Jan. 31, 2008

SOFTBALL: Early Start for Lutes, Who Play Four Games in California

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran at Concordia (DH), Friday, 1 p.m.; PLU at Vanguard (DH), Saturday, noon.

EARLY START: Pacific Lutheran gets its season off to an early start as the Lutes travel to California’s Orange County for a pair of doubleheaders against NAIA opponents. PLU faces Concordia University in Irvine, Calif., on Feb. 1, and Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Feb. 2. After that trip, the Lutes will not play again until Feb. 23 when they travel to Lacey to take on Saint Martin’s in a doubleheader. This isn’t the only California trip on the docket for PLU as the team will make a spring break trip to face NCAA Division III opponents Cal Lutheran, La Verne and Redlands. Northwest Conference play starts March 1 with a doubleheader at George Fox.

SEASON OUTLOOK: With a group of experienced players complemented by a handful of solid newcomers, the Pacific Lutheran softball program figures to return to its winning ways after struggling to an uncharacteristic 17-18 record in 2007. This year’s team has the makings of a group that should return to the outstanding success historically enjoyed by the program.

Pitching:
Sophomore Hadley Schmitt, who showed flashes of dominance while compiling a 10-9 record and 2.43 earned run average last year, enters the season as the Lutes’ top pitcher. Schmitt led the 2007 Lutes with 106 2/3 innings and struck out 89 opposing batters. Cathy Kirkevold, used primarily as a designated player last year, had a 5-4 record and 1.93 earned run average in 2006 and will return to the circle. A newcomer, sophomore transfer Rachel Wheeler-Hoyt, is also in the mix. Wheeler-Hoyt comes to the PLU program from Texas Tech University, where she saw some action as a freshman.

Catching:
The Lutes return Vanessa Bryant, who started about half of the Lutes’ games behind the plate last year. In all, Bryant hit .333 in 27 games. Stephanie Mullen, a freshman out of Kent-Meridian High School, figures to split catching duties with Bryant.

Infield:
Pacific Lutheran returns one full-time starter from last year in second baseman Carly Starke. A sophomore, Starke hit .273 with six doubles last year. Heather Walling, who split time between the outfield and infield last year, is back and figures to be the starting shortstop. Walling, a left-handed slap hitter, finished with a .292 batting average and led the Lutes with 22 runs. She is perhaps the team’s best base stealing threat based on her perfect 15-for-15 in that category last year.

Senior Lisa Gilbert and sophomore Shelby Johnston should both see time at first base, and the third base job is more wide open, with Wheeler-Hoyt, Mullen and Crystal Reno all in the mix. Two other first-year Lutes, Beth Haahr and Brittney Weissenbuehler, are also candidates to play infield positions this season.

Outfield:
With Walling moving from centerfield to shortstop, the only returning starter is rightfielder Missy Waldron. The junior slap hitter has a solid glove and figures to improve on her offensive production this season. Eryn Beal, a junior college transfer from Yakima Valley, gets the starting nod in centerfield, while sophomore Sheila Reiten, who played for the University of Washington last year, will start in leftfield. Reiten makes the move from the infield, but has shown the athletic ability to make a smooth transition to her new position. All three of the outfielders run well and should provide solid defense. Offensively, Reiten and Beal can both slap and swing away with some pop from the left side.

ABOUT THE COACH: Head coach Rick Noren who has compiled an impressive 383-126 record with eight Northwest Conference titles and eight national tournament appearances in 13 seasons at the school.

- PLU -