2005 softball preview

Mar. 2, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio – Coach Jeanne Arbuckle has many reasons to be optimistic about the 2005 softball season. The Pioneers return eight of their nine position players and two starting pitchers from last year’s squad, which finished tied for seventh in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) with an overall record of 18-19, 8-10 in the Conference.

For the first time in four seasons, however, the Pioneers will have to take the field without Candice Miller, the OAC’s career strikeout queen, and Casey Lamp, a four-year starter in center field. Marietta will look for senior leadership and its underclassmen to step up in order to build on the foundation that was set over the last few springs.

Seniors Taryn Dobson and Katie Moriarty are expected to provide both defensive stability and offensive production in their final season with the Pioneer Navy. Last year, Dobson batted .233 (14-of-60) in 23 games as the Pioneers’ second basemen, while Moriarty, a catcher, played in 36 contests and batted .233 (24-of-100) with a team-high 13 RBI and 14 walks.

Stephanie Houston is the Pioneers’ top returning offensive threat. The junior designated hitter was second on the team a year ago with a .276 batting average (24-of-87) and nine RBI.

The other starters returning in 2005 include juniors Jenny Carroll (infield) and Sue Schwamberger (outfield) and sophomores Mindi Littleton (infield), Kelly Rucker (outfield) and Stacy Zatezalo (infield). Carroll, who started 29 games at shortstop, hit .261 with nine runs scored and eight RBI. Schwamberger should patrol right field again this season after batting .233 with 10 runs scored. Littleton, who batted .266 as Marietta’s primary third baseman in 2004, is recovering from off-season surgery and is expected to be back in the lineup for OAC play. The coaching staff is looking for better offensive outputs from Rucker and Zatezalo, who gained valuable experience last season in left field and at first base, respectively.

Despite losing Miller to graduation, the Pioneers return to the mound an experienced one-two punch in junior Amie Weis and sophomore Kristen Quintana. Weis, who is also recovering from surgery, has shown signs of dominance on the mound throughout her first two seasons. The righthander struck out a school record 15 hitters against Kean (NJ) in her first outing of 2004 and finished 5-5 with 54 strikeouts, five complete games and a 1.86 ERA in 71.6 innings of work. Quintana started 11 games as a freshman, posting a 6-5 record with 59 strikeouts, six complete games and a 2.32 ERA in 78.3 innings.

The Pioneers will once again travel to the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, FL, (March 6-11) and the East Coast FastPitch Classic in Salem, VA (March 18-19). While at these two national tournaments, Marietta will face some of the nation’s top competition, including Salisbury (MD), who finished third in the nation last year and is tied for second in the NFCA’s pre-season poll, and Cortland State (NY), who also made the World Series in 2004 and is ranked 11th in the same poll.

Conference competition should be as strong as ever, and the Lady Pioneers are determined to play a major factor in the league race this season.

Here is a position-by-position look at the Pioneers in 2005:

Pitcher: Sophomore Kristen Quintana and junior Stephanie Houston will need to carry much of the load on the mound until junior Amie Weis is fully recovered from her surgery. Quintana was third in the rotation last year, behind Candice Miller and Weis. She went 5-6, allowing 76 hits and 26 earned runs with 59 strikeouts in 15 appearances as a freshman and is expected to only get better with experience. Weis had the OAC’s sixth best ERA in 2004 (1.86) and finished 5-5 with 54 strikeouts in 71.6 innings of work. Houston did not see any action on the mound a year ago, but should get innings early in the season.

Catcher: Senior Katie Moriarty has proven to be a reliable signal caller over the last three seasons and she should see extended time behind the plate again in 2005. Moriarty, whose pre-season was shortened tremendously because she also plays basketball, is poised to have a great year at the plate in 2005. She batted .240 with a team-best 13 RBI in 2004. A group of freshman should provide depth at this important position.

First Base: Sophomores Stacy Zatezalo and Abby Higbie are the leading contenders to start at first base in 2005. Zatezalo started 27 games here last year, hitting .250 with 11 RBI. She had six multi-hit games last spring and has the potential to provide power in the middle of the lineup. Higbie saw action in 22 games in 2004 and is expected to have a more prominent role this year.

Second Base: Senior Taryn Dobson returns as the starter and is the leading candidate for the position this season. Dobson batted .233 and was second on the squad with 11 runs scored as a junior. Look for a first-year player to back up Dobson this spring.

Shortstop: Sophomores Jenny Carroll and Lindsey Romick will battle for the starting nod at shortstop. Carroll started 29 games as shortstop last season, hitting .261 with nine runs and eight RBI. Romick joins the Pioneers after playing one year at James Madison, a Division I school in Virginia.

Third Base: Sophomore Mindi Littleton held down the hot corner in 32 games last season and once she is at full strength following her surgery, she should be the leading candidate at the position again in 2005. Littleton batted .266 and scored eight runs as a freshman. Do not be surprised to see Moriarty or a freshman on the left side of the infield throughout the year.

Outfield: The Pioneers return both leftfielder Kelly Rucker and rightfielder Sue Schwamberger this season, but must replace four-year starter Casey Lamp in center. Romick and sophomore Jess Hutchison are expected to battle for time in the outfield as well in 2005. Rucker, a sophomore, should mature at the plate with a year of collegiate experience, while Schwamberger, a junior, should be a leader on both offense and defense. Hutchison is looking to rebound from injury last season.

Outlook: The 2005 Pioneers are looking to improve upon four straight 18-win seasons and to play consistent softball. This will allow them to compete with the top teams in the OAC. An experienced group of players, combined with energetic newcomers, is up to the challenge and determined to bring a Conference title to Marietta.