Sunday, February 29, 2004
Eight starters return, including the Horizon League's player and pitcher of the year.
YOUNGSTOWN -- After finishing the 2003 season with a school-record 36 wins, the bar has been raised for the 2004 edition of the Youngstown State softball program and similar success is no longer wishful thinking, but rather an expected outcome.
The Penguins, who finished the 2003 fall season with an 8-4 record, have 12 letter winners and eight starters returning, including Amanda Berry, the Horizon League player of the year, and Kelly Murphy, the Horizon League pitcher of the year.
"I think last season gave our players a taste of success and they really enjoyed it," YSU coach Christy Cameron said. "They now know what it takes to win at this level and we are going to strive to continue with the same level of success, if not more."
The Horizon League coaches seemed to think along the same lines, predicting the Penguins to finish second in the preseason poll. Youngstown State garnered 42 points, including three first-place votes.
The Penguins' major strength will be in the pitching circle with Murphy, junior Ashlee Lockmiller and newcomers Karlie Burnell and Tricia Hilbish.
Dominated competition
Murphy, a sophomore, dominated the Horizon League last season, leading the league with 22 wins and a 1.47 earned run average. Murphy also set school single-season records in wins, ERA, strikeouts (179) and games started (33).
Last season, Lockmiller went 4-3 with a 3.60 ERA and turned in a solid fall campaign.
Along with Berry, the Penguins return first-team All-Horizon League shortstop Tiffany Patteson, senior Lacey Reichert at third base and junior Char Kudlock at second base.
Last season, Berry, who was a second-team All-Great Lakes Region selection, tied the school record for most hits in a season (55) and set the school single-season record for most runs batted in (39). The left-handed hitting senior first baseman hit seven home runs, the third-best season total in school history, and ranked second on the team with a .318 batting average.
Patteson, who set the single-season triples record with nine in 2003, led the team with a .325 batting average and 34 runs scored.
Kudlock ended the campaign with a .288 average and made just six errors, while Reichert had 14 extra-base hits, including three home runs.
"Defensively, I think we are really solid in the infield," Cameron said. "At every position, we field the ball well."
Catchers
Behind the plate, the Penguins senior Jenn Hartman and sophomore Codi Bise will compete to replace last season's starter, Aimee Soller.
Hartman turned in an explosive fall season, hitting over .500 and catching every game.
"Jenn had a great fall season for us and has been working hard to continue that production for us," Cameron said.
Freshman Angela Armstrong adds another dimension behind the plate for the Penguins.
Bise, who hit five home runs last season, is slated to see action as the designated player and can also catch.
Junior Kiisha Warfield is also expected to see time as the designated player.
Although the outfield has experience with senior Amber Smith and junior Erin Moore, the Penguins lost two key players with the loss Zetta Dumkrieger to graduation and 2003 Horizon League newcomer of the year, Liz Holt, who did not return to Youngstown State.
Sophomore Laura Amero and newcomers Lacy Bronson and Megan Bricker will supply depth.
The Penguins face a difficult schedule with matchups against Kentucky, Stetson, Pittsburgh, Virginia, and the Horizon League schedule.