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2003 Season Outlook The Cedarville University softball team comes into the 2003 season with great expectations. After rolling up a school-record 30 victories last spring, the Lady Jackets believe the talent and experience is in place to accomplish more. Sue Carpenter has 72 victories to her credit without a losing season in her three years at the helm. She has assembled a veteran roster that is solid at every position. "This team is quite optimistic about having a successful season," stated Carpenter. "We have 13 returning players, some newcomers who will help immediately, and an attitude that we can win. We realize that our division in the American Mideast Conference is a tough one and that it will be a challenge to compete for the title." The only seniors on the roster are first baseman Sarah Tsermengas and pitcher Julie Burt. Tsermengas registered her finest season as a Lady Jacket during her junior campaign when she earned NCCAA All-America First Team honors. She batted a team-high .357 and was exceptional in the field with school records for most chances (373) and putouts (344) in a season.
Burt, a lefthander with three years of pitching experience, is considered to be one of the most improved players on the team. She won six games last season with a 2.11 earned run average. She also ranked 7th in the AMC in strikeouts at 4.86 per 7 innings. Junior shortstop Ashley Smith returns to the line-up after missing half of last season with a leg injury. She is a two-time All-NCCAA Midwest Region pick and a .301 career hitter with a .497 slugging percentage. Smith is joined by classmates Annie Stafford, Ginger Keithley, Christa Stanford, and Courtney Green. Stafford has been a two-year starter in the outfield, Keithley swiped a school-record 43 steals last spring in her first season in the program, Stanford batted a career-high .325 in 2002, and Green has two years of experience behind the plate. Heading up the pitching staff is sophomore righthander Natalie Fox. She was voted to the NCCAA All-America Second Team and All-AMC First Team last spring after posting a 19-6 record with a 1.30 ERA. Fox had one winning streak of 12 straight decisions while appearing in a school-record 35 games.
There are seven other sophomores on the roster. The list includes Tara Munson, who started all 52 games at second base as a rookie; Patty Wilson, who received 38 starts at third base; lefthanded power hitter Katy Dellicarpini; outfielder Richelle Clem and utility player Kailin Acheson. The other two sophomores are Courtney Thayer, a catcher who transferred from NCAA Division I Liberty University, and Kayleanne Epp, who is in her second year at CU and her first as a member of the softball program. Freshmen Jackie Greetham and Allie Smith are expected to make a contribution. Greetham, who possesses outstanding speed, will challenge for a starting outfield position while Smith adds depth to the pitching rotation. "We feel that our strengths far outweigh any weakness that we have," Carpenter summarized. "We have three quality pitchers, a versatile defense, and for once we possess team speed. Hopefully, we can produce a winning season." Cedarville has been placed in the American Mideast Conference South Division along with 2002 AMC co-champion and NAIA National Tournament participant Ohio Dominican, perennial NAIA power Shawnee State, Rio Grande, and Urbana. The Jackets will play home and road doubleheaders against all four opponents. CU will also return to the Sun West Tournament in California at the end of March during spring break. | |||||||||||||||
