University of Tennessee Athletics
2006 SOFTBALL SEASON OUTLOOK
February 02, 2006 | Softball
Feb. 2, 2006
Since its creation by the Perzy family of Austria more than 100 years ago, the snow globe has long held a sort of fascination among those people who possess them. Whether the trinket represents a distant memory of places visited or things seen, remembrances of people past or present or simply brings delight to a child's face when they are allowed to stir up a mini-blizzard inside its glass-enclosed world, the snow globe possesses a magical quality that has always seemed popular.
With memories of past successes, including a visit to its first Women's College World Series, fresh on the minds of the University of Tennessee Lady Vol softball team, and a number of returnees eager to once again make a mark on a national level, co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly are ready to shake up their own version of the Tennessee snow globe in 2006. This year the orb represents a season full of "Magical Possibilities."
"We have worked really hard offensively during the fall season and hope this will be a definite area of improvement heading into 2006," Ralph Weekly said. "We return eight of nine starters, including our first seven hitters in the order and our number nine hitter. Included in that group are All-Americans Kristi Durant, Sarah Fekete and Lindsay Schutzler from last year's 67-win team and our top two pitchers in All-American Monica Abbott and All-SEC Freshman Megan Rhodes. Natalie Brock, who had four key pinch hits for us at NCAA Super Regionals and the Women's College World Series (WCWS), is hitting the ball well heading into this season. Many of the freshmen players have really stepped up offensively and had strong outings at our fall tournament. We have at least eight student-athletes on the roster who can really run, so that is a definite positive."
Proof of the "Magical Possibilities" and the increasing national respect for the Tennessee program came with the release of the 2006 preseason polls. Returning 13 letterwinners and eight starters off a squad that registered a 67-win campaign and a third-place Women's College World Series finish, UT was rewarded for its experience this season with a No. 3 ranking in both the ESPN.com/USA Softball and the USA TODAY/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) polls. The preseason listing in the top-five established a new benchmark for the Tennessee softball program, as last year's starting positions of 13th and 14th had been the previous UT highwater points and marked the third straight year that the Lady Vols opened the campaign among the nation's top-25 teams.
As a member of one of the nation's premier softball conferences, Tennessee has been on the rise as well, going from 8-17 and a fourth-place finish during the Weeklys' inaugural campaign of 2002 to consecutive 20-8 marks in 2004 and 2005. Hope runs high that this year could bring the program's initial Southeastern Conference regular-season or tournament title after finishing second in the Eastern Division and going 3-2 in last year's SEC Tournament in Gainesville, Fla.
"The SEC is an extremely competitive conference with at least five teams who are capable of being in the top 10 in the nation," Ralph Weekly said. "Our goal as a staff and as a team is to get better each day, improving both physically and mentally. There is a lot of competition on our team, but it is good competition that constantly challenges every player. We have the capability to be very competitive in each and every game. We want the team to be humble and hungry and to enjoy the trip and not dwell on the destination."
INFIELD/CATCHING: Perhaps the biggest key to Tennessee's continuing improvement has been a solid defensive effort that has worked alongside the pitching corps to limit the opposition's scoring chances. Heading into 2006, the Weeklys will return experience at all four positions after last year's squad led the nation in fielding percentage at .982. Placentia, Calif., native and 2006 Second-Team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American Kristi Durant will return to the hot corner after starting all 82 games at third base during the 2005 campaign. The Tennessee career batting average leader at .387 and UT's initial three-time first-team All-SEC selection enjoyed another tremendous season for the Orange & White in 2005. She tied for the national lead and led the SEC in RBI's with 77 while equaling Bridget Jackson's UT record. Durant also continued her productive hitting with a solid .387 batting average with seven home runs and 11 doubles.
"Kristi is very solid with the game on the line," said Ralph Weekly. "She is one of the best hitters I have ever coached at any level. She made only five errors at third base all last season and will play third, catcher and DP for us this year while hitting at the third position in our lineup."
