Marietta College softball set for 2006 campaign

Mar. 1, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team is approaching the 2006 season with a lot of excitement. It is not only looking to build upon a successful 2005, which landed the Pioneers in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament for the first time since 1999, but also forward to playing on its brand new beautiful field on campus, which was made possible as a result of the Fields Project.

The Pioneers, who finished 2005 with a record of 16-25, return a solid core from the team that finished fourth in the league at 9-9 last year. Overall, Marietta returns nine letterwinners and eight starters (two pitchers and six others) from last spring.

Junior Kristen Quintana will lead the pitching staff again in 2006. Quintana, an All-OAC selection, made her mark in the record books last spring. She tied Candice Miller's record for appearances (30) and innings pitched (155.3). Her 21 games started, 14 victories and 19 complete games rank as the second-best totals ever at MC. Senior Stephanie Houston will give the Pioneers a solid second starter and a dependable bat in the lineup.

All-Region and All-OAC performers Lindsey Romick and Sue Schwamberger are expected to anchor the offense this spring. Romick became the single-season hits (52), doubles (14) and home run (4) leader at Marietta as a sophomore transfer. The outfielder also led the team in batting average (.406), runs (29), RBI (24) and stolen bases (12-of-14).

Schwamberger played both outfield and catcher in 2005, and finished the year batting .315 (40-of-127), while adding seven doubles, 16 runs scored and 17 RBI. Schwamberger was also solid both in the outfield and behind the plate, finishing with a team-high 138 putouts and a .994 fielding percentage.

Junior shortstop Jenny Carroll, junior outfielder Jessy Hutchison, sophomore third baseman Nikki Veigel and sophomore second baseman Brandy Jacob all bring experience and the tools to make Coach Jeanne Arbuckle eager for the season to begin. When combined with a talented and hardworking freshman class, the Pioneers should once again have the personnel to make a run toward the OAC Tournament again this spring.

Marietta will open the 2006 season in Orlando, Florida, at the Rebel Spring Games (Mar. 12-17). Its home opener is scheduled for March 25 against Hiram. The Pioneers will play 11 doubleheaders at home on Marietta Field this spring. Their OAC home opener is against Wilmington (Apr. 4).