Kangaroos Embark On 2008 Slate With A Five-Game Tourney Swing In Tempe
2/14/2008 5:00:00 PM | Softball
The UMKC softball team kicks off the 2008 slate with a trip to warmer climes, as five games in the Kajikawa Classic, hosted by Arizona State, await the squad this weekend. The Kangaroos open the year Friday against Washington at 1:30 p.m. (CT), with a game against Idaho State wrapping up the day's activity at 6:15 p.m. Head coach Meredith Smith will take her squad up against Nevada (1 p.m. CT) and Texas State (4:30 p.m. CT) in back-to-back contests on Saturday before closing out tournament play against the host Sun Devils - who are currently ranked #3 in the USAToday/NFCA polls and #4 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball polls.
Fans can listen to Friday's season opener courtesy of gohuskies.com, as Ryan Borde has the call from Tempe. Visit the schedule page at www.umkckangaroos.com for more information.
Tournament Quick Hits
? This is the first visit to Arizona for the Kangaroos and the first time that UMKC has started a season west of the Rockies since the 1998 season - the second year of the Galen Struve era.
? This weekend's action will mark the first time UMKC has faced any of the opponents on its slate.
Scouting the Huskies
Washington opened the season last week with a visit to the Sportco Spring Kick-Off Classic, going 2-1-1 in tournament action and adding a defeat by the Canadian National Team in an exhibition. The Huskies picked up wins against Loyola Chicago and Texas Tech, dropping a result against UNLV before tying the Running Rebels after the game was delayed due to prior tournament games running long, then truncated by Washington's travel plans.
In her fourth season on the job, Heather Tarr returns four starters from last year's team, but counts key among the losses a pair of All-Americans - Dominique Lastrapes and Dena Tyson - lost to graduation and a third player - Danielle Lawrie - who will miss the 2008 season in preparation for the Beijing Olympics.
Caitlin Noble leads the squad on both sides of the ledger, picking up both of Washington's wins in the circle and compiling a 1.89 ERA along with her team-leading .429 batting average. Alyson McWherter is also hitting at the .400 mark, with Lauren Greer driving home 5 RBI on the short campaign thus far.
As a team, the Husky pitching staff has issued just nine bases on balls, striking out 28 - 24 by Noble - in four games.
Scouting the Bengals
Although Idaho State initially competed in softball in 1976, the program went dormant in 1983, returning in the 2007 season as the 16th sport offered by the school. Larry Stocking returns to his alma mater to rebuild the program and has compiled a 10-36 record thus far. Entering his second season at the Division I level, Stocking brings a solid junior college pedigree as he built a program at Ricks College, earning four consecutive Scenic West Athletic Conference and Region 18 Coach of the Year honors to open his tenure at Ricks.
The Bengals have opened the season 0-4, falling 6-3 to Summit League foe Southern Utah and dropping tight results against Utah Valley (4-5), Utah (1-4) and Rhode Island (2-5) in action at the BYU Red Desert Classic. Heather Dixon leads the Bengals with a .532 batting average, cranking two home runs on the year to post a 1.154 slugging average. Merissa Jannsen also swings a solid bat for the Bengals, with a .500 batting average.
In the circle, Natasha Milosevic leads the team with a 2.33 ERA, although Andrea Coburn has seen the most innings of work - 11.1 innings pitched - for Idaho State. The Bengals' staff has issued 19 walks and allowed three home runs, striking out just 13.
Scouting the Wolf Pack
Nevada has compiled a 3-2 record to open the season, downing UC-Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton and Santa Clara but losing to UCLA and Oklahoma during action at the Freeway Series. The Wolf Pack bookended the tournament action with a pair of run-rule contests, falling in five innings to the No. 10-ranked Bruins to open the slate and dispatching Santa Clara by an 8-0 count in six innings. Michelle Gardner brings a 143-158 overall record into her sixth season as bench boss at Nevada.
Katie Holverson has seen the lion's share of time in the circle for Nevada, appearing in four of the five contests thus far for the Wolf Pack, posting a 1.21 ERA in 17.1 innings pitched. She has struck out 20, issuing just five walks on the season. As a staff, the Wolf Pack has compiled a 2.48 ERA and held opponents to a .295 batting average.
Offensively, Tyler Schafer leads the team with a .412 batting average, and has stolen a pair of bases safely on the year. Kelsey Starr has driven in a team-high four runs on the year, collecting one home run and three walks on the year as well.
Scouting the Bobcats
Texas State returns the majority of its 2007 squad that compiled a 32-26 (18-12 Southland) record and just missed out on an NCAA Tournament berth. Ricci Woodard has compiled a 266-147-1 record in seven seasons at the helm for the Bobcats.
Alex Newton tops the offensive charts for Texas State with a .462 batting average, driving in three runs with two doubles and a home run on the season. As a team, the Bobcats have mustered a .241 average, collecting 12 walks and striking out 38 times on the year.
Ragan Blake has seen the most action in the circle for Texas State, posting a 4.95 ERA in 20.0 innings pitched. She has collected one of Texas State's wins on the year, with Katie Garnett claiming the other. As a staff, Texas State has compiled a 4.66 ERA, issuing 21 walks and striking out 35 on the campaign.
Scouting the Sun Devils
Host Arizona State posted a 3-1 record to open its schedule, with its only stumble coming against UNLV - a 3-1 reversal at the hands of the Running Rebels. Clint Myers enters his third season at the helm after leading Arizona State to a 54-17 (13-8 Pac 10) record last season, having posted a 110-33 overall record at the school.