Rookie Jennifer Griffin will be called upon to supply depth for Tennessee at third base and at catcher. A highly-touted recruit from the softball hotbed of California, Griffin led her California High School (Whittier) squad to four-consecutive league titles (2002-05), while guiding her team to a 39-1 mark in league action over four seasons. During her senior campaign, Griffin was named the Southeast/South Coast Region Player of the Year by the Los Angeles Times and to the publication's All-Star softball team after batting .489 with 34 runs, 27 RBI, 23 walks, 21 stolen bases and a slugging percentage of .803.
"Jennifer is a superb addition to our team and will play third base or catch," Ralph Weekly said. "She is extremely fast for a power hitter and is very quick on her feet. She possesses a strong, accurate throwing arm and is at ease in any situation. Jennifer will be counted upon to hit in the middle of our order and provide RBI's."
Sophomore Kortney Bell, a native of Castaic, Calif., will be expected to contribute as a back-up at third base, in the designated player role and in the outfield in 2006. Known for her prolific power, after blasting three long home runs last year, and for her solid fielding prowess, she will be expected to be an improved contributor at the plate during the 2006 campaign.
"Another versatile player who plays third base, first base, outfield and can catch," Ralph Weekly said. "Kortney is the most powerful hitter on the team with the ability to take the ball deep on every pitch. She is improving as a hitter and a player and had a good fall season."
Another stellar member of this year's recruiting class is Maryville, Tenn., native Allison Fulmer, who is expected to redshirt this season. She is continuing to rehab and will be counted on to contribute at third and as a DP whens she joins the active roster for the 2007 campaign.
Fresh off a record-setting sophomore campaign in 2005 during which she started all 82 of Tennessee's contests on the way to second-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America honors, Monterey, Calif., native Lindsay Schutzler will be looked to as an experienced team leader in the infield. Last season, the UT shortstop hit .396 with seven home runs and 44 RBI to finish in the conference's top-five in batting average while establishing a new league single-season record for hits with 107. Schutzler also led the SEC in runs scored (72) and stolen bases (36) and led Tennessee in slugging percentage at .574.
"An absolutely exceptional player in all aspects of the game," Ralph Weekly said. "Her experience with the USA Elite team this past summer will only make her better. She is definitely a team leader who possesses soft hands, great range and a strong throwing arm. She had numerous game-winning hits last season and is the person you want at the plate with the game on the line."
Expected to back up Schutzler at shortstop is freshman Sarah Vaughn, a local product from Lenoir City, Tenn. She comes to the Big Orange after helping guide her Lenoir City High School team to three straight district titles (2002-04), two consecutive regional crowns (2003, 2004) and the 2004 Tennessee State Championship with a 35-10 record. She was chosen by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) to its 2004 and 2005 Class AA all-state teams. Vaughn registered stellar averages of .509, .513, .595 and .656 while picking up four All-District (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) nods, 2004 and 2005 all-state recognition and was named as the Knoxville News-Sentinel's PrepXtra Softball Player of the Year in 2005.
"A super young player who is very versatile and can play infield, outfield and catcher," Ralph Weekly said. "Sarah is also exceptionally good with the bat. She possesses good speed and range and will fill the utility player role for us this spring."
A two-player platoon is expected to hold down the second base position for the Lady Vols in 2006. Freshman sensation Liane Horiuchi, a native of Wahiawa, Hawaii, will get the opportunity to contribute right away in the Weeklys' infield contingent. During her sparkling career at Kamehameha High School, Horiuchi was a key part of three consecutive Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) championship teams (2002-2004) as well as a member of a 2002 Hawaii State Championship squad that registered a flawless 18-0 record. She was also an ILH second-team track standout in the 200 meters in 2004 and reaped first-team all-state softball honors as a second baseman in 2003, 2004 and 2005. The Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin selected her to their all-state teams following the 2005 campaign, respectively. Horiuchi boasts career-bests of 17 stolen bases, 11 RBI, four home runs, 14 runs scored and a batting average of .471.
"Liane is an exceptional young player with a blend of speed and power and a great knowledge of the game," Ralph Weekly said. "She has soft hands, good range and should be an immediate contributor to our team."
