University of Tennessee Athletics
2004 LADY VOL SOFTBALL SEASON PREVIEW
January 20, 2004 | Softball
Jan. 20, 2004
| "The Orange Equation" | |
| ? | Co-Head Coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly enter their third year at the University of Tennessee knowing that, although they have directed the Lady Vols to 80 victories over the past two campaigns, there are still several obstacles to conquer on the path to the ultimate goal for every Division I program: a Women's College World Series Championship. Achieving success is not a procedure which can occur overnight. There are no magic potions to consume or secret shortcuts to take, various steps have to be followed toward the desired end result. Combining seven gifted rookies to a talented nucleus of 13 returnees has already resulted in a ranking of 25th in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Poll, UT's first top-25 mention in five years. Because the Southeastern Conference standings and NCAA Regional berths are not determined through prognostications, the Lady Vols must pool their resources and blend into a cohesive unit to ensure positive outcomes. "This is the youngest team we have ever fielded in my 18 years of coaching," said Ralph Weekly. "We do not have any juniors and only four seniors, just two of whom have been an everyday starter. The success of this team will completely depend on the maturation process of the 16 freshmen and sophomores who will be counted upon to be a big part of the offense, defense and pitching staff." After inheriting a squad that had captured just 14 of 56 league contests between 2000-01, the Weeklys directed the Lady Vols to an equal amount of victories last season en route to the squad's initial appearance at the SEC Tournament since 1999. After eliminating top-seeded Georgia and Auburn and battling nationally-ranked Alabama and LSU to extra innings, this youthful corps of Lady Vols is eager to showcase its talents within one of the country's premier softball conferences. "The SEC is extremely tough from top to bottom and our young players are looking forward to the assortment of challenges that await them," said Karen Weekly. "One of the strongest assets of this team is the ability of most players to capably play two or more positions. This gives us a lot of flexibility in selecting a starting lineup. With most of the players being sound defensively, the key factor in selecting the lineup is offensive production. For our coaching staff, the challenge is to develop 'servant-warrior' and 'team-first' attitudes, where all of the players can contribute when needed with more concern for team, rather than individual, success." While preseason hype can often serve as a distraction, Tennessee's coaching staff and players are intent on proving that "The Orange Equation" will translate into SEC contention and a chance to compete in the NCAA Tournament.
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| INFIELD, CATCHERS | |
| ? | One of the trademarks for winning programs is a firm defense that can make dazzling plays look routine. The Weeklys are hopeful to configure an infield combination which will reduce the number of errors and raise the squad's fielding percentage from its seventh-place showing of .960 in 2003 within the SEC statistics. Second-team all-conference performer Amber Rhinehart will split time with senior Angela Brewer at first base, and either will serve as the designated player when the other is playing first. Rhinehart enjoyed a tremendous junior campaign, in which she batted .340 overall and a team-leading .372 over 29 league encounters. The Citrus Heights, Calif., native took home the Most Valuable Player hardware from the First Tennessee Round Robin and was all-tourney at the Golden Panther Invitational. She notched team highs in slugging percentage (.547), total bases (111), walks (24) and doubles (19), while two of her seven home runs were of the walk-off variety. Brewer, who ranked second on the Lady Vols with a .347 SEC average in '03, paced the team with 43 runs batted in and mashed nine taters. A two-time All-Southern Conference pick and first-team All-South Region recipient while she played for the Weeklys at Chattanooga, the slugger from East Ridge, Tenn., provided her signature moment thus far as a member of the Big Orange with a two-run shot in the eighth inning of the 2003 SEC Tournament to upend seventh-ranked Georgia. Sophomore Mandie Fishback, regarded as Tennessee's top defensive sparkplug, ranked third in the league among second basemen with a .968 fielding percentage. The coaching staff is optimistic the Banks, Ore., native can provide more punch offensively following her .238 performance at the plate. Freshman India Chiles, tabbed as Kentucky's Gatorade Player of the Year at Louisville's Ballard High School last spring, looks to blend all-around talent with blazing speed on the basepaths and could be deployed at second base or in the outfield. The hot corner will now be in the capable hands of either sophomore Kristi Durant or freshman Brittany Bessho, with the other player likely to start at catcher. Having achieved the feat of second-team All-South Region status from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), first-team All-SEC and All-SEC Tournament, Durant was responsible for the most outstanding offensive campaign by a UT rookie. The Placentia, Calif., native turned in the second-highest single-season average in school history (.424) and put together a Lady Vol-record hitting streak of 20 games on her way to a rookie record of 86 hits. The club's Most Valuable Player, she