The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 26, 1998, Page 7, Image 7
Softball tea
i
| BRYAN JOHNSTON The Gamecock
Senior Sky Brown (above) and junior Nikki Beers
will have to step up their game with the departure
of Ail-American pitcher Trinity Johnson.
sports editor BRYMi JOHNSTON
Last season, the Lady Gamecock softball team experienced
a dream season. They broke many records, won the
SEC regular season and tournament titles, won the regionals,
madedt to the Women's College World Series, had numerous
individuals honored and were ranked as high as No. 2
I in the nation on their way to posting a 63-5 record.
It's a tough act to follow, but the 1998 version believes
they can do it. Despite losing three Ail-Americans, including
"all-everything" pitcher Trinity Johnson, the Lady Gamecocks
are poised and ready to make another rim at the title.
"Last season was a great season," softball coach Joyce
Compton said. "They need to remember last year, the experiences
they went through and the enjoyment and excitement
that was created, because it was a great accom
plishment.
I "It's not something that you talk about and forget, it's
something you do remember. But you also don't sit on it. It's
a new team with new people, but we have the same goals
and aspirations we had this time last year."
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The Lady Gamecocks have a lot of talent returning in
kev nlaces. hut thev also lack experience at some nositions
Compton believes that as the freshmen gain experience, the
team will steadily improve.
"Any team is as good as their freshmen get," Compton
said. "Our freshmen got very good last year. We're looking
for our freshmen to come in right away and contribute for
us."
Carolina returns eight starters, but bring in five newcomers.
Here's a breakdown of the positions and players for
this year's USC softball team.
Infield
Carolina returns all four starters with first baseman
Leanna Troesh, second baseman Kim Schultze, shortstop
Kendra McCutcheon and third baseman Sondra Hall. Also
figuring to be key are Sky Brown and Kari Peters.
McCutcheon said it is key to have everyone back for
another year.
"I think it's really important that everyone's back," McCutcheon
said. "It gave us a lot of experience working together
last year. We've already gotten accustomed to how
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cvcijruuuy prays.
Troesh came in as a freshman last year and started 38
games. The 5-foot-7-inch sophomore from Santa Maria, Calif.,
batted .241 with one home run and 10 RBI. She was also
named to the All-SEC Tournament team.
Schultze made contributions to the team quickly as she
started every game at second base. The sophomore from Upland,
Calif., occasionally struggled at the plate, but finished
the season with a .264 average and 12 RBI. She was also an
All-SEC Tournament selectee.
McCutcheon is the veteran of the group. Now a junior,
she is back at the shortstop position she moved to after her
freshman year. The Lake City, S.C., native had 113 putouts
and 120 assists, but committed 16 errors. She hit .283 and
was named to the All-SEC second team.
The third of three freshmen to start in the infield last
season, Hall showed signs of brilliance with the glove. A native
of Naples, Fla., Hall showed some power and consistency
at the plate, hitting .352 with one homerun and 19
RBI. She also hit five doubles and two triples.
Brown will rotate at third with Hall when not pitching,
and Peters will see action at first base. Peters, a senior from
Suwanee, Ga., who transferred from Palm Beach (Fla.) Com
munity College prior to last season, hit two tnples and .zy /
in her 40 games played.
"It's big to have all of our starters back," Compton said.
"Our infield should be a strength for us this year."
Pitching and Catching
The loss of All-American Trinity Johnson can't be measured
in stats alone. Losing Johnson means losing 24 victories,
a 0.38 ERA, 399 strikeouts and 2421/3 innings pitched,
but also means losing a great leader who complemented fellow
hurlers Nikki Beers and Sky Brown.
Beers and Brown are back and ready to step in and pick
up where they left off.
"We got some big experience last year," Beers said. "I
think it's going to help us, and I think it's going to help Joyce
[McMillin] coming in so we can help her. I think we take our
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1 1916 Taylor
d at au times. Columbia, SC 29201
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fvurm rh
JL V/
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Training Conference
>f South Carolina
s of student leaders from
the 12th annual Student
ice held at the University of
in Columbia.
ve breakfast, lunch, a conference
edule includes 3 breakout sessions
se from, and an inspiring luncheon
n Student Leader and Seasoned
presented to deserving conference
id by their advisors.
