The 2004 Wittenberg University softball team has plenty of reasons to look forward to the new season.

Fresh off one of the finest seasons in school history, a 25-21 campaign in 2003 that included a second-place finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference regular season standings and the first-ever NCAC Tournament title and NCAA Division III Tournament victory in school history, the Tigers head into this season with eight starters back in the fold. Add in a strong recruiting class that numbers 10, and the expectation is that this year's squad may be able to build upon past successes.

The Tigers will undoubtedly miss the leadership and on-field production of NCAC Player of the Year and first-team All-Great Lakes Region outfielder Beth Walters, but three seniors are back to fill those voids in 2004. Outfielder/pitcher Carmen Montgomery (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) is already a three-year letterwinner and a two-time All-NCAC selection. Catcher Kristen Hillebrand (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) is a three-year letterwinner and a force behind the plate. And pitcher/utility player Katie Gildow (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) lettered for the first time in 2003 after transferring from Ohio Northern. Her versatility in the field and on the mound will be a key again this year.

Pitching is a key to fastpitch softball, and the Tigers have a number of options. The top two returning pitchers are juniors Norah Gillam (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) and Jen Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne). Gillam won the NCAA Tournament game against Cabrini last May and led the team with a 2.73 earned run average. Gillam combined with Fleming to win 19 games and pitch more than 200 innings in 2003.

Gillam is also one of the team's top returning hitters after posting a .303 batting average and driving in 23 runs in 2003. Junior infielder Katie Carver (Enon, Ohio/Greenon) was another of the team's offensive leaders in 2003, emerging midway through the season to bat .378 with three home runs and 24 RBI. Montgomery hit .333 with team-bests of 11 doubles and six triples, as well as 24 RBI, all from the lead-off spot in the lineup. Gildow, Hillebrand and junior infielder Jen Meyer (Solon, Ohio/Hathaway Brown) also topped the .250 mark in batting average in 2003. Hillebrand was perfect on the basepaths, recording nine steals in nine attempts.

The other two returning starters are sophomores Kelly Sasavicz (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon), who is primarily an outfielder, and Katelyn Beddow (Lexington, Ohio/Ashland), who made 45 starts at third base and led the team in stolen bases with 11. The other two returning letterwinners are sophomore infielder Lana Hobby (Springfield, Ohio/Northwestern) and junior utility player Ashley Lands (Dover, Ohio/Dover).