was named all-tournament at five events in 2003 and managed at least a hit in 55 of her 67 contests, with a team-high 24 multiple-hit efforts. A four-time all-county pick who snared the defensive and offensive player of the year accolades while at Lassiter High School in Marietta, Ga., Bessho was also recognized as the Cobb County Hitter of the Year as a senior. Having posted her team's top batting average three of four seasons as a prep star, she was a driving force behind the Atlanta Vipers advancing to the ASA Gold Nationals and securing a fourth-place finish at the Canada Cup, where she was tabbed as an all-star at third base. Leading the SEC in fielding percentage at shortstop before a knee injury sidelined her for the season last February, sophomore Danielle Arriaga aims to pencil her name onto the Weeklys' lineup card. Before her setback, the infielder from Miami, Fla., had put the finishing touches on a .467 (7-for-15) effort at a tourney in Las Vegas, Nev. Ready to make a lasting impression either at short or in center field, rookie Lindsay Schutzler was a two-time Louisville Slugger High School All-American at Notre Dame High School in Salinas, Calif. The talented Californian collected All-Central Coast Section (CCS) honors on three occasions while helping her team to a trio of CCS Division III crowns. Sporting a career batting average of .456, which resulted in three straight league batting titles, Schutzler paced ND in average, hits, runs and stolen bases four years in a row. "Amber and Angela will continue to share time at first base and as our designated player," stated Ralph Weekly. "Both have proven to be very good in each role and will be expected to provide leadership. The most solid performer in the infield, Mandie has soft hands with the ability to cover a lot of territory. Lindsay enters the season as the front-runner in the shortstop position, as we await Danielle's continued recovery from a serious knee injury. When Danielle is completely healthy, her return could move Lindsay to center field, the position for which she was recruited. Brittany and Kristi will share the third base spot, as well as catcher. It is our plan to start one behind the plate and have the other at third and switch them during doubleheaders, giving them both rest behind the plate. Both have strong arms and have worked hard during the offseason to improve their abilities and techniques."
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| OUTFIELD: | |
| ? | For the first time in several years, the Lady Vols will boast an outfield contingent deep at all three positions, with several people capable of patrolling each spot. The decision for the Weeklys will be choosing which lineup can be the most successful at a given time. When not toiling in the pitching circle, sophomore Stacey Jennings is projected to be in left field. On her way to a .307 batting average a year ago, she bashed a team-best 10 homers and drove in 40 runs, with a slugging percentage of .540. The Aurora, Colo., native was tabbed as the program's first USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Week (Feb. 25), was the initial Lady Vol rookie to be picked as the SEC Player of the Week (March 3) and was rewarded with all-tournament notoriety at three different events, including a Most Valuable Player performance at the Golden Panther Invitational in Miami, Fla. Center fielder Sarah Fekete, who capped a strong rookie campaign by securing All-SEC Tournament honors with a .312 clip over four games in Plant City, Fla., will form a dynamic duo with Schutzler at the top of the lineup. The speedster from Maryville, Tenn., set a freshman record with 13 stolen bases in 18 attempts, scored a team-best 38 runs and her .320 batting average rated fourth on the squad. Two of UT's four seniors, Ellisha Humphrey and Lauren Mattox, will vie for the starting berth in right field. Hailing from Knoxville, Humphrey registered career highs in on-base percentage (.306), batting average (.265), sacrifice hits (11) and doubles (eight) and was one of three Lady Vols to participate in all 70 games last year. Mattox, meanwhile, proved to be a welcome addition to the club after transferring from UNC Wilmington, where she was an All-Southern Conference honoree. A jack of all trades who was selected as a second-team utility player on the 2003 NFCA All-South Region team, the Charlotte, N.C., native earned starts at catcher, designated player, third base and in the outfield. Mattox showed consistency by hitting .338 overall and .342 in league play, with her 20 runs batted in against SEC competition the high-water mark for the Orange. Another talented member of the sophomore class, Katherine Card, laid the groundwork for her Lady Vol tenure with a first season that saw her hit .316 with 30 RBI, nine two-baggers and six dingers. The Soddy Daisy, Tenn., standout has the ability to play in the infield or the outfield, and the Weeklys are intent on finding a comfortable place for the 2003 UNLV Tournament MVP where she can be most effective. A four-year letterwinner and three-time all-county choice from Sweetwater, Tenn., Marissa Monroe will spend her freshman season as a redshirt as she adjusts to the Division I level. "There will be a lot of competition in the outfield, with six or seven players capable of starting," said Ralph Weekly. "Stacey, Lauren, Sarah and Katherine provide us with valuable experience and a full year within our system. Ellisha is being moved from shortstop to outfield, which is her natural position. She looked extremely good in fall ball and will compete for a starting berth."
