The Wittenberg softball program knocked on the door in Year 1 under Head Coach Laura Matthews. In 2014, the second-year lead Tiger hopes her team is ready for a break through.
To make that happen, Matthews will lean heavily on the talent and experience of 11 returning letterwinners, including six of the Tigers’ top seven hitters and three of the team’s top four pitchers from a 2013 squad that finished with records of 23-13 overall and 10-6 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Wittenberg finished in a four-way tie for second place in the final regular season standings and advanced to the NCAC Tournament title game before dropping a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to Allegheny.
Leading the charge one more time is the trio of outfielder Laura Rose (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins), infielder Kaitie Harrison (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge) and pitcher/utility player Rachel Ross (Westerville, Ohio/South). Rose is one of the finest base-stealers in the nation, Harrison led the Tigers with a .390 batting average a year ago, and Ross is one of the most accomplished pitchers in program history.
Rose is a three-time All-NCAC selection and was named to the league’s 30th Anniversary All-Decade Team. She is quickly ascending up the Wittenberg charts in a variety of offensive career statistical categories, and she will anchor the defensive alignment for a fourth consecutive year as the Tigers’ starting centerfielder.
Rose will be flanked most days by sophomore speedster Shannon Lance (Loveland, Ohio/Kings) in left field and junior Shelby Knapp (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) in right. Lance was outstanding in her inaugural collegiate campaign, batting .321 and stealing 15-of-17 bases while committing just one error in 30 starting assignments. Knapp batted .221 and scored 14 runs as she started all 36 games in 2013, her first year as a full-time starter.
Harrison is one of three returning starters on the infield. Not only did she lead the Tigers in batting average, hits and RBIs in 2013, but Harrison also topped the squad with 78 assists from her spot at third base. She will be joined on the left side of the infield by sophomore shortstop Loren Combs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin), the 2013 NCAC Newcomer of the Year who batted .283, scored 26 runs and stole 26 bases in 28 attempts.
Also back in the fold is sophomore first baseman Kaela Hughes (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson), who batted .227 and drove in 16 runs while also making nine appearances in the pitcher’s circle. She compiled a 4.25 earned run average, and she was charged with just two errors while leading Wittenberg with 190 putouts a year ago.
Hughes will once again play a supporting role in terms of pitching as Matthews turns to Ross to log big innings. She ranked among the best in the NCAC in 2013 with a 2.34 earned run average, 23 starts, 16 complete games, 90 strikeouts and a sparkling 17-6 record. Ross also did damage with her bat, contributing a .276 batting average to go along with three home runs and 24 RBIs.
The catchers who split time a year ago also return. Junior Ashlee Wright (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) served as the Tigers’ designated player many days when she wasn’t behind the plate, and she responded with a .310 batting average and four homers. Sophomore Ali Newton (Dublin, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) made 16 starts at catcher.
Rounding out the returning letterwinners are sophomore infielder/pitcher Lacey Eigel (Pickerington, Ohio/North) and junior infielder Emma Ficke (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton).
An outstanding recruiting class figures to bolster the Tigers’ roster in 2014. Among the newcomers expected to see immediate playing time are Casey Hobbs (Fairborn, Ohio/Carroll) in the middle of the infield and Abby Baker (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield), who will play several positions in the infield and outfield. In addition, Alyssa Durette (Geneva, NY/Geneva) will get plenty of opportunities in the pitcher’s circle, and Tori Simek (Conneaut, Ohio/Conneaut) is vying for playing time behind the plate. Leah Markovich (Delta, Ohio/Delta) and Carley Sullivan (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) complete the six-player freshman class.