Sophomore Kenora Posey played in 53 games for UT and had 20 starts during the 2005 run to the Women's College World Series. She brings valuable experience to her infield position. A Los Angeles, Calif., native, she scored 15 runs and swiped nine bases in 13 attempts during the '05 campaign. Posey also started at second base and tallied a run in the 3-2 loss to eventual national champion and No. 1-ranked Michigan in the WCWS.
"Kenora is a very fast player with explosive moves and great base running skills," Ralph Weekly said. "She will play second base and shortstop as well as some outfield for us in 2006. She has improved her hitting over the past summer and should be a strong offensive threat this year."
First base will remain in the capable hands of sophomore Tonya Callahan who emerged during the 2005 season as Tennessee's major power source and a superb fielder at the corner. With 11 home runs to lead the UT squad last year, the Holden, Mo., native also hit a solid .300 with 46 RBI and 37 runs scored while making just two errors in the field. On the way to all-tournament honors at the Women's College World Series, Callahan also provided the most memorable moment of the campaign with a game-winning, two-run home run to deep left in the bottom of the 11th-inning to lead the Orange & White over No. 1 Michigan, 2-0, and force a deciding elimination contest.
"She is a smooth-fielding first baseman with a lot of pop in her bat," Ralph Weekly said. "Her home run to beat Michigan at the Women's College World Series was one of the highlights of last season. Her potential as a big time player is unlimited."
Another local product looking to make an impact in 2006 is sophomore and Knoxville native Caitlin Ryan. The 6-0 infielder saw action in 19 games for Tennessee last year, mainly as a pinch-runner, while hitting .333 in limited at-bats with two RBI and nine runs scored. The Weeklys expect Ryan to provide depth behind Callahan at first base and also perhaps at third and designated player.
"Caitlin continues to improve both in the infield and at the plate," Ralph Weekly said. "She hit the ball really well during the fall season and will be a strong hitter coming off the bench for us this year."
The starting infield returns intact, however, Ralph Weekly anticipates that they will be strongly challenged by several other team members for playing time. "Tonya Callahan returns at first base, Kenora Posey at second, and All-Americans Lindsay Schutzler and Kristi Durant at short and third, respectively," he said. "Our team led the nation in defense the last two years and these four are used to playing together as a unit. Sophomores Kortney Bell and Caitlin Ryan have improved a lot since last season and have been vying for playing time. Freshmen Jennifer Griffin, Liane Horiuchi and Sarah Vaughn have also looked very good and could see a lot of playing time in the infield. Katherine Card has played both second and short during her career."
Thought to be a question mark heading into last season, the outlook at catcher venturing into the 2006 campaign appears bright with the return of sophomore incumbent Shannon Doepking the freshman Griffin ready to go. The Acton, Calif., native hit .274 with seven home runs and 42 RBI while starting 70 games for the Lady Vols behind the plate last year. Doepking was one of the keys to a pitching staff that led the nation in strikeouts (787) and victories (67) while working an incredible 547.0 innings.
"This is a position that has a lot of depth, and with that, a lot of competition," Ralph Weekly said. "Shannon Doepking is the incumbent field general as she started most of the games last season. She is a very strong catcher with an accurate throwing arm. Jennifer Griffin has been outstanding during the fall and has all the tools to be very good behind the plate. Kristi Durant was All-SEC as a catcher during her freshman year at UT and could see action behind the dish. Natalie Brock has been doing a lot of catching this past fall and that may be the ticket to get her strong bat in the lineup."
A Nashville, Tenn., native Natalie Brock will not only be looked at as a possible contributor behind the dish but as a designated player as well in 2006. She improved throughout last season while appearing in 47 games for the Orange & White. Brock completed the year with a .303 average and several memorable postseason hits including a two-RBI double in the Lady Vols' second contest versus No. 1 Michigan in the 2005 Women's College World Series to help UT begin an attempt to claw out of its 3-0 hole.