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| PITCHING: | |
| ? | Adding one of the nation's most heralded newcomers to a pair of sophomores fuels the excitement surrounding Tennessee's trio of hurlers. Over the first two seasons under pitching coach Michele Granger's tutelage, the Lady Vols notched a school-record 429 strikeouts in 2002 and followed that effort by lowering the club's earned run average to 2.04 a year later, the third-lowest figure since the program began in 1996. After consecutive seasons posting 18 shutouts, second-most for the Big Orange, the Weeklys believe this figure can climb even higher this time around. Jennings proved to be a double threat for Lady Vol opponents in her rookie season, and the Weeklys expect more of the same from the Rocky Mountain State native as a sophomore. The pitcher/outfielder, who became the first Tennessee softball player invited to the USA Softball Selection Camp held in Chula Vista, Calif., last September, made an immediate impact during an oustanding freshman debut. The right-hander, who finished 21-15 with a 1.73 earned run average and 117 strikeouts in a team-high 206 innings, joined Jackie Beavers as the lone UT freshmen to register more than 20 victories and led the league with 54 appearances in the circle. Additionally, she authored the first perfect game in school history with a 3-0 gem against host UNLV on Feb. 21 and twirled eight solo shutouts. With a clean bill of health following a roller-coaster freshman season, sophomore Christy Anch hopes to put the pieces together in her second campaign on the Division I level. With an 8-1 rout of Florida A&M last March, the right-hander from Ashburn, Va., linked herself with Buffy Walker as the only rookie hurlers to claim their inaugural starting assignments. Over 80.2 innings, Anch was 6-5 with a 2.95 ERA and 55 strikeouts. Expected to step right into the Lady Vol rotation and make her presence felt is highly-touted left-hander Monica Abbott from Salinas, Calif. The 6'3" hurler has already announced herself to the softball world as a key figure on the United States Junior National Team that captured the silver medal at the 2003 Junior Women's World Championship in Nanjing, China, and she was recently selected to USA Softball's 14-member 2004 Elite Team. Several of Abbott's career numbers at North Salinas High School are eye-popping: 1,401 strikeouts, a stretch of 273 consecutive innings without surrendering an earned run, 53 shutouts, 12 perfect games, an unconscious five perfect games in a row, as well as a 21-K perfect game, a feat equaled by only two other individuals. She led the Vikings to three CCS Division I titles and carted home practically every individual accolade which was presented. Sophomore Chemil Washington, who saw time in 41 games as a reserve outfielder for the Weeklys in '03, will redshirt this season but might be pressed into service if the need arises. She helped her Skyview High School team to the Washington state championship as a pitcher and could serve in a similar capacity for the Lady Vols. Freshman Cami Small, a four-time all-conference selection at Providence High School in Charlotte, N.C., will also redshirt. "Monica, Stacey and Christy give us a solid rotation," acknowledged Ralph Weekly. "Each brings her own style and pitching prowess into the circle. Monica combines power and good movement and was tough on opponents during the preseason. Her experience with the U.S. team in China will certainly help prepare her for the stiff competition she will face in 2004. Monica has shown good abilities as a first baseman and will also play there on occasion in preparation for more time there in '05. Although Stacey did not pitch in the fall because of an arm injury, she is expected to be at full strength for the start of our competition. She is a power pitcher who has already proven to be effective in the SEC. After spending a majority of last season on injured reserve, Christy was effective in the fall. She possesses great mound presence and is due to have a breakout year. Chemil could be called upon to pitch if we have any injuries in the circle."
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| UTILITY: | |
| ? | The Weeklys have singled out a couple of individuals who will be utilized in a variety of roles throughout the spring: sophomore Kim Anders and freshman Ashley Cline. Timing is a key component for these two players, as it may be difficult to anticipate when they will be pressed into service. From Erwin, Tenn., Anders competed in 40 games as a rookie, mostly as a pinch runner, but proved her mettle as a defensive replacement when she gunned down an LSU runner at the plate in the eighth inning at the SEC Tournament. Meanwhile, Cline embarks on her collegiate career following four straight all-county and all-district efforts at Gallatin (Tenn.) High School. "Kim is an exceptional defensive player who can play infield or outfield as well as anyone on the team," said Ralph Weekly. "She made great strides as a freshman and will be an important asset to the team. Ashley is another student-athlete who can play every position on the field. She could see time in the outfield but could play second base or shortstop if needed."
