough said. “Defensively, she had a really good first year. Offensively, she’s a great talent at the plate, she just needs to be more disciplined and not swing at everything that’s thrown at her. So far in practice she’s done that.”

Garrett, who appeared in 23 games (20 starts) a year ago, handles the pitchers well and does whatever is asked of her to help the team. She is expected to split time with Perry behind the plate.

Infield

Vollmuth and Zehler are penciled in to play first base. According to Dillabough, Zehler’s bat has come alive in the last few weeks.

“Molly has a nice, short stroke and she’s hitting the ball well, so if she continues to do that in practice and down in Florida, she’s going to force herself in the lineup,” Dillabough said.

Vollmuth, a 2009 All-SUNYAC honoree as a catcher, led the team and finished 12th in the conference last year with a .385 batting average. After battling a hand injury, Vollmuth is fully healthy and expected to produce another fine offensive season.

At second base, sophomore Heather Johnson (Heuvelton, N.Y.) is expected to compete with her sister, Megan Johnson, as well as freshman Miranda Gokey (Glenfield, N.Y.). Megan Johnson and Gokey are each currently combating knee injuries.

Heather Johnson batted .300 with eight doubles, which tied for the team high, last season.

“Heather is a versatile player,” Dillabough said. “She’s got good speed, she handles the bat well, she can bunt people over, she can hit and she can steal. Like I said, she can play center, she can play short and she can play second. She’s just one of those kids you wish you had nine more of.”

Johnson and sophomore Jenn Jones (Watertown, N.Y.), who transferred from Jefferson Community College, will see time at shortstop.

At third base, Brower (Staten Island, N.Y.) is being challenged by freshman Molly McCuin (Brasher Falls, N.Y.) for playing time. Brower started all 32 games a year ago, posting 14 RBIs.

“Molly McCuin is definitely knocking on the door for some playing time at third,” Dillabough said. “There’s kind of a competition going there, like I said before, so it will be interesting to see how that pans out.”

Nawrot is also expected to see time on the infield.

Outfield

Breivogel (Bellmore, N.Y.) and junior Heidi Grebinger (Bellmore, N.Y.) return as the top two outfielders for the Bears.

Breivogel batted .270 and led the team with four stolen bases in 2010. A switch hitter, Breivogel will see the majority of her time in left field and will bat at the top of the order as a slap hitter with speed.

A potential All-SUNYAC performer, Grebinger led the team and the conference with seven homeruns while finishing third in the league with a .644 slugging percentage last season. She also posted team bests in runs (21), hits (38), doubles (eight) and RBIs (18) while finishing with a .365 batting average.

“Heidi brings a lot of different things to the team,” Dillabough said. “She’s got some speed and she was probably one of our most consistent hitters last year. She really increased her numbers across the board. I’m looking forward to her continuing that this year.”

Sophomore Nicole Blanchard (Indian Lake, N.Y.) is also expected to compete for a spot in the outfield. Others in the mix include Thayer, the team’s lone left-handed hitter, as well as Perry, Garrett, Patterson and Heather Johnson.

Freshmen Shannon Pagliaro (Beacon, N.Y.) and Gabrielle Ryan (Nyack, N.Y.) are utility players who will add depth to the Potsdam bench.