OUTFIELD: The outfield welcomes back a wealth of experience with two seniors and a junior expected to fill out the starting positions. First-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American Sarah Fekete prepares to open her final campaign in the Orange & White fresh off her finest year at Tennessee. Despite a myriad of injuries, including a broken jaw that attempted to derail her contributions, Fekete led the SEC in hitting at .414 while swiping 30 bases from the second position in the batting order. In the field, the Maryville, Tenn., product made just a single error in 68 games played.
"Sarah has great speed and bat control at the plate," Ralph Weekly said. "She will hit in the number two position in our lineup and will play center field for our team this year. She is a team leader and a clutch player who is at her best in the biggest games."
Another talented senior, Katherine Card will see time in left but will be listed officially as a utility player due to her effectiveness at playing many defensive positions. The Soddy Daisy, Tenn., native played 66 games for the Lady Vols in the outfield in 2005 and proved herself a more than capable contributor at the plate by hitting .312 with eight home runs and 48 RBI in 77 games overall.
"Katherine is one of the best clutch hitters I have ever coached," Ralph Weekly said. "Her home runs against Washington, Stanford and Nebraska last season were keys to our victories in those contests and her clutch hit in the Women's College World Series drove in the winning run against No. 3 Arizona. She's a team captain and a consummate leader."
Junior India Chiles, who saw action in 76 games last season, registered a breakout year at the plate for the Lady Vols by hitting .353 with 48 hits in 136 at-bats. The Louisville, Ky., product also added yet another speed threat on the basepaths for the Weeklys' club by swiping 17 bases in 18 attempts while making just two errors in the field.
"A player who has really blossomed in the past two years, India won a starting position last season," Ralph Weekly said. "She is extremely fast with 2.7 speed from home to first base. She is a vocal player who leads on and off the field. India has become a very good offensive and defensive player."
UT's other player from the Chattanooga, Tenn., area, Lillian Hammond ventures to Tennessee as a highly-touted freshman outfielder. A three-time all-state choice on the volleyball court (2002-04) as well as a three-time member of the Chattanooga Times Free Press "Best of Preps" listing for volleyball, Hammond added to her sterling athletic resume with a Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Division II All-State nod in softball in 2004 and 2005. She was also a nominee for the Chattanooga Times Free Press' Female Athlete of the Year award and a member of the "Best of Preps" following her junior softball campaign (2004). Hammond boasts career highs on the diamond of 32 RBI, 14 stolen bases, 36 runs scored, 19 extra-base hits and a batting average of .475.
"She is a strong young outfielder who possesses all the tools," Ralph Weekly said. "Lillian is very fast, covers a lot of ground and has a good throwing arm. She has 2.7 speed from home to first base and is a solid offensive threat. She is an outstanding athlete and a sterling addition to our team."
The Weeklys also expect contributions from Clinton, Tenn., product Alicia Brown in the outfield after she completed her softball playing days at Clinton High School with a career batting average of .395, 124 stolen bases and 157 base hits as a four-year starter at shortstop. Brown received all-district honors on the diamond following three campaigns and was an all-district tournament choice twice (Class AAA, District 3). Equally adept on the hardwood, she currently holds the Tennessee state record for free throws made during a high school career with 576 and is also Clinton's career record holder for total points (1,674) and three-pointers made (150).
"Alicia was the most improved player during the fall season," Ralph Weekly said. "She is a left-handed slapper with good speed. She gets to every ball in the outfield, has a good throwing arm and plays the game very smart."
The Tennessee staff is excited to return three players who started a slew of games in the outfield last season. "Sarah Fekete, Katherine Card and India Chiles are proven veterans who have been very instrumental in our program from the beginning. Fekete is a first-team All-American and Card was on the all-tournament team at the Women's College World Series. They started every game last season. Chiles started several contests down the stretch and had numerous key hits. They are all very fast and have strong accurate arms. Lillian Hammond, Danielle Pieroni and Alicia Brown are three freshman who are also fast and have had a strong fall. Any of the three could play and be very competitive. Sarah Vaughn and Kortney Bell will both play utility roles and could see action in the outfield."
