Feb. 18, 2001
Softball Team, Ranked 17th in Preseason Poll, Has High Hopes for its Fresh Faces
The Game: Truman State University Bulldogs (Mid-America Intercollegiate
Athletics Association/NCAA Division II) vs. Lincoln University (Jefferson
City) Date: Feb. 22, 2001
Time: 3 p.m. (CST)
Location: Jefferson City, Mo.
Field (250): Lincoln Softball Complex
Opponent(s): Lincoln finished last season with a 17-31 record. The Blue Tigers lost four starters and begin their 2001 season with five top returnees including junior third baseman Dana Schulte and sophomore pitcher Donna Calbert. Top newcomers are freshman catcher Carrie Johnson, freshman outfielder Rachael Stuecken, and sophomore shortstop Talia Parsons.
Opponent's Last Contests and Schedule Recap: Lincoln will open its season with William Woods University on tomorrow, Feb. 20, before opposing Truman on Thursday.
Series Record: Truman holds a 26-1 record against Lincoln.
Last season, the Bulldogs defeated Lincoln 7-0 and 3-0 in a doubleheader on March 23, and on March 25 by a score of 10-1.
Coaches Records: Kristy Schroeder enters her third year as Truman softball coach with a record of 90-23. Betty Kemna has a record of 32 wins and 98 losses during the three years she has been at Lincoln.
Truman: The Truman Bulldogs enter the season ranked 17th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Preseason Poll. This year, Truman moves from the South Central region to the North Central region and will take on 19 regional opponents in hopes of boosting the Bulldogs' power rating. Four of the 'Dogs' North Central foes are ranked in the Top 25, including the unanimous No. 1 choice, North Dakota State which Truman will face March 31 at the Nebraska-Omaha Tournament.
At a glance, the 2001 Bulldog softball roster would signify a rebuilding year for most teams. Freshman faces comprise nine of the team's 19 players. In contrast, the 2000 Bulldog roster featured seven seniors and a multitude of experience.
Their leadership helped the team to its first Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title since 1986 and its second-consecutive appearance at the NCAA South Central region tournament.
Despite the young team, head coach Kristy Schroeder does not see the 2001 season as being a rebuilding year. Schroeder feels the successful recruiting of talented freshman will help fill the positions lost.
"I see us exceeding the accomplishments that we achieved the past two years," Schroeder said.
The coach will undoubtedly rely upon the leadership of her five seniors to help guide the younger players. Third baseman Missy Kane (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette), second baseman Heather Mackie (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette), outfielders Erin Schwada (Shelbina, Mo./South Shelby) and Vicki Viefhaus (Eureka, Mo.) and all-America catcher Kristi Bredbenner (O'Fallon, Mo./St. Dominic) return will provide senior leadership for the team.
Bredbenner was the first Bulldog named to an All-America team since Deb Weno in 1988. Bredbenner also earned the MIAA's most valuable player award, in part for her home run rampage. She shattered previous Truman and MIAA records for home runs in a season (16) and tied the MIAA record for home runs in a game (4) with eight resulting RBIs. Bredbenner tallied a .469 batting average after 160 at-bats. She led the team in every batting statistic except strikeouts where Bredbenner recorded only two strikeouts throughout the season.
Kane was selected to the second all-MIAA team and the South Central region team for her dominance down the third base line.
"I'm impressed with the improvements Missy made in her batting during the off-season," Schroeder said.
Mackie was named honorable-mention all-MIAA for the third consecutive season at second base.
The young Bulldogs will also look to their two time first-team all-MIAA pitcher, junior Jen Hulsopple (Peculiar, Mo./Raymore-Peculiar). Hulsopple earned 25 wins which led the MIAA and placed her 15th among NCAA Division II leaders. She also set a new Truman mark for career victories (53).
Sophomore pitcher Britni Buford (Kahoka, Mo./Clark County) also had a stellar year at the mound, earning honorable mention all-league status in her first collegiate season. As a freshman, she posted 19 wins and a 1.79 ERA.
The Offense
The key to the Truman offense will most definitely hinge on its all-America catcher.
"I expect Bredbenner to have another record-breaking year," Schroeder said. "However, it will be even more difficult since most teams, I'm sure, will be working to pitch around her. She'll have to continue to be patient at the plate like she was last year."
If Bredbenner's bat is limited by intentional walks, the 'Dogs have other weapons in their offensive arsenal.
Mackie had 48 hits in 2000 on her way to a .308 batting average, and Kane posted 24 runs and 40 hits. Schroeder also expects to see batting strength in the new players such as freshman shortstop Elizabeth Economon (St. Louis/Notre Dame) and freshman first baseman Leann Paul (Olathe, Kan./Olathe North).
"Elizabeth was considered one of the premiere hitters, if not the premiere hitter, in St. Louis," Schroeder said. "Leann may have been our most consistent hitter in the fall. She has a lot of power but is able to mix in a bunt or slap if needed."
