Softball Preview, Part 9: Loyola

Feb. 8, 2008

After clinching the 2007 Horizon League regular-season title with a 14-5 League mark, fourth-year head coach and 2007 Horizon League Coach of the Year, Yvette Healy aims to bring continued success to the Loyola softball program. The Ramblers return four of their six all-League players including Horizon League Pitcher of the Year, Amy Solava and senior slugger Kat Krause. In addition to their success on the field last spring, the Ramblers also achieved off-the-field honors by being named to a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Academic Team and earned the Horizon League Community Outreach Award.

A year ago, Loyola finished the season by winning 17 of its last 26 games en route to claiming the Horizon League crown. The Ramblers posted three wins over nationally ranked powerhouses - then-No.17 Illinois State, then-No.7 Northwestern and then-No.14 DePaul, the latter two of which were Women's College World Series participants. The 3-0, shutout victory over ISU on March 14 was the Ramblers' first win over a ranked opponent since 2000. Loyola finished the season placing four Ramblers on the All-Horizon League First Team for the first time since 2004.

"Last year was such a successful year," Healy said. "Not only winning the League and being regular-season champions but also having both all-league pitchers come from our squad, being named coaching staff of the year all while beating three ranked teams, being a Top Ten NFCA Academic Team and still finding time to get the outreach award."

Pitchers
Returning to the mound for the Ramblers is sophomore right-hander Amy Solava, who was a First Team All-Horizon League and Second Team All-Mideast Region selection in 2007. Solava is coming off of a 12-win season in which she posted a 2.21 ERA and held opponents to a meager .196 batting average. The hard-throwing right-hander earned Horizon League Pitcher of the Year accolades to become the first Loyola freshman to earn such an honor. The Rambler pitching staff also includes junior right-hander and First-Team All-Horizon League selection Krista Crosson, who posted an 8-6 record with a 3.00 ERA while fanning 59 over 100.1 innings pitched, and senior right-hander Shannon Roney, who sat out last season after transferring from Lewis.

"Our coaching staff is excited to see our pitching staff develop and mature as they grow into sophomore and junior status," Healy said. "Krista (Crosson) and Amy (Solava) have grown under Missy's (Beseres) tutelage. In Missy's first year she made an immediate impact by getting two pitchers on the all-League squad. She has done a fantastic job passing her knowledge as a former Big-Ten pitcher and NCAA Tournament participant along to our young staff."

Catchers
With the loss of Raven Gengler to graduation, Loyola turns to newcomer Jenna Grim to lead the team behind the plate. Grim, a hard-hitting backstop out of Beecher High School, batted .552 with eight homers and 59 RBI in her senior year. Kat Krause will also be used as back up support behind the plate.

Infielders
Kat Krause, a hard-hitting senior, returns to second base for the Ramblers after a stellar junior year in which she hit .336, with 11 homers, 28 RBI, two triples, nine doubles and 22 runs scored. The First Team All-Horizon League and Second Team All-Mideast Region selection leads a group of talented infielders this season. Versatile pitcher and infielder Angie Funston will patrol the hot corner for the Ramblers in 2008, while Haley Ambrosch, a freshman with pop in her bat, is expected to assume the role at shortstop. Freshman Bridget Lally and junior Kristin Guska will compete for playing time at first base. Senior Lindsay O'Gean looks to be the designated player as junior Alexandra Trudnich, who started 25 games last year and freshman slugger Jacqueline Grim will add depth to the infield.

"Our infield has tremendous arm strength and great grit and determination," Healy said. "We will be looking to Kat to provide leadership on the infield."

Outfielders
The departure of Second Team All-Horizon League selection Tara Miller leaves senior Nora Schober to guide the Ramblers in the outfield. Last year, Schober started all 42 games in the outfield and was tied for second on the team with 15 RBI. Her .352 (19-for-54) batting average, 15 runs, three roundtrippers and 14 RBI led the Ramblers in their 21 victories. Also starting in the outfield will be senior Katie Duffy, who saw action in 15 games last season, and sophomore Ellen Kresl. Kresl started in all 42 games for the Ramblers and swiped a team-high 12 stolen bases and recorded a team-best eight sacrifice hits. Junior Kaycee Tharp is looking to make a move to the outfield and along with sophomore Stephanie Cihlar, will see some playing time this season.

"Our outfield is fearless," Healy said. "They are very talented defensive players who will provide a lot of offensive pop as well."

Utility Players
The Ramblers bring numerous utility players into the mix this season. Leading a talented group of players is Guska, who played in 17 games last season and posted a .261 batting average and sophomore Kristen Medrud, a Horizon League All-Newcomer selection who played in 26 games and batted .324 (12-for-37) with two doubles, a home run and eight RBI in League action. Bridget Lally, a freshman out of Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Ill., and senior Katie Schupbach, who did not see any game action last year, will also add depth to the lineup.

Schedule
This season Loyola faces a challenging schedule as it faces 11 opponents that were NCAA Tournament participants and four teams that reached the Women's College World Series last year.

The Ramblers open the season at the Alexis Resort Kick-off Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., against Washington, UNLV and Arizona State, followed by the Worth Invitational in Fullerton, Calif., where Loyola will go head-to-head with Texas Tech, Oregon State, Purdue and Pacific. While in California, the Ramblers will also take on Loyola Marymount, San Diego State, Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara before traveling to Indiana to battle Horizon League foe Butler.

Loyola opens up the home portion of its schedule at the end of March against Bradley before it hits the road again to take on Illinois. The Ramblers will also go up against national powerhouses such as Northwestern, Northern Illinois, DePaul and Notre Dame, among others.

"We have a lot of great young talent and a good mix of returning players, "Healy said. "Getting a year experience, building on winning the regular season title and with hosting the League Championships, it will be exciting to see the team put it together an make a run for the title again."

With a talented group of players and coaches, the Ramblers hope to finish atop of the Horizon League for the second consecutive year and make a run for their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

--Story provided the Loyola office of sports information