University of Tennessee Athletics
2001 Lady Vol Softball Season Preview
January 12, 2001 | Softball
"T All That We Can Be"
Needing to replace four All-SEC players and two starting pitchers off a squad which shared the Eastern Division title and advanced to NCAA Regionals in 1999, the Lady Volunteer softball team hoped to have the pieces in place to make a run at the Southeastern Conference championship last season and produce another berth in the "Big Dance." Unfortunately, the team lacked the arms and offensive firepower to contend for any hardware or postseason glory and wound up surrendering its East crown without much of a fight.
As the program's sixth campaign commences, there will be no complacency on the part of the coaches or players, especially with the infusion of newcomers who want to prove their own mettle and show that 2000 was an aberration. Employing the mantra, "T All That We Can Be," Tennessee will be aiming to erase the bitter memories of a forgettable year which saw it finish with the program's first losing mark at 29-34 overall. Revenge will definitely serve as motivation against league foes as well, since the Orange was on the positive side of the ledger just five times and wound up at the bottom of the standings.
With an off-season regimen dedicated to working his troops back into shape, head coach Jim Beitia is cautiously optimistic that the hours of blood, sweat and tears will be rewarded in due time. Four senior leaders are charged with assuming the mantle of leadership, and their abilities to lead a young squadron will dictate whether the Lady Vols can redefine their previous role as conquering heroines.
"The disappointing numbers of last spring do not lie; we did not come close to achieving many of the objectives we had outlined prior to the season," acknowledged Beitia. "The players understand what it takes to achieve a high level of success, so it was not too difficult motivating them once we resumed workouts. With the arsenal of talent at our disposal this year, I am expecting a complete reversal of fortune to put UT softball back on the map."
THE INFIELD: For Beitia and his staff, improving the club's defense and fielding remained a top priority during the off-season, as UT committed 116 errors and registered a league-low .937 percentage in 2000. Losing former team MVP and 1999 second-team All-SEC third baseman Amanda Venable means there will be either two or three new starters ready to lead the Lady Vols into battle.
The middle portion of the infield should see seniors Melissa Radley and Annie Fletcher penciled into the starting lineup on a routine basis, as each student-athlete was selected as an All-American while enrolled in junior college. From Woodrising, Australia, Radley opened her first season in Knoxville as the team's shortstop, where she drew 36 starting assignments. She was later moved over to second base for UT's final 12 games following an outfield collision at Florida. Having finished with a .284 batting average, 23 runs and 13 RBI, Radley's offense gave a surprising boost to the squad.
Meanwhile, Fletcher eased into the second base slot vacated after four solid years by standout Kelli Fitzgerald. After receiving second-team All-America honors at Palomar Community College, she started 62 of the Lady Vols' 63 games in 2000, with 35 appearances as the second sacker and 27 assignments at shortstop. A discriminating hitter, Fletcher tied for second on UT by drawing 16 walks, tied for third with 10 doubles and was a stellar 8-for-8 on stolen-base attempts.
Temecula, Calif., native Carissa Roustan is expected to step right into the lineup after one season at Palomar. Listed among the state leaders in RBI, she achieved all-state status as the Comets won the 2000 California championship and picked up a Golden Glove for her outstanding postseason effort. The sophomore will handle the chores at perhaps the most difficult position in collegiate softball, third base.
After being a first-team all-conference selection throughout her tenure at Casa Roble High School, freshman Amber Rhinehart is expected to secure the first base slot. Beitia is hopeful that the Citrus Heights, Calif., resident will continue to exhibit the hitting style that indicates she will be a top slugger. Rhinehart helped her club to three Capitol Athletic League Championships and two sectional crowns as a prepster.
Junior Maria Torres will prove to be a valuable commodity for the Lady Vols since she can fill voids at first and third base. She held the first base job for 37 starts and compiled a batting average of .272 with 25 RBI and six homers. Torres seemed to put some nagging injury problems behind her and recapture the form which enabled her to become a steady performer on the Argentinian National Team from 1994-97.
