Softball Preview, Part 6: Youngstown State
Feb. 15, 2007
In 2006, the Youngstown State softball team used solid pitching, flawless defense and timely hitting en route to the program's first Horizon League Tournament Championship and NCAA Regional Tournament appearance.
The 2007 Penguins look to use those same elements as well as 13 returning letterwinners and seven returning starters in an effort to defend their title.
"For us to continue the success we achieved in the tournament, we need to continue to play well in all aspects of the game," YSU Head Coach Christy Cameron said. "We are going to have to pitch well and get clutch hits."
Although the Penguins return seven starters and were picked to finish third in the Horizon League by the League's head coaches, they incurred a big loss with the graduation of four-year starting shortstop Tiffany Patteson, who hit the title-winning, walk-off home run against UIC in the Horizon League Championship game.
"Replacing a player like Tiff is going to be difficult task to do, but I'm confident we have the players to fill that void.
The Penguins rode the right arm of Karlie Burnell to the Horizon League Championship in 2006. Burnell, a 2006 second-team All-Horizon League selection and All-Tournament Team pick, led the Penguins staff with a 16-10 record and a 3.30 earned-run average. Her 16 victories mark the second-highest single-season win total in school history.
Burnell, a senior, now ranks third all-time with 230 strikeouts and fifth all-time with 28 career victories.
"Karlie had a break-out season for us last season," Cameron said."She gained a lot of self-confidence and has continued to work hard to improve even more.
After Burnell, who picked up 16 of YSU's 22 wins, there is uncertainty in the circle with a sophomore and three freshmen.
Sophomore Tasha Hess is the only other pitcher on the roster with more than 30 innings pitched last season. Hess fired 33 innings and went 0-4 with a 4.24 earned-run average.
The freshmen - Cheryl Cale, Danielle Chase and Erin Schindler - all will have the opportunity to showcase themselves in the circle.
Probably the biggest question mark for Cameron is to replace the left side of the infield with the loss of Patteson at shortstop and Lacey Hess at third base.
Sophomore Allyse Ledford, who started 44 games at second base last season, may move over to shortstop hence leaving an opening at second base.
Ledford, the Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the 2006 Horizon League Tournament, batted .287 with two home runs and 11 runs batted during her rookie campaign.
Junior Kelli Sheibley and freshman Autumn Grove are the two main contenders for the starting spot at second base. Sheibley appeared in five games last season while Grove batted .426 as a senior at Canton Central Catholic.
Junior Becky Hibner, who played 98 games at first base over the last two seasons, returns for her third season at first base. Hibner, who batted in the second slot last season and batted .264, may move into the leadoff spot to replace Patteson.
The hot corner is up for grabs with several candidate vying for the job.
Along with Grove, junior McKenzie Bedra and newcomer Jessica Rozniewski, a transfer from Ashland, are all battling for the starting job.
Bedra, who has caught and played third in her two years at YSU, was named the Horizon League Tournament MVP after belting five home runs in the four-game postseason.Catcher
The Penguins arguably have the best catcher in the Horizon League with sophomore Kristen McDonnell.
McDonnell, a Great Lakes All-Region Second-team selection, tied a school record with 10 home runs last season while batting .316 in her rookie season. She also threw out more than 50 percent of the runners attempting to steal.
Last season, the designated player role could have been filled by a multitude of players.
This season, if Bedra is not playing third or catching, she will more than like be slotted in this slot. The Bowling Green, Ohio, native batted .306 with seven home runs and 27 runs batted in. She needs four more home runs to tie the YSU all-time home run record and five to become the new all-time leader.
Bedra batted an impressive .327 against Horizon League foes while Barry appeared in 11 games in 2005.
For the second straight season, The Penguins outfield remains intact for the 2007 campaign.
Senior Lacy Bronson, who started in 143 games the last three seasons, is penciled in as the starter in left field. Bronson batted a career-best .294 overall and led the Penguins with a .339 batting average against Horizon League opponents.Junior Bethany Hafley returns for her third season in center field and junior Jamie Fornal is slated to start in right field.
Fornal, who can also catch, batted .316 last season and belted four home runs, including a home run against Detroit in the opening round of the 2006 Horizon League Tournament.
Junior Sarah Conklin, who patrolled right field for 34 games in 2005 and turned in a .262 batting average, will probably see some time in left and right field.
If not at the designated player slot, junior Shauna Barry, along with senior Megan Bricker and freshman Kristina Davidson, may see time in right field.
