2010 Softball Season Preview
Three
straight 25-win finishes and three straight top-three Northwest Conference
finishes have been nice, but the 2010 Pacific softball team wants more.
The successes experienced by the Boxers on the diamond have reminded some of the glory days of the program under Judy Sherman in the 1980s and 1990s. Two years ago, Pacific was arguably one of the best NCAA Division III teams not to be included in the national tournament. Last year, the Boxers adjusted well to the loss of four key starters and leaders, finishing with a 28-12 record and a third place NWC finish.
With the loss of only one key player off last year’s team, Head Coach Tim Hill believes the 2010 Boxers are capable of great things if they are willing to do what it takes to move to the next level.
“I think the biggest hurdle that we have to overcome is that our players need to be absolutely dedicated to making whatever sacrifices are necessary to be successful,” Hill said. “We’re a comfortable team and we need to get uncomfortable. They need to make the sacrifices necessary to play as a team. So far they are definitely heading in that direction. They’re making those sacrifices, and that is key.”
Should they do that, Pacific has the potential to go far with a strong returning core that, for the first time in Hill’s tenure, is primarily made up of upperclassmen. Juniors and seniors hold every infield position except first base and will own two of three outfield spots.
In the month of practice leading up to the first games on Feb. 20, Hill has seen the entire roster work hard and commit to improving their performance. The coaching staff has put particular emphasis on improving the pitching and catching staffs.
“All three pitchers are dedicated to being better and so far it has shown in our practices,” Hill said. “We have a new coach (Emily Nichols), whose primary duty is to work with our catchers, so our catching will be better. I already see improvement.”
The Boxers will put their improvement to the test early with a tough non-conference schedule. Pacific will play two NAIA top-25 teams in the College of Idaho and Point Loma Nazarene and a trio of traditionally strong softball programs in Oregon Tech, Suffolk and Chapman. Those teams are in addition to four-game series during the conference schedule with nationally ranked Linfield and Willamette.
Hill believes that the non-conference schedule will go a long way to ready the Boxers for those two critical conference matchups. “I think that this is the toughest non-conference schedule that we have had,” Hill said. “But I see a positive because we need the tough non-conference schedule to be ready.”
PITCHERS
While
Pacific’s pitching allowed too many free runners to opponents, the Boxers’
staff returns improved and with a lot to prove. Miranda McNealy (Sr., Aloha,
Ore.) experienced somewhat of an off year as a junior, which still yielded
Second Team All-NWC honors. McNealy won 14 games and struck out 119 batters
while continuing to perform well as the ace of the staff.
McNealy spent the early season working on her array of pitches and comes in prepared to make her senior season her best. “Miranda is determined to have a strong season,” Hill said. “She’s pretty solid mentally. Her temperament is a real plus for her.”
Chelsey Chamberlain (So., Grants Pass, Ore.), meanwhile, arrived at Pacific and turned into an impressive double threat as a freshman. Chamberlain won five games in 19 appearances in the circle, which included 52 strikeouts and a .237 opponent’s batting average. Chamberlain was even more powerful at the plate, hitting .409 with school records of 11 home runs and 45 runs batted in. She earned First Team All-NWC honors as a utility player.
Hill believes that Chamberlain will continue to be a powerful hitter, but has put a lot of work into her pitching. “Sometimes as a freshman you have to get your feet wet,” Hill said. “Chelsey had no trouble getting her feet wet at the plate, but she did with her pitching a bit. She’s feeling really good about her pitching and I’m feeling good about it too.”
Lauren Tuey (So., Redlands, Calif.) rounds off the staff having also put in a hard off-season of work in the circle. Tuey amassed a 6-2 record as the team’s No. 3 pitcher, striking out 52 batters in 52 innings while holding opponents to a .190 batting average. “Lauren spent her summer working on new pitches and they appear to be working well,” Hill said. “As a sophomore, she has a better understanding of the game and how to pitch in this league.”
CATCHERS
On the other end of the battery, the Boxers will look to add some consistency
with a pair of players who earned some solid playing time last year. Brooke
Toy (Jr., Drain, Ore.) was an Honorable Mention All-NWC selection while
playing the majority of the Boxers’ games behind the plate. Jordan Mittelsdorf
(So., Boardman, Ore.) also saw quality time at catcher and in the outfield.