Another rookie who should provide an immediate impact is second baseman Andie Sherman, who notched first-team all-conference honors three straight times at Del Oro High School and was an all-state choice in 2000. The Californian was also selected first-team All-Area by the Auburn Journal as both a junior and a senior and made steady progress throughout the preseason workouts and scrimmages.
"This group has the potential to become the best defensive alignment we have ever put on the field," said Beitia. "In the past, we have had some great athletes plugged into certain postions. With the additions of Amber, Andie and Carissa, I feel that we have a more well-rounded attack. The core of this unit could be together for awhile so people will be witnessing the foundation for our future."
THE OUTFIELD: With only one returning starter in the outfield, that would seem to present some problems on the surface for Beitia entering the dawn of a new season. Fortunately, reinforcements have arrived brimming with talent.
Becoming the first Lady Vol chosen professionally when she was selected by the Akron Racers in the Women's Pro Softball League draft last December, senior left fielder Janette Koshell will be counted on to lead by example on the field and in the clubhouse. After transferring to Tennessee from Sacramento City Community College, she was the team's top hitter with a .339 average and led the squad in slugging percentage (.537), RBI (39) and doubles (18). Koshell rated second on the squad in total bases (95), runs (37) and walks (16) and hit a robust .338 with team highs in RBI (13), doubles (7) and homers (3) during SEC play.
With a vast array of skills at the plate and throughout each position in the outfield, Hannah Low's speed and range should combine to give UT a solid center fielder. The Miwuk, Calif., native was a two-time All-American at Merced Community College and led the junior colleges in California with 51 RBI on her way to being tabbed as the Northern California Player of the Year in 2000.
Although just a rookie, Ellisha Humphrey has shown flashes of brilliance and versatility in the fall while manning right field and will take advantage of her quickness. A four-year letterwinner at Halls High School, where she captained the squad as a senior and played with older sister and now Lady Vol teammate Stephanie for several seasons, Ellisha earned all-state accolades as a utility player and made the all-state tournament team in 2000. The younger Humphrey could also see time in the infield as well.
A four-year starter and four-year All-Knoxville Interscholastic League performer at nearby West High School, Nicole Johnson will be looking to etch her name on to the lineup card wherever she is needed. She was a two-time all-state selection at shortstop, made all-district every time and maintained an eye-popping career batting average of .505 with 87 stolen bases and 20 triples. A walk-on player from Yorktown, Va., via George Mason University, sophomore Nicole Schaeffer will be employed as a pinch hitter or runner in specific situations but could fill any of the outfield positions if pressed into service.
"Our outfield contingent is definitely the strongest athletically we have ever had," Beitia noted. "All five of them can play in any position, and each combines a good mix of arm strength and range. With their individual speed, I am counting on them to be among the team leaders in batting average, on-base percentage and stolen bases, and I project our power numbers in home runs to be much higher than in 2000. I feel confident that any ball that reaches the outfield, no matter where it is hit, will be caught."
PITCHING: For the second straight year, Tennessee must address a plethora of questions about its corps in the circle, where only two players possess Division I experience - totaling a mere 11 starts and 84.1 innings. These queries follow on the heels of the graduation of the best pitcher in school history, Jackie Beavers, who established career records in strikeouts (335), victories (76) and shutouts (25), as well as the transfer of Leslie Poole to Fresno State.
Sophomore Stephanie Humphrey exceeded all expectations as a rookie and proved to be a double threat for the Lady Vols as a pitcher and as a designated player. The Knoxvillian recorded a 4-4 mark in the circle with a 4.14 ERA and fanned 25 batters in 50.2 innings of work. She earned starting assignments versus Auburn, Florida and LSU, outings which hopefully provided her with valuable experience for the 2001 season.
Having accounted for 23.2 innings in her first live action for the Lady Vols, redshirt sophomore Nicole Murray will be looking to aid the staff as a spot starter or a reliever. The Carmichael, Calif., native has worked diligently with pitching coach Dayna Carter to improve upon her mechanics and delivery and could be one of the team's pleasant surprises.