PITCHING: Pitching should once again be an area of strength for the Lady Vols in 2006, as UT adds a highly-touted rookie from Tennessee to a hurling corps that already includes one of the nation's most dominant pitchers and an experienced sophomore. Under the tutelage of pitching coach Marty McDaniel, the Tennessee pitching contingent should continue putting up eye-popping numbers during the 2006 campaign.
Selected as the Orange & White's initial two-time first-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American, junior Monica Abbott continues to rewrite the UT record books After a stellar rookie campaign, Abbott did the unthinkable by improving on what had been remarkable numbers in 2004. During the 2005 run to the Women's College World Series, the Salinas, Calif., native led the nation in victories (50) and strikeouts (603) while registering a 0.52 ERA in a program-best 392.0 innings of work. She has 10 no-hitters and three perfect games, stands 17th on the all-time NCAA strikeouts list with 1,185 career K's and has recorded 10 or more strikeouts in a game on 60 occasions. On the sport's biggest stage in Oklahoma City, Okla., Abbott came into her own by registering a 3-2 record with shutouts of No. 3 Arizona, No. 8 Alabama and No. 1 Michigan. She worked all 11 innings against the Wolverines in a 2-0 victory to post a program mark for single-game innings pitched.
"Monica is an outstanding pitcher who is also an exceptional person," Ralph Weekly said. "She is a team leader who proved in 2005 that she is at her best when the game is hanging in the balance. She is a pitcher any coach would love to pencil into the lineup in a championship game."
An in-state product from David Lipscomb High School in Nashville, Tenn., where she set numerous school records, sophomore Megan Rhodes looks to improve upon her 14-6 record in the 2006 campaign. UT's second pitching choice last year during the 67-win season, Rhodes registered 159 K's in 125.1 innings of work with a 1.62 ERA. She demonstrated her promise numerous times by downing No. 15 Baylor and eventual WCWS participant DePaul while throwing no-hitters against Charleston Southern and North Carolina A&T. Rhodes also struck out a career-best 13 hitters in a win over Northern Colorado.
"Megan will be much stronger in her second year and should contribute right away in the circle," Ralph Weekly said. "Her victories against Baylor, DePaul and Nebraska in 2005 demonstrated her ability to throw against the best. Megan has picked up some speed and should be effective in our pitching rotation in 2006."
Another high-profile recruit from the state of Tennessee who should make an immediate impact in the circle for UT during the upcoming season, freshman Danielle Pieroni enters UT after participating as a member of three consecutive Tennessee state championship teams from 2003-05 at Goodpasture Christian School in Madison, Tenn. Her squads posted a combined 130-15 overall mark, and she recorded more than 1,000 career strikeouts from the circle while never tasting defeat as a high school hurler. Pieroni was twice chosen as the Gatorade State Player of the Year in Tennessee, was a two-time choice as the Mid-State Player of the Year and was tabbed by Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) to its 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 Class A all-state teams.
"Monica Abbott, a two time All-American, will remain the ace of the staff," Ralph Weekly said. "Monica spent the summer with the U.S. National Team and continues to improve in all aspects of her game. She is one of the hardest workers on the team and is never satisfied, wanting to get better with each outing. Megan Rhodes has increased her speed and movement and should be a very effective hurler this season. Megan had wins over two top 10 teams last year, so her potential is unlimited. Freshman Danielle Pieroni continues to be a pleasant surprise. She has a lot of big game experience from playing gold summer ball at the highest level and should be ready to give us some good innings this spring."
SCHEDULE: Once again, the Weeklys have constructed a difficult slate in 2006 which will test their No. 3-ranked softball squad as it prepares for conference play and the postseason. The Orange & White will again be forced to be mentally tough right out of the gate with five consecutive road trips to kick-off the campaign for the second straight season. After christening the year at the Coastal Carolina Tournament (Feb. 10-11) with a pair of match-ups against Illinois State and Coastal Carolina, Tennessee will jet to "Sin City" for the second-consecutive year to participate in the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic (Feb. 17-19), hosted by UNLV in Las Vegas, Nev. The Big Orange posted a perfect 3-0 record in the event last season and will battle Oregon, Cal-Poly, Purdue, Kansas and Hawaii during this year's visit. A trip to the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., awaits the Lady Vols from Feb. 24-26, where UT will face a difficult road against Iowa, Florida State and Louisiana-Lafayette.
