Liberty High School softball players, Emily Cecchini and Nicole Iasiello, have been named to the Lehigh Valley Carpenter Cup softball team roster for 2013.

Comprised of 16 sophomores and juniors from the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas, this is Cecchini's second consecutive year on the team and Iasiello's first.

Iasiello said, "I was a little nervous at first, but I had a good try out, so I was hoping."

Coached by John Eyer, Iasiello's primary position will be second base, and her secondary position will be outfield, while Cecchini's primary position will be third base, and her secondary position will be catcher.

"I'm excited to work with him. I play on summer teams with Janae [Matos of Catasauqua], and Katie [Thompson of Nazareth], and I know Aristina [Barry of Saucon Valley]," said Iasiello.

The Lehigh Valley team will face opponents from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware throughout the double-elimination tournament, which also serves as a showcase for college coaches.

"I think it will be good exposure, especially for the juniors, and I want to play softball in college," Iasiello said.

With a practice scheduled for this week, and a possible scrimmage scheduled for next, the team could have a small but significant challenge.

"The first day, to get into the rhythm could be a challenge, but after two practices, we should be fine. We should do well because we have a good mix of girls, and we have girls from Pen Argyl who were district champs," said Iasiello. "I'm looking forward to seeing how all the girls come together and perform as a team [at practice], and to seeing how well we perform against other teams and getting to the championship."

The rest of the roster is made up of: Emmaus's Olivia Marcks, Salisbury's Jenna Keet and Meghan Williams, Northampton's Hanna Peters, Catasauqua's Janae Matos, Northern Lehigh's Amber Thomas, Saucon Valley's Arastina Barry, Nazareth's Katie Thompson, Pleasant Valley's Jordan Meckes and Madison Shaneberger, Southern Lehigh's Krystyna Elsner, Pen Argyl's Emily Smull and Alyssa Weaver, and Notre Dame's Sam Curcio will compete in the double-elimination tournament scheduled for June 24-27 at FDR Park in Philadelphia.

This is the ninth season for Carpenter Cup softball, sponsored by the Philadelphia Phillies, giving college coaches the opportunity to observe sophomore and junior softball players from the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.

Last year, the Lehigh Valley team took second place against teams from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. In 2006 and 2008, the Lehigh Valley team was crowned Carpenter Cup Champions, and in 2007, Lehigh Valley placed second.

Coach John Eyer, who is Emmaus' head softball coach, will be assisted by Scott Bortz and Blake Morgan.

"We are looking forward to more success this year," Eyer said.