Tiger Softball ready to claw their way back to the
NCAA World Series
Christy Schneider is a returning senior letterwinner and the team's starting shortstop in 2002.
After a disappointing fourth-place finish in 2001, the Wittenberg University Tiger softball team is hoping to bring the North Coast Athletic Championship back to Springfield again. The Tigers will be without two Great Lakes All-Region/All-NCAC players due to graduation from last year's 19-15 squad that had an up-and-down season come to an end at the conference tournament. 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 of returnees 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. Schneider must step into the leadership void in 2002. Also returning, and hopefully providing a significant offensive threat, is junior Beth Walters (Westerville, Ohio/Columbus St. Francis DeSales), who moves over to the critical centerfield position and will be the leader in the outfield.
Rounding out the list of returning letterwinners are three talented sophomores, all of whom saw extensive playing time in 2001. Pitcher/utility Carmen Montgomery (Springfield, Ohio/Southeastern) was the Tigers' ace on the mound in 2001, 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).
A strong group of newcomers will have to make contributions immediately in 2002. Leading the charge is a trio of pitcher/utility players: Jennifer Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne), Christy Cartaya (Mason, Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame) and Norah Gillam (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield). They will also get their opportunities on the mound this year, hopefully taking the pressure off Montgomery.
The other newcomers are freshmen infielders Katie Carver (Springfield, Ohio/Greenon) and Katie Niemeyer (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay), who all will battle for two spots on the dirt this season, and outfielders, Jennifer Baggett (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek), Suzy Keller (Woodville, Ohio/Woodville) and Jen Meyer (Solon, Ohio/Hathaway Brown), who also could see time on the infield.
Coach's Comments:
"I have never been more excited to get a season underway. The team has been working very hard, and we are anxious to work out some of the cobwebs and get ready for the 2002 season that begins for us in Florida. I am very excited about the commitment that my team has shown throughout the fall and winter.
Christy Schneider is a returning senior letterwinner and the team's starting shortstop in 2002.
After a disappointing fourth-place finish in 2001, the Wittenberg University Tiger softball team is hoping to bring the North Coast Athletic Championship back to Springfield again. The Tigers will be without two Great Lakes All-Region/All-NCAC players due to graduation from last year's 19-15 squad that had an up-and-down season come to an end at the conference tournament. 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 of returnees 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. Schneider must step into the leadership void in 2002. Also returning, and hopefully providing a significant offensive threat, is junior Beth Walters (Westerville, Ohio/Columbus St. Francis DeSales), who moves over to the critical centerfield position and will be the leader in the outfield.
Rounding out the list of returning letterwinners are three talented sophomores, all of whom saw extensive playing time in 2001. Pitcher/utility Carmen Montgomery (Springfield, Ohio/Southeastern) was the Tigers' ace on the mound in 2001, 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).
A strong group of newcomers will have to make contributions immediately in 2002. Leading the charge is a trio of pitcher/utility players: Jennifer Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne), Christy Cartaya (Mason, Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame) and Norah Gillam (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield). They will also get their opportunities on the mound this year, hopefully taking the pressure off Montgomery.
The other newcomers are freshmen infielders Katie Carver (Springfield, Ohio/Greenon) and Katie Niemeyer (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay), who all will battle for two spots on the dirt this season, and outfielders, Jennifer Baggett (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek), Suzy Keller (Woodville, Ohio/Woodville) and Jen Meyer (Solon, Ohio/Hathaway Brown), who also could see time on the infield.
Coach's Comments:
"I have never been more excited to get a season underway. The team has been working very hard, and we are anxious to work out some of the cobwebs and get ready for the 2002 season that begins for us in Florida. I am very excited about the commitment that my team has shown throughout the fall and winter.