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Young, eager, fast, versatile – and talented.
That’s how veteran University of St. Francis softball head coach Dick Smith describes the group of 19 young ladies that make up the 2008 Saints’ softball squad.
“Twelve of our 19 players are sophomores or freshmen and most of them will see extensive action this spring,” says Smith who begins his 16th season as USF’s head coach and the sixth in his second stint with the Saints. “I really like our freshman class and hope to be able to play all six of them at the same time during one of our games in Florida.”
The 19-player breakdown includes just four seniors and three juniors. Yet, despite the youth, this is not an inexperienced team.
Five everyday players and one who shared starting duties behind the plate return from the 2007 team. Only one pitcher is lost from a year ago and the club’s leading hitter (and three of the top five) is also back.
As most coaches say, the outlook for the team starts with the . . . . . . . . .
Pitching
The Saints lost their lost No. 1 starter to graduation but return the No. 2 hurler from last year as well as the top two relievers. The graduated Kerri Watt led USF with an 11-8 record, four shutouts and 11 complete games. Smith expects junior right-hander Jacie Spudic to step into the No. 1 slot and improve upon her 4-5 record and 3.30 earned run average from a year ago.
Sophomore Beth Boezeman enjoyed a strong freshman season as the club’s starting shortstop and also pitched in 12 games, finishing with a perfect 3-0 record and a team-best 2.10 ERA. She fired one complete game shutout and walked only four hitters in 36.2 innings on the season.
Senior Lisa Tharp was the Saints’ top reliever before suffering a season-ending injury to her non-throwing shoulder midway through the campaign. She posted a 2-3 record with a team-best three saves with both of her wins and two of her three saves coming on the season-opening 12-game sojourn to Florida.
The newest arm on the Saints’ staff belongs to freshman right-hander Kim Malacina from nearby Lockport High School. She impressed Smith and pitching coach Autumn Wendler during the short fall season and will move right into the starting rotation this spring.
Catching
Sophomore Stacy Heap split starting duties last year with the graduated Lauren von Holst and performed so well that she earned Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference honorable mention recognition. She was the club’s third-leading hitter with a .342 average and led the team with a .985 fielding percentage.
A pair of freshmen will share the backstop duties with Heap. Carolyn Rupsis, a product of neighboring Bolingbrook High, and Brittany Arrington, a promising left-handed hitter, will give the Saints a wealth of depth at the catching position.
Junior Jackie Uphoff will sit out the upcoming season after undergoing shoulder surgery in the fall.
First base
Sophomore Lynley Louzensky returns after enjoying a productive freshman campaign. She posted a .326 batting average (fifth-bet mark on club), belted a pair of homers and drove in 17 runs. She made 30 starts and played in a total of 32 games.
Arrington and Malacina are both candidates for playing time at first base. Arrington gives Coach Smith another left-handed bat in the lineup and played first base for most of her high school career. Malacina could see some playing time at first when she is not pitching.
Middle infield
A number of Saints will play at second and/or shortstop in 2008.
Senior Jamie Redman, who is well on her way to putting her name near the top of almost all hitting categories in the USF record books, played second base for most of 2007 and is ticketed for third base this spring.
Boezeman handled the majority of the shortstop duties as a freshman last year when she wasn’t pitching. She will likely open the 2008 campaign as the Saints’ starting second baseman but certainly can be used at short or third base as well. She hit .286 as a frosh and led the team with nine sacrifice bunts.
Freshmen Caitlin Dolan, Lauren Panek and Kaylee Shell also figure into the middle infield plans. Dolan can and likely will play some at second, short and third. Smith also has worked her in the outfield during fall practices. Panek is the likely starter at shortstop when the Saints open the season in Florida. Shell also is a utlity player and, like Dolan, could see action at three infield positions and in the outfield.
Senior Laura Brkljacic has seen considerable playing time at second and short, as well as the outfield, during her first three years with the Saints. One of the Saints’ fastest runners and most versatile athletes, she will likely again fill the utility role.
Third base
Redman is slated to move to the hot corner this spring, replacing graduated all-America performer, four-year starter and USF’s all-time home run leader Jaci Warner. Redman herself will become a four-year starter this season and has spent most of her time at second base and shortstop. She hit a team-best .415 last year with club-high totals in hits (61), triples (5) and home runs (5).
Dolan will serve as the primary backup at third base.
Outfield
No less than seven names are listed as possible outfielders for the 2008 Saints, with two being returning starters from a year ago.
Sophomores Maggie O’Shea and Kendel Behrens both were regulars as freshmen, with O’Shea manning left field and Behrens playing in center. O’Shea also made eight pitching appearances last year, including six starts (2-5, 3.84 ERA), but will concentrate solely on outfield play this year. She hit .239 with one homer and eight RBI. She was outstanding defensively, leading all USF outfielders with a .961 fielding percentage and committing only two errors in 51 total chances. Behrens hit at a .261 clip and struck out just 11 times in 111 official at bats. She patrolled center field successfully as well, being charged with just four errors in 49 chances.
Seniors Brittney Smith and Brkljacic lead the group of remaining outfielders. Smith will battle for the starting spot in right field. She started 12 games as a junior and also served as the team’s top pinch-runner.
Junior Christine Blasdel returned last season after missing the previous season following knee surgery. She played in 12 games in 2007 with five starts and will also compete for the right-field job.
Sophomore Caitlin Griffin, one of four left-handed hitters on the roster, is another candidate for the right-field starting slot. Griffin prepped at Andrew High in nearby Tinley Park and graduated early in December 2006. She played at Moraine Valley CC last spring prior to transferring to USF. She is also the lone left-handed thrower on the Saints’ roster.
Heap will also likely see playing time in the outfield when not catching. She made several starts in the outfield as a freshman as Smith tried to keep her high batting average in the starting lineup.
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