More than just power hitters, Schroeder anticipates that the Bullogs' offense will have added speed to utilize for aggressive base running and the short game. Schwada scored 22 runs as a pinch runner during the 2000 season, stealing 14 bases. Viefhaus also assisted the 'Dogs as a pinch runner, tallying nine runs in 24 games.
Schroeder also looks for speed from her lead-off batter, freshman centerfielder Katy Mueller (St. Louis/Cor Jesu).
"Mueller has the versatility to lay down a bunt, slap the ball through the infield or hit the ball in a deep gap. She's a real spark plug."
Hulsopple and Buford also have proved to be strong offensively as well.
The Battery
Hulsopple has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in Division II softball. After earning the MIAA freshman of the year award and a second-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association all-region selection in 1999, she continued to dominate from the mound in 2000. In 229.2 innings pitched, she recorded 160 strikeouts and only 172 runs. With 25 victories and nine shutouts last season, Hulsopple will be the No. 1 pitcher for the Bulldogs.
In Buford's inaugural season, she captured 19 wins after facing 648 batters and allowed just 33 walks, compared to her 72 strikeouts.
Freshman Breanna Wonderly (Conception, Mo./Jefferson) adds further pitching depth as a third option from the mound.
"Each one is working hard to improve something different," Schroeder said. "Hulsopple has developed a change up and is working on gaining more speed. Buford has been working to develop more control of her pitches and Wonderly has been developing more movement on her pitches."
The Infield
Despite the loss of two team captains in the infield, Schroeder expects this year's infield to be as good as in previous years.
The foundation of the infield will stem from returners, including Bredbenner at catcher, Hulsopple on the mound, Mackie at second and Kane at third. These four players recorded 385 of the team's 600 total putouts in 2000.
Economon and Paul look to get the nod at shortstop and first base, respectively.
"We really teach our team that everybody on the field from freshmen to seniors will need to take on leadership roles," Schroeder said. "We should not lose a beat with these two in the infield."
The Outfield
The outfield will be more hard hit by lost players. All three starters finished their eligibility last season.
Junior Angela Ligouri (Clive, Iowa/Dowling) will takeover as the starter in left field after serving as the backup a year ago. During the 2000 campaign, Ligouri had 10 putouts and no errors. "She has improved nearly every aspect of her game during the off-season," Schroeder said.
Mueller will start in centerfield.
"Her quick release and speed as well as her ability to track down the ball combine to make centerfield a solid position for us," Schroeder indicated.
In rightfield, the position is relatively open. Schwada and junior Cathy Monroe (Des Peres, Mo./Lutheran South) as well as freshmen Stephanie Cepicky (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh), Katie Ramsey (Clayton, Mo.), Krystal Brown (Olathe, Kan./Olathe North) and Grace Wachter (Ferguson, Mo./Incarnate Word) could all receive the starting nod this season. Schroeder said the decision will be based on who can be the most consistent overall.
NFCA Division II Preseason Top 25 The National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Top 25 is voted on by eight NCAA Division II coaches representing each of the eight Division II regions. First-place votes are in parentheses. 2000 2000 Final School Record Pts. Ranking 1. North Dakota State (8) 68-10 200 1 2. Kennesaw State (Ga.) 56-8 190 2 3. Bloomsburg (Pa.) 49-12-1 176 3 4. Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.) 51-7 166 8 5. UC Davis 40-17 165 6. West Florida 54-16 162 5 7. Merrimack (Mass.) 39-13 141 6 8. Humboldt State (Calif.) 54-9 123 12 9. Nebraska-Omaha 52-14 118 23 10. Southeastern Oklahoma State 45-12 114 RV 11. California (Pa.) 44-13 113 RV 12. Lewis (Ill.) 50-11 101 10 13. Alabama-Huntsville 56-14 96 15 14. Florida Southern 46-16 80 11 15. Augustana (S.D.) 58-12 64 7 16. Grand Valley State (Mich.) 47-12 62 19 17. Truman State (Mo.) 44-12 61 17 18. LIU-C.W. Post (N.Y.) 42-18 59 T20 19. Columbus State (Ga.) 39-19 53 25 20. St. Mary's (Texas) 40-18 50 NR 21. Mesa State (Colo.) 44-12 43 9 22. Western Washington 32-13 40 NR 23. Indiana (Pa.) 31-18 39 16 24. Cal State Stanislaus 44-20 33 13 25. SIU-Edwardsville 39-19 32 RV NR-Not Ranked RV-Received Votes Others Receiving Votes: North Florida 28, Wisconsin-Parkside 27, Nebraska-Kearney 16, Southern Colorado 16, Cal State Bakersfield 10, Kutztown (Pa.) 10, American International (Mass.) 9, Saint Leo (Fla.) 3.
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