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Scots softball seeks winning formula
Release Date: March 1, 2007
MONMOUTH, Ill. – According to head coach Kari Shimmin, the 2007
edition of the Monmouth College softball team could be similar to a
science experiment.
“This group has the best team chemistry in my three years as head
coach,” said Shimmin when asked to identify the team’s biggest
asset.
That team chemistry includes four all-conference players among the
nine returners who saw more than a little action last season. Add in
a group of newcomers that offer increased speed and more pitching
options and the Fighting Scots may have the recipe for a conference
tournament qualifier.
Joining Shimmin in the dugout are third-year assistants Hank Shimmin
and John Goddard and student assistant Holly English, all of whom
have been impressed with the team members’ high expectations.
Defensively, the Fighting Scots will look much the same as the 2006
squad, but with a few tweaks. The Scots return all but one of their
eight position players from a year ago.
Last year’s ace in the circle, sophomore Sarah Christensen
(Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) has returned to practice following a
stellar swimming season. The all-conference selection in 2006 should
round into shape around the middle of March. She led the team in
wins during her freshman campaign and will provide a consistent
presence in the circle. Freshman Val Mitchell (Port Byron,
Ill./Riverdale) and sophomore transfer Amanda Murdock (Aledo,
Ill./Aledo) are a pair of newcomers who may have to carry some of
the load until Christensen gets back into pitching shape.
The Scots most seasoned hurler, junior Blayre Scott (White Hall,
Ill./North Greene), will again provide relief from the bullpen. The
crafty junior tied for the team lead in saves in 2006 and touts
control and experience as her best weapons. Sophomore Ashley Tocha
(Kewanee, Ill./Kewanee) is a versatile pitcher/utility player who
could also get the call from the bullpen as well as some time at an
infield position.
“We don’t have a power-pitching type of staff,” said Shimmin. “But
we do have some women who should be able to give us some quality
innings.”
The other half of the battery will be anchored by third-year starter
Kristin Bickett (Malden, Ill./Princeton), a veteran behind the plate
with good defensive skills and a solid bat. The junior backstop will
be assigned the duty of tutoring a pair of up-and-coming freshmen
catchers – Val Stier (Avon, Ill./Avon) and Natalie Giannini
(Richmond, Ill./Richmond-Burton).
One of three seniors on the squad, Jackie Hennenfent (Wataga, Ill./ROWVA)
made the transition from third to first in 2006 and appears ready to
handle that position again this season. The reliable senior played
in all 33 games last season and Shimmin credits her and fellow
seniors Katie Hamilton (Savanna, Ill./Savanna) and Drew Robinson
(St. Charles, Ill./North), along with junior captain Emily Willems
(Moline, Ill./Rockridge), with nurturing the team chemistry.
Hamilton, who is recovering from an early season illness, should
eventually land the job at second, although Stier, Scott and junior
Anna Coutts (Ladd, Ill./Hall), a 2006 all-conference outfielder,
could split time there in the interim. Also in the mix is freshman
Maggie Dort (Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond-Burton) who Shimmin says
“has a lot of potential to be a very good college player.”
An all-conference shortstop a year ago, Willems will handle those
duties, offering good range, a strong arm and an excellent bat. The
junior led the team last season in total bases and was second in
four other offensive categories including home runs. If Willems
needs a break, look for Dort or Hamilton to fill in.
The lone newcomer to the infield is freshman third baseman Kembra
Bell (Beardstown, Ill./Beardstown). The “fundamentally sound” third
sacker has qualities Shimmin likes in her players.
“She’s very vocal and confident,” said Shimmin. “She doesn’t play
like a freshman at all.”
Despite all three outfielders returning, including all-conference
selections Coutts and Robinson, Shimmin says the freshman class will
give her some options both defensively and offensively.
Robinson, who led the team in stolen bases, and Coutts will be
joined in the outfield by sophomore Ashley Parer (Rock Island,
Ill./Rock Island) who was second to Robinson in stolen bases. Speedy
freshmen Brooke Dean (Milan, Ill./Rock Island) and Amanda Cozzi
(Roselle, Ill./St. Viator) and classmate Mary Scotillo (Barrington,
Ill./St. Viator) round out the outfield candidates. Dean and Cozzi
have the type of speed that will continue the Scots’ tradition of
base-stealing threats.
While the defense rests, the offense may well be in hyper-drive.
With so much speed on the roster, Shimmin says her challenge will be
to sort out all the possible lineups she will have at her disposal.
“We are solid at every position and more versatile this season,”
said Shimmin. “The women came in ready to work hard and that’s a
tribute to the veterans’ leadership.”
Shimmin says the team can offer some pop with the bats – they hit 90
percent of their home runs in the last half of the season – and they
can also steal a few bases. However, don’t necessarily look for the
same batting order as last season.
“We have a lot of options offensively and will use the early season
as the litmus test to create a solid game plan once we get into
conference play,” she said. “We’ll really experiment with some
lineups in the early season.”
The Scots are hoping the right formula will propel them to their
first Midwest Conference Tournament appearance since 2004.
Monmouth is scheduled for an early test this Saturday at the
Greenville College Tournament and heads to Tucson, Ariz., for eight
games beginning Mar. 11.
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