After a disappointing fourth-place finish in 2001, the Wittenberg softball team is hoping to bring the NCAC championship back to Springfield. The Tigers will be without two Great Lakes All-Region/All-NCAC players due to graduation, but Head Coach Becky Hall, who has a career record of 73-49 in four seasons at Wittenberg, is optimistic about this year's youthful but promising team.

The Tigers return just five players from last year's roster, but they make up the core of a solid team. Heading the list is a healthy Christy Schneider (Cincinnati, Ohio/Fairfield), who enters her senior season back at the shortstop position after an injury-plagued junior year that forced a move to second base. Junior Beth Walters (Westerville, Ohio/Columbus St. Francis DeSales) also returns and moves over to the critical centerfield position.

In addition, sophomore pitcher/utility Carmen Montgomery (Springfield, Ohio/Southeastern) figures to be the team's ace on the mound again in 2001 after finishing with an outstanding 17-8 record, 2.69 earned run average and 170.2 innings pitched. Also back is the catching tandem of Daena Sisk (South Bend, Ind./Marian) and Kristen Hillebrand (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley).

Things get started for the Tigers in Ft. Myers, Fla. next week with nine games in five days. Their home opener is slated for Monday, March 18 against Cumberland.