Softball Weekly Release #1

Feb. 13, 2006

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Horizon League News & Notes

Butler Bulldogs
There's only one thing for certain when it comes to Butler softball in 2006: nothing is for certain. First-year head coach Angie Nicholson plans to plug in a variety of players at different positions and spots in the line-up early during the 2006 campaign with the goal of having all her pieces correctly in place by the time Horizon League action begins.

Cleveland State
Cleveland State's preseason quick facts are a little misleading. They list the Vikings as returning seven position starters and three pitchers from last season. What they don't take into account are the return of fifth-year seniors Kortney Spidell and Michelle Nicholas. The duo sat out last season with injuries, but both had standout junior campaigns in 2004. Spidell went 10-9 with a 2.26 ERA in the circle, including a 5-2 record with a 1.40 ERA in league play. She also hit .241 in 40 starts at first base. Nicholas started all 53 games in right field, finishing second on the team with a .280 average out of the lead-off spot in the lineup.

Detroit Titans
The goals have not changed in 2006. The preseason aspirations remain the same: Win the Horizon League and advance to the NCAA Tournament. To do that, Detroit needs to combine its veteran leadership with a solid blend of new talent for a quality on-field product. Headlining this year's veteran-laden squad will be returning All-League selections Michelle Baggio, Sarah Dickey, Kat Klemp, Kristin Martin, Lindsay Roy and returning starters Amanda Bley, Kari Messina and Kaleigh Rafter.

UIC Flames
The 2005 season left the UIC Flames ready for more. After clinching its third regular-season Horizon League title in four years, the UIC softball team has some unfinished business after falling in the Horizon League Tournament to eventual champions UW-Green Bay with a 40-27 record. Ranked first in the 2006 preseason poll, the Flames are Horizon League Championship bound and looking for their ninth NCAA regional berth. UIC returns seven starters, bringing back a majority of the returning firepower and introducing three stellar freshmen to the 2006 squad.

Loyola Ramblers
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. Loyola's biggest challenge this season will be to replace a pair of solid hitters and four-year starters in 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.

UW-Green Bay Phoenix
Following on the heels of a season in which little was expected and much was accomplished, the UW-Green Bay softball team takes to the diamond for the 2006 season full of confidence and prepared to build on last year's success. After being picked to finish dead last in the Horizon League a year ago, the Phoenix placed second in the league regular season standings, won the conference tournament, and advanced to its first NCAA Regional in school history where it posted an upset win over sixth-ranked and Pac-10 champion Oregon State.

Wright State Raiders
The Wright State softball team looks to continue the climb upward in the Horizon League standings in 2006 under head coach Mike Larabee, who enters his second season at the helm. Last season, the Raider offense showed marked improvement, raising the team batting average 54 points from the season before, including 91 points in Horizon League play, slugging percentage by 61 points and on-base percentage by 82 points. In 21 fewer games than 2004, WSU nearly matched the overall win total, tripled the number of Horizon League wins and scored 10 more runs.

Youngstown State
The tournament title is a major focus of this season's squad as Youngstown State serves as the host of the 2006 Horizon League Championships at McCune Park in Canfield, Ohio. After fighting through the 2005 campaign with a 19-34 record, eight freshmen and just four returning starters, the 2006 version of the Penguins returns six starters in the field, the designated player and three starting pitchers as well as 13 letterwinners.