A rematch of last season's NCAA Super Regional No. 6 series between Tennessee and Stanford and match-ups against Northwestern and Texas Tech will be on-tap for Lady Vols at the Worth Invitational in Fullerton, Calif., from March 3-5, before UT's tournament schedule wraps up in Tampa, Fla., from March 9-12 against North Carolina State, Buffalo, Hofstra, Temple and Illinois-Chicago at the Speedline Invitational. The Weeklys' team will also look to capitalize on its home-field advantage within the friendly confines of Tyson Park, where it finished a solid 19-4 last spring. UT's first home contest of the campaign, however, will not occur until March 14, when the Belmont Bruins visit Knoxville for a doubleheader. Overall, 25 home games are listed on the Tennessee schedule.
"We are really excited about the upcoming season," Ralph Weekly said. "This will be a difficult schedule for our program and should serve as a challenge that should prepare us well for the conference slate and the postseason. The SEC will continue to be our primary focus, as our league has proven to be one of the top conferences in the country. Each squad is a threat, and all of the programs are extremely well coached.
"In addition, we will face an assortment of national and regional powers, including Stanford, Northwestern, Louisiana-Lafayette, Illinois-Chicago, Iowa, Oregon, Purdue, Kansas and Florida State to name a few. This is an ambitious schedule for our team, but it will be a challenge that should make us better in the long run."
Following the grinding road slate to kick-off the 2006 season, UT will contest a home non-conference doubleheader against Belmont (March 14) before diving into the teeth of the SEC schedule.
The conference slate kicks off versus nationally-ranked Auburn as the Tigers venture to Knoxville to face-off against UT over March 18-19, looking to continue their success against the Big Orange. After a mid-week non-conference home doubleheader against Liberty (March 23), the Lady Vols dive back into league play with three consecutive SEC road series. First up for UT is a visit to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to contest a three-game slate against fellow 2005 Women's College World Series participant Alabama (March 25-26). The Crimson Tide will be looking for revenge after Tennessee eliminated UA from the 2005 WCWS in Oklahoma City, Okla. After a visit to Lexington, Ky., to battle the Kentucky Wildcats (March 29-30), UT closes out the road trip by venturing to Arkansas to contest a series against the Lady Razorbacks (April 1-2).
A welcome respite from the road awaits the Lady Vols in April as UT will play host to 13 straight games in the friendly confines of Tyson Park. Non-conference doubleheaders against East Tennessee State (April 5) and Austin Peay (April 11) are worked in among home league series against Florida (April 8-9), Mississippi (April 15-16) and South Carolina (April 18-19).
After traveling to the Magnolia State for a series at Starkville, Miss., against Mississippi State (April 22-23), UT will close out its non-conference schedule with a home doubleheader against in-state foe Tennessee Tech (April 26). The year's final two SEC weekends will wrap up the regular season with a bang, as the Lady Vols will battle SEC Eastern Division rival Georgia in Athens, Ga., from April 29-30 before ending the campaign at home over May 6-7 against LSU in games nationally televised by ESPN2 and ESPNU, respectively.
Tennessee will look to make its fourth consecutive appearance in the conference's signature event when the SEC Tournament is contested in Athens, Ga., from May 11-13, while UT hopes to draw the program's third straight selection into the NCAA field of 64. For the first time, this year's conference tournament will be a single elimination event.
Shake up the snow globe for the 2006 softball campaign and any number of possibilities could result for the UT program. The Weeklys always expect their student-athletes to enjoy the trip and not dwell on the final destination. With a solid nucleus of returnees, a stellar crop of incoming talent boosting the lineup and the experience gained from time spent on the national softball stage, the fascination with the Tennessee squad begins in a season full of "Magical Possibilities."