Jackie Vasquez has posted a stellar .636 batting average through four games for the Sun Devils to pace the offense, collecting two RBI and one double on the season. Five players have already hit solo home runs for ASU this season, with Kaitlin Cochran leading the team with five RBI. As a team, the Sun Devils have taken 21 walks and struck out just 13 times.
As a staff, Arizona State has posted a 0.84 ERA, with Megan Elliott and Katie Burkhart each posting a shutout in the early going. Burkhart has been a whirlwind, sitting down 24 batters single-handedly as part of a 31-strikeout campaign by the staff.
2008 Outlook
With just five players returning from last year's squad it should be clear that the 2008 outlook for UMKC's softball program can't fairly be based on last year's results. The story for the 2008 squad is one of additions.
It will certainly be hard to miss five extra healthy bodies during the games, the biggest addition for this year's team is a coaching staff that has tripled in size. Head coach Meredith Smith adds two assistant coaches - Jamie Beucke and Shae Crowley - this season, as well as a volunteer assistant and a student manager. All four new members of her staff bring considerable softball experience to the program. With the added staff, Smith is better equipped to work with her players as she begins the rebuilding process.
The rebuilding process begins with the pitchers. Although three players from last year's pitching staff return to the squad for 2008, Samantha Hurst is the only one slated to be a part of the pitching rotation.
“Last year we were forced to do some things that we wouldn't have normally done,” said Smith. “As we struggled with injuries, we had to ask some players to fill roles they weren't ideally suited for. Credit to Alicia Baker and Carli Slagle, but it was unfair to them to be put in that situation.”
For 2008, UMKC adds three new pitchers: freshman Taya Upkes and sophomores Ashton Kistler and Nicholle Ellis.
“We've added three new pitchers this season,” said Smith. “Taya has continued to work hard throughout the fall and has gotten better. We haven't had a chance to see much of Nicholle and Ashton, but what we have seen has been impressive. They have all worked hard and have the right attitude to make an impact with our team.”
As the sole returning member of last year's pitching staff, Hurst will be relied upon to be a key player for the Kangaroo staff.
“Sam's a leader both on and off the field for us,” remarked Smith. “Since she's been here for a year and has an understanding of our expectations, our new additions look to her to set an example in practice and in workouts. On the field, she is the key to our pitching staff, as she provides a good contrast that keeps batters guessing.”
In the infield, UMKC will take advantage of Baker's solid leadership presence. Elected team captain, Baker also made the transition this season to first base, playing the corner for the first time in her softball career.
“Alicia is someone that our team looks up to,” said Smith. “While we had our eye on her, the team chose her as a captain. With four of the five slots in the infield potentially filled by freshman, her leadership will be important this year.”
Catching UMKC's improved pitching staff will fall primarily on the shoulders of Lauren Rodrigues. Projected to always see time with battery-mate Upkes, Rodrigues is making a quick transition to the Division I game.
“Lauren has the best bat speed on this team and will likely do some damage at the plate, but she's still learning how to run the game from behind the plate,” said Smith. “I see a lot of potential for her, and partnering her with Taya should bring out the best in both of them.”
Backing up Rodrigues at catcher will be third baseman Megan Ussary.
“Megan has the best swing I've ever seen,” remarks Smith. “I've seen a lot of good players and can honestly say hers is the best swing I've seen. I haven't even tried to tinker with it.”
A trio of utility players provide flexibility for Smith, with Julie Hartung and Lauren Cross both showing the arm strength to be comfortable in the outfield and the quickness and range to be good in the interior. Hartung will also be looked upon to provide protection for the big hitters in the Kangaroo lineup. Rounding out the trifecta is Kelly Fischer.
“Julie should be a middle of the lineup hitter for us,” said Smith. “She will keep teams from just pitching around our stronger hitters. Lauren has an excellent arm and good range. Kelly is one of the strongest number two hitters I've seen. She can do anything you need - slap, sac bunt, sac fly or whatever the situation calls for.”
In the outfield, UMKC will also see an improvement this year behind freshmen Ashley Whiteside and Amanda Kinn. The two slappers will be locked in competition all season for the leadoff spot, but Smith isn't afraid to use the capable hitters at the bottom of the lineup as well. Making a solid improvement from last year as well is Slagle. In Whiteside and Kinn, the Kangaroos will have a speedy, rangy outfield that should prove capable throughout the season, while Slagle will impress with her arm strength and accuracy.
UMKC opens the season with its longest road trip of the year. Heading to Tempe, Ariz., for the Kajikawa Classic - hosted by Arizona State - the Kangaroos embark on an 11-game road swing. Smith is confident about her team's chances in the early stages of the schedule, however.
“We've got a really good chance to win at least two games to open the season,” said Smith. “I like our chances against Idaho State, Nevada and Texas State. I think we'll play Washington close, a lot like we played Oklahoma last season. Against Arizona State, it really depends on how we do to start - if we do well, they'll probably throw their number one pitcher and top defense at us. We'll have a lot of fan support that should really help.”
The Kangaroos have a short stop at home, meeting up with Iowa State on Thursday, March 6 before tangling with the Cyclones to open tournament play in the Shocker Invitational on March 7. UMKC then returns to Kansas City for three series, first against Indiana State before taking on Summit League foes Oakland and Centenary.
“I think we have a really good schedule this year,” said Smith. “It's tough - but balanced - and we have a chance to get off to a good start. I'm not as worried about our early season tournaments as I am playing at Creighton and at Drake. It will be a good experience for our team, however, and should help us in league play.”
After wrapping up the three-game series with Centenary, UMKC stays within The Summit League, heading to Southern Utah for a three-game set. A midweek jaunt to Creighton ensues before UMKC heads north to take on North Dakota State. UMKC returns home for a 10-game home stand before closing out the slate on the road.