Beitia is hoping that the addition of junior college transfer Nicole Borg will pay instant dividends for the Lady Vols. The right-hander led the College of San Mateo to the Northern California Regionals in 1999 and 2000, and she pitched 30 of the club's 31 games last spring. Selected as the Northern California Pitcher of the Year, Borg tossed 16 shutouts for the Bulldogs and posted a microscopic 0.58 earned run average on her way to all-conference and all-state honors. Not to be outdone, she proved to be a viable threat at the plate with a .440 batting average and 32 RBI.
Hailing from Barboursville, W.Va., freshman Leigh Ann Ellis will become the first southpaw to grace UT's pitching staff. A two-time captain, Ellis made first-team AAA All-State every year at Cabell Midland High School and was chosen as the Gatorade Player of the Year for West Virginia in her final campaign. Possessing big-game experience, Ellis guided her team to state crowns in 1997, 1999 and 2000 and was the winning pitcher on each occasion. She earned spots on the all-state tourney teams a record-setting four times with a career ERA of 0.00 and four no-hitters in the postseason. Her credentials include a career mark of 79-9 with a scant 0.64 ERA, 927 strikeouts and a career batting average of .336.
"A program can only advance as far as its pitching staff takes it," remarked Beitia. "Each of them brings a different strength and a unique style to the circle. We are going to need at least one of them to step up and be a money pitcher if we expect to win in the rough and tumble SEC. Our regular-season schedule will offer several opportunities to compete against various national contenders, so each player will be expected to get the job done when she is handed the ball."
CATCHING: After earning the distinction as the most versatile player on Tennessee's roster in 2000, Maura Mollet heads into her final go-round as the lone four-year Lady Vol performer. The Yukon, Okla., native will enter the campaign as the unit's backstop after starting 62 games at a variety of positions: catcher (33), second base (16), right field (nine) and left field (four). She is coming off a junior year in which she hit a career-best .261 with single-season highs in total bases (62), hits (48), runs batted in (15) and doubles (10). A steady contact hitter, Mollet led UT with 13 sacrifice hits.
After becoming the first Lady Vol rookie to be selected second-team All-South by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association in 1999, junior Adrianna Wilson looks to rebound from an up-and-down second season. Although her batting average dropped to .264 after a freshman performance in which she hit .329, Wilson delivered a .273 clip in SEC games and tied Venable for the squad lead with seven homers. Her power numbers remained consistent, as she notched 69 total bases, drove in 30 runs and earned a team-high 18 walks.
A pair of first-year players from the Volunteer state, Rachael Mink and Nikki Sexton, will also be attempting to work their way into the lineup. Mink enjoyed a tremendous career at Gibbs High School, where the Lady Eagles claimed district, regional and state championships every season. She was tabbed as her district's Most Valuable Player in 1998 and '99 and made all-state as both a junior and a senior. Hitting .400 with 43 RBI, 13 doubles, a team-high six homers and five triples as a senior certainly underscores Mink's potential. A standout at Powell High School, Sexton received all-state honors after batting .396 with 30 stolen bases, 12 doubles and 10 homers last spring. Most importantly, she helped the Lady Panthers reach the Class AAA tournament for the first time since 1997.
"We have four legitimate starting catchers on our roster," said Beitia. "The question is, who can put up the best offensive numbers for us. Regardless, I expect all of them to help bring our youthful pitching staff along and serve as the foundation behind the plate."
THE SCHEDULE: Another grueling slate will have Tennessee traveling throughout the continental United States but will hopefully prepare the team for its second appearance in the 48-team NCAA field. The Orange will certainly need to become road warriors, as the club's first seven weekends will be spent away from the friendly confines of Knoxville. The span of over 40 games exceeds UT's longest stretch to start a campaign by a whopping 24 contests.
"We've always been known for compiling a strong schedule, and this year is no different," commented Beitia. "Our early-season travels will prepare us well for our SEC foes, so we should know by the start of league competition where we stand. From all indications, our players are eager to handle all of the various challenges which will be placed before them - both on and off the diamond."