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| SCHEDULE: | |
| ? | A demanding slate, featuring a bevy of opponents from coast-to-coast, awaits Tennessee during the 2004 campaign. Showing a desire to upgrade its competition in an effort to impress the NCAA Selection Committee, the Big Orange will play in five different time zones over the initial month of its season, with just one twinbill within the friendly confines of Tyson Park. Hopefully such an undertaking should prepare the team for the obstacles presented by the always difficult SEC. After a 23-7 showing in their domain last year, the Lady Vols hope to cultivate a significant home-field advantage this season, as the squad will host more than 30 outings on Rocky Top. "Our schedule is extremely difficult, both during the preseason and in the SEC, but we will be improved and hopefully up to the challenge," said Ralph Weekly. "Our first 15 games see us playing several regional qualifiers, plus UCLA and the United States Olympic Team. Since we will be starting a high percentage of freshmen and sophomores, these student-athletes will need to grow up quickly and mature under fire." Twelve different Lady Vol opponents advanced to regional play in 2003, including the Women's College World Series title-holding Bruins. Right out of the gates, UT will make its first-ever visit to Hawai'i for the Rainbow Wahine's Paradise Classic between Feb. 5-8 for games against Brigham Young, Saint Mary's and UAB, as well as NCAA participants Oregon State and the hosts. Five days later, Tennessee will begin play at the New Mexico State University Kick-Off Tournament in Las Cruces, N.M., against an assortment of national foes. On the first day of the event, which runs from Feb. 13-15, the Lady Vols will face San Jose State and Southwest Missouri State. On Saturday, the Weeklys' club will meet Boston University, the defending America East Conference champion, and will play the first of two contests versus the home-standing Aggies. The orange-clad crew will then journey out to the Golden State for the Palm Springs Classic hosted by Oregon State University over Feb. 20-22 to encounter Baylor, Stanford, top-ranked UCLA and Utah. In addition, the squad will have an exhibition against the United States Olympic Team, which will attempt to bring home a third-straight gold medal from Athens, Greece, this summer. There will be no rest for the weary, as the Lady Vols will begin their home schedule at Tyson Park on Feb. 25 with a double-dip versus East Tennessee State. UT will depart the next day for the Baylor University Compass Bank Invitational in Waco, Texas, to face Lipscomb, Louisiana Tech and the Bears over the weekend of Feb. 27-29. After a visit by in-state foe Middle Tennessee on March 2, UT commences its rugged 30-game SEC grind four days later at home against perennial power LSU on March 6. Once again, a balanced schedule will call for three-game series among all 11 teams. The Lady Vols will visit Kentucky (March 9-10), Alabama (March 13-14), Mississippi State (March 20-21), Arkansas (April 3-4) and reigning regular-season champion Georgia (April 24-25), and will entertain South Carolina (March 30-31), Auburn (April 9-10), Florida (April 17-18) and Mississippi (May 1-2). Tennessee's regular-season finale against the Rebels will be featured as SEC-TV's Game of the Week. As a conference, the SEC ranked highly in the Ratings Percentage Index in 2003, with six schools reaching NCAAs: Alabama, LSU and Mississippi State from the Western Division as well as East members Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The Crimson Tide, which captured the SEC Tournament, advanced to the Women's College World Series for the second time in four years. Additionally, Gardner-Webb, Liberty, Tennessee Tech and UTEP will participate in the Lady Vol Classic at Tyson Park over March 26-28, while UT will face Radford and Virginia Tech at the eighth annual State-Line Classic in Bristol, Tenn., on April 21. The Knoxville contingent will also welcome Austin Peay, Georgia Southern and Lipscomb to town for mid-week tilts this year. The SEC Tournament will be contested at a campus stadium for the first time in 2004, taking place between May 13-16 at the Alabama Softball Complex. Tennessee will be aiming to continue the momentum generated by its fourth-place showing last season as it pursues the program's second berth in the 64-team NCAA field. Taking the next step can be a daunting task in pursuit of a tangible goal. For the University of Tennessee, another phase toward the completion of "The Orange Equation" and a visit to Oklahoma City on the diamond will be determined through the collective efforts of Lady Vols who are ready, willing and able to do whatever is necessary to discover the winning formula.
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