Dec. 10, 2012
Jonathan Toman
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The UCCS softball team made two additions to its roster for Fall 2013, as two new pitchers will make their way to Colorado Springs.
Nicole Hoffman from Highland, Calif., and Stephanie Chitkowski from Glen Ellyn, Ill., will join the team as freshmen next fall.
“College is a different level, but they are both very accomplished pitchers, they bring great confidence, and I do see them contributing right away,” said Scott Peterson, women’s softball head coach. “Both are going to be great for the program.”
Hoffman started playing softball at the age of 8 and fell in love with it, she said. When Hoffman turned 9, she started pitching and began traveling to play soon after. She has played travel softball for seven years and played varsity softball all four years in high school.
Interested in studying sports nutrition or communicative disorders, Hoffman chose UCCS after visiting the area.
“[It] seemed like home to me and felt like a good fit,” she said. “I am most looking forward to being on my own and playing softball for UCCS.”
Chitkowski grew up in a baseball family and started playing t-ball when she was just 3 years old. Her grandfather played minor league baseball for the Chicago White Sox, and her father and uncle played baseball at the University of Valparasio.
Her older sister Danielle, who served as her inspiration, also played. “When I was younger I wanted to do everything she did,” Chitkowski said.
Chitkowski was accepted to the Beth-El College of Nursing and hopes to pursue a career in the medical field.
She chose UCCS after seeing pictures of the area, that the school had everything she wanted to study and after meeting Coach Peterson, which “basically sealed the deal,” explained Chitkowski.
“What I look forward to most next year is playing softball and getting to know all the girls on the team,” she added.
Head Coach Peterson thinks the two new pitchers will be welcome additions to an already formidable team. “This team is one of the best collections of players we’ve had since I’ve been here; the question is how we will gel as a team,” Peterson said.
“We had a great fall and played extremely well; hopefully we can continue and play like that in the spring,” Peterson added. “The season is a grind, but I’m very optimistic of where we are going to be.”
The 2012 softball season starts with official practices on Jan. 10 and the first game of the season Feb 1. against Regis University.