2006 Softball Preview Part 5 - Loyola Ramblers
Feb. 7, 2006
Youth will be served for the Loyola softball program in 2006 as second-year head coach Yvette Healy welcomes 10 newcomers to the team. Despite the host of fresh faces, the Ramblers lost only two everyday starters from last year's team that placed fourth in the Horizon League.
"Although our team is very young, our coaching staff is extremely happy with our rebuilding process," Healy said. "I've been amazed at the athletic and academic commitment displayed by our student-athletes. There is a lot of energy and excitement in the Loyola softball program right now. Our ladies know what it takes to compete and achieve at the highest level and we're working to take this team to the next level."
Loyola's biggest challenge this season will be to replace a pair of solid hitters and four-year starters, first baseman Allison Scanlin and shortstop Keilah Williams. Although Williams missed half of the year due to injury, she combined with Scanlin to post seven home runs and 33 RBI in 2005.
"This year's team has a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and drive," Healy said. "We should be a fun team to watch and cheer for from the start of our season to the end. We've got a lot of speed and a lot of heart. Our games should be fast-paced and dirty. We're expecting great things from this squad and I'm sure we'll surprise a lot of people."
Senior Trish Oberhaus, who played second base her first two seasons, then shifted to shortstop due to an injury to Williams last year, should see most of her time at third base this spring. Sophomore Beth Florina, who started 43 games a year ago, mostly at the hot corner, will compete for playing time there again this season. Freshman Kaycee Tharp, described by Healy as a natural leader, appears to have a leg up on the job at shortstop, but sophomore Kat Krause and junior Nora Schober should also see time there.
On the right side of the infield, sophomore speedster Lindsay O'Gean should see plenty of time at second base after splitting time between the outfield and infield as a rookie. Last season, the left-handed slapper batted .272 and ranked second on the club with 16 stolen bases. Freshman Kristen Guska, who was impressive offensively this fall, sophomore Kristen Cefalu and junior Raven Gengler should all see action at first base. In limited action a year ago, Cefalu batted .304 with three RBI. Alexandra Trudnich and Trisha Hruskocy, another pair of rookies, will compete for playing time in the infield and add depth to a talented bench.
Gengler should assume her spot behind the plate again in 2006 after taking home First Team All-Horizon League honors as a sophomore. The athletic power hitter batted a team-high .327 with eight home runs and 29 RBI. Krause should see time behind the plate but should see the majority of her action as the designated player. As a rookie, Krause hit .231 but slugged four homers and drove in 20 runs. Freshman Margaret Parkinson has a great presence behind the plate and works well with pitchers.
In the outfield, junior Tara Miller returns to patrol center field for the third straight year. After earning First Team All-Horizon League accolades as a freshman, Miller batted .261 a year ago with a team-best 18 stolen bases and played a solid center field. Fellow junior Nora Schober is a versatile player who can play both the infield and outfield and even pitched four times a year ago. She missed nearly her entire freshman year due to injury, but should see a bulk of the action in left field again this season after an impressive sophomore year in which she batted .259 with a homer and nine RBI. A pair of freshmen, Courtney Sullivan and Caitlin Krupinski, will battle for the job in right field. Both players possess tremendous speed and are offensive threats at the plate. Sophomore Katie Duffy and another in the stable of fresh faces, Amy Sandstrom, will add depth to the outfield corps.
Loyola lost one pitcher from last season's squad, but the departure of Mia Pangere is a huge loss to the staff. The right-hander led the team in wins (8) and ranked second in innings pitched (110.0) despite battling arm problems all season. Freshman Krista Crosson had an impressive fall and is poised for a big rookie season as she appears to be assuming the role of leader of the pitching corps. Aiding Crosson in the circle will be fellow freshman Laura DeLeon and sophomores Kristen Cefalu and Katie Schupbach. Cefalu, who battled injuries last season, won five games despite making only seven starts, while the left-handed Schupbach led the squad with 136.1 innings of work to go with 11 complete games.
Healy has assembled arguably the toughest schedule in recent Loyola history as the Ramblers will face national powers like Georgia, Oregon State, Cal State Northridge, DePaul and Iowa in addition to regional contenders like Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue and Notre Dame among others.
"We have a great advantage playing in a city like Chicago," Healy said. "We are surrounded by regional teams that consistently compete to win their conferences from the BIG EAST to the Big Ten. We'll see numerous nationally ranked teams as we play spring tournaments in Tennessee, Iowa and California. If you want to beat the best teams, you've got to play a rigorous schedule, and that's exactly what we'll do this spring."
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Story provided by Bill Behrns, Loyola Sports Information Director.