Ten different Lady Vol opponents advanced to the NCAA Regionals in 2000, including Women's College World Series participants Alabama and Arizona. Right out of the gate, UT will visit Tampa for the Louisville Slugger Tournament from Feb. 2-4 against the Wildcats, Florida Atlantic, Hawaii, Northwestern and host South Florida. The opening weekend of activity will mark the earliest that the Orange has embarked on a seasonal crusade.
Several days later, Tennessee will begin play in the Islander Classic in Corpus Christi, Texas, against an assortment of national foes. On the first day of the tournament, which runs from Feb. 9-11, the Lady Vols will face Southwest Texas State and host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. On Saturday, Beitia's club will meet the SWTSU Bobcats for a second time, as well as Pac-10 member Oregon State. Second encounters with the Beavers and host Islanders will complete the squad's action on Sunday.
The squad's initial appearance at the Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C., will take place from Feb. 16-18. Tennessee will encounter Illinois, North Carolina and Rhode Island in pool play before entering the playoff rounds. A total of 24 teams will round out the three-day affair and also mark UT's inaugural visit to the Tar Heel state.
There will be no rest for the weary, as the Lady Vols will depart on Feb. 20 for an eight-game jaunt out to California to face Santa Clara, St. Mary's, Sacramento State and Pacific in twinbills at each institution. The Big Orange has not met any of these schools with the exception of a 4-2 triumph over Sac State at the Campbell/Cartier Classic in San Diego last February.
After renewing acquaintances with Eastern Division rival Florida, Florida A&M, Georgia Southern and Pittsburgh at the Eagle Classic in Statesboro, Ga., over March 2-4, Tennessee will kick off its 30-game SEC grind in Oxford versus Mississippi on March 10. There is a new wrinkle to league activity this season, as a balanced schedule will call for three-game series among all 11 teams instead of the old format of four games against divisional foes and doubleheaders versus the divisional counterpart.
As a conference, the SEC was rated second in the Ratings Percentage Index, and a record six schools reached NCAAs, including regional host Louisiana State, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi State and South Carolina.
"My feeling is that there will probably be four or five teams from our league among the Top 25 at any given time," exclaimed Beitia. "Seeing how competitive the SEC Tournament has become in a relatively short span also shows that we're gaining a stronger reputation on the national scene."
Once a three-game series is completed in Baton Rouge against defending Western Division champion LSU, the Lady Vols finally return home on March 20 to host reigning East titleist Kentucky for a doubleheader and then a single game on the 21st. UT will wind up hosting Alabama, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Georgia this season, with additional road trips to Columbia, S.C., Auburn, Ala., and Gainesville, Fla.
In the Lady Vol Spring Invitational over April 6-8, Beitia's troops will entertain Centenary, Stephen F. Austin and Virginia in the double round-robin event. The Orange and White has captured its own tourney once (1999) and finished as the runner-up the four other occasions. Other non-conference foes Tennessee will play during its campaign are New Mexico State and Virginia Tech. The Aggies will visit Tyson Park for a single game on March 29, while the meeting with the Hokies will occur at the fourth annual State-Line Classic in Bristol, Tenn., on April 18.
After four years at South Commons Stadium in Columbus, Ga., the 2001 SEC Tourney will be held from May 10-13 at Jim Frost Stadium in Chattanooga. To indicate the balance of the league, South Carolina claimed the crown last season as the seventh seed with an extra-inning upset of LSU. By making the 90-minute drive down Interstate-75, Tennessee hopes to make an impression in its home state following a surprising one-year hiatus from postseason play.
Heeding the messages delivered by the commercials encouraging men and women to enlist and dedicate themselves to the United States military, the current edition of the Lady Vol softball team plans on mobilizing its forces in an all-out blitz towards restoring its tradition of excellence. Just as the Navy SEALS profess, Tennessee claims that it "won't ring out" when faced with adversity and assorted obstacles.