With the addition of Nichols, a former NCAA Division I and professional catcher, to the staff, Hill is seeing a significant improvement in both players’ skill. “Emily has made some great adjustments,” Hill said. “Both Brooke and Jordan will share in the catching.”
Ashley Billingsley (So., Gresham, Ore.) will back-up at catcher, but will see the majority of her time at first base. Ashlei Noble (Fr., Bend, Ore.) provides additional depth to the position in her first season.
INFIELDERS
Pacific
enters the season with the most experienced infield that Hill has had in
seven years with the program. Of the four positions, two are held down
by seniors and one by a junior.
First base features the infield’s two most inexperienced infielders, but only in terms of their year in school. Chamberlain will play first when she is not pitching, allowing the Boxers to keep her potent bat in the lineup. Billingsley will split time with Chamberlain after putting together a breakout season herself as a freshman. Billingsley hit .360 in 31 games, smashing six home runs and 10 doubles to earn Honorable Mention All-NWC honors as a utility player.
“When Chelsey pitches, Ashley will play first base and one of the two will be in the designated player spot,” Hill said. “The two of them will be in the lineup all of the time. If they can duplicate what they did last year, I will be happy.”
Kelly Nishitomi (Sr., Kaneohe, Hawaii) enters her fourth year as the Boxers’ second base starter and continues to show improvement as both a hitter and fielder. The senior improved to a .321 batting average last year while committing just two errors in 30 games at the position. “Kelly has really grown as a player since she has been here,” Hill said. “She will get most of the time out there.”
At
shortstop, Carrie Maerz (Jr., Newberg, Ore.) has all of the skills to be
a significant part of the Boxers’ successes. A two-time All-NWC player,
Maerz started all but one game at shortstop last year while hitting seven
home runs. “Carrie is what I would call a strong shortstop,” Hill said.
“She’s a strong kid who makes all of the plays. She’s very reliable defensively
and she is a solid hitter.”
Brooke Fogwell (Sr., Beaverton, Ore.) has started every possible game of her Pacific career at third base and will continue to anchor the Boxers at the hot corner. One of the best defensive players in the league, Fogwell hit .342 to go along with five home runs while earning Second Team All-NWC honors for the third year in a row. “Brooke is a rock at third,” Hills said. “She is incredibly consistent, steady and reliable.”
Jenna Scribner (So., Forest Grove, Ore.) is expected to back-up Maerz at shortstop and will be counted upon in pinch-hitting and pinch-running situations after hitting .407 as a freshman with two home runs. Tuey could also see time at third base while Teri Shigeno (So., Meridian, Idaho) and K’rene Delplanche (Fr., Gaston, Ore.) will back-up Nishitomi at second base and will be a key base-runner off of the bench.
OUTFIELDERS
Pacific
will anchor the outfield with a pair of experienced players who will also
be potent at the plate. Stephanie Vanoudenahegen (Jr., Cornelius, Ore.)
provides a steady presence in center field while excelling as the team’s
lead-off hitter. The two-time All-NWC player hit .372 as a sophomore and
led the Boxers with 15 stolen bases.
“I think Stephanie’s play will really pick up,” Hill said. “She’s had two good years, but I think this year will be even better. She goes all out all of the time.”
Jessie Garcia (Sr., Yamhill, Ore.) worked her way into a full-time position last year and developed into a surprisingly potent threat at the bottom of the batting order. Garcia hit .377 and clubbed six home runs and hit .392 when she was the No. 9 hitter. Those numbers earned Garcia Second Team All-NWC honors. “I would be thrilled if she had the same year that she did last year,” Hill said. “She will bat in the bottom of the order, but only because she owns the bottom of the order.”
Shigeno will step in at left field to fill the big shoes left by four-time All-NWC standout Kristen Croxford. Shigeno has shown promise as a solid defensive player in position that needs a strong defensive presence. “Teri has shown that she is a kid who should be playing the outfield,” Hill said. “She can flat out get the ball. She has no fear out there.”
Backups for the three outfielders will come from regulars as other spots. Toy and Mittelsdorf will see time at the positions when not catching, as will Scribner. Sonja Elofson (Fr., Port Angeles, Wash.) will also provide depth in the outfield after a four years as a prep all-conference standout.