January 28
mbia participants
lumbia participants
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game, and how we pitched last year, and step it up a little
. bit."
Beers is an off-speed pitcher who went 15-1 last season
and had a 0.56 ERA in 112 1/3 innings pitched. The junior
from Sacramento, Calif., struck out 102 batters on her way
r to being named to the NFCA Second-Team All-Southeast
team.
Brown likes to throw the heater and throws it well.
The senior went 14-0 last season and has won 20-consecutive
games over the past two seasons. Last year, Brown had
45 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.96 in 1091/3 innings pitched.
Filling the third spot in the rotation will be freshman
McMillin. The 5 feet 6 inches tall left hander from Melbourne, 1
Fla., will be called upon to handle some of the pitching duties
for the Lady Gamecocks.
"Last year, they shouldered what we asked them to,"
Compton said. "If we would've asked more, I think they
would've given more. Their numbers will be called more this
year, and they're both very capable of ?
going out and throwing against any
team on our schedule."
Behind the plate will be Carrie Elliott.
The senior from Birmingham,
Ala., hit .317 last season with two
home runs and 11 RBI. She was
plagued with injuries last season, limiting
her playing time. Elliott has a
lot of power, producing six career home *
runs.
Outfield
The outfield is probably the biggest
question mark for Carolina. The left
and right field spots were vacated
by former Ail-Americans Tina Plew
and Chanda Lee.
Junior Kim Pietro is back in center
field and looks to be the leader in
the outfield. Last season, Pietro made
numerous outstanding catches on her
way to being named a member of
4-1* s* C 4. 4-?All CT?n Gl?* ?
tiic ill au-i/coni one la aiav a
force at the plate. The Pompton Plains,
N.J., native hit .308 with two home
runs and 37 RBI last year.
Freshmen Adrienne Genovese : " ^
(Corona, Calif.) and Kendra Meano JB
(Huntington Beach, Calif.), along with > gmi
redshirt sophomore Jamie Williams, : iH
will fill the vacated spots. Also, fresh- ,
man Megan Donohoo is a utility player
and could see action anywhere on Hj
"The outfield is going to be key for
us," Compton said. "With the spots on
both sides of Petey [Kim Pietro] va- *>. , Cv
cated, it'll be up to our freshmen to
step up quickly and contribute." . f ~ ty"
Overall
As the Lady Gamecocks enter their ? . ? .
; 25th year of softball, they take with tQ ^ lnfield for ^
mmm ^ M M
Spring 1998 Treas
Monday, January 19 5:3'
(Sports Clubs only)
Wednesday, January 21 3:3'
Thursday, January 22 3:31
X A J T r\ O.I,
iviunuay, January zo
Monday, January 26 7:0!
All Student Organizations IV
at a TVeasurer's Workshop
Budget requests for 1998Wednesday,
Fel
Please call the Student Gove
or come to room 110 in the Russt
cess of '97
them a 789-274-4 record and the tradition of a program that
has been successful in the past.
Tradition will change a little this year with two new additions.
Lady Gamecock Field is now Beckham Field after
the Beckham family gave a donation to the athletics department.
The bleachers seat 1,000 people, but 2,250 crammed
in for last year's regional finals against Kansas.
Also, lights have been added, making night games possible.
The first night game is scheduled for 6 D.m. March 13
against Florida.
Look for a different type of team this year. Last season,
Carolina relied on overpowering pitching and timely hitting.
Compton said the team will be more aggressive both at the
plate and on the bases.
So the pieces are in place for another run at history
and glory. Can they repeat last year's success? We won't
know until it's all over, but the road begins 3 p.m. Feb. 17
when Carolina hosts Georgia Southern in their opener.
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: 2 ? :
BRYAN JOHNSTON The Gamecock
man Leanna Troesh is one of four starters returning
Lady Gamecocks this season.
jurer's Workshops
0 PM PE Center 110
0 PM Russell House 205
0 PM Russell House 315
0 PM Russell House 11 5
0 PM Russell House 315
IUST have a representative
to be eligible for funding.
1999 funding are due by
>ruary 4,1998.
xnment Office at 777-2654
ill House for more information.