The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, July 15, 1998, Page Page 7, Image 7
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Wednesday, July 15,1998
Softball recri
contribute ir
sports editor BRYAH JOHNSTON
The University of South Carolina's softball
- team entered the 1998 season with high hopes
and expectations.
And with good reason.
Coming off an SEC ChamnionshiD and a triD
to the Women's College World Series in 1997, the
Lady Gamecocks had dreams of repeating both
feats. ,
But after suffering through numerous injuries
and a 36-21 record, Carolina was left in
need of solutions?and quickly.
In 1998, The Lady Gamecocks were hindered
most by a lack of pitching and timely hitting. So
the additions of Samantha Russian, Debralee
Troesh and Megan Matthews look to fill in the
gaps needed for Carolina to return to national
prominence.
"These three recruits are going to bring in a
lot of versatility," Carolina Head Coach Joyce
Compton said. "All three of them bring in pretty
good experience and pretty good high school
seasons."
Russian is a riseball pitcher from Manassas,
Va.. who led her hiph srhnnl team to a Northwest.
Region title and a pair of appearances in the
Group AAA state tournament. As a sophomore
at Stonewall Jackson High, Russian's pitching
heroics, she didn't allow an earned run in six appearances,
carried the Raiders to their first Northwest
title in the school's 33-year history in 1996.
And as a junior, her 0.88 ERA and .351 batting
average helped Stonewall to its second straight
appearance in the state tournament.
In her senior season, Russian went 17-3 with
an ERA of 0.56 and 185 strikeouts. At the
plate, she hit .370. Russian was named the Virginia
High School Softball Player of the Year
by Gatorade.
Fifty schools began what was dubbed the
"Russian Sweepstakes" by Northern Virginia
newspapers, with six to eight coaches calling
every night. In the end, it was down to Carolina
and Virginia Tech. Russian said the difference
maker was the total narkacrp Smith f!ar
olina brought to the table.
"I liked the school a lot, and the weather was
real good," Russian said. "The team and coaches
were also nice. I just hope to help out a little
and bring some more winning spirit to the team."
Russian said her strengths are hitting the
corners and her rise ball, but she needs to work
on her curves and getting her drop ball down.
"Sam is going to do a lot of throwing for us
and she's got a lot of experience," Compton said.
"I see her getting a lot of playing time. She's also
got a very good bat, so we can work her into
the DP role when she's not pitching."
Matthews, a pitcher/outfielder from Greer,
S.C., was named the Gatorade Southern Region
Softball Player of the Year and The State High
School Softball Player of the Year. A graduate
of Riverside High School, Matthews finished this
season with a 15-3 record, a 0.40 ERA and a .600
batting average.
But her career stats stick out even more. She
finished her six years with a 0.82 ERA and three
state championships and three perfect games.
Three times Matthews struck out 20 batters in
one game, a state record, and finished with 25
career no-hitters, a state record, eighth in the
QRTS
The Gamecock Page 7
rits expect to
omediately
nation. Her 100 career victories is second in
the state, and her 1,239 career strikeouts is a
state record and ranks ninth in the nation.
She also finished with a .500 career batting
average with 239 career RBI, a state record, second
in the nation and 258 career hits, a state
record, second in the nation.
"Megan's a versatile athlete who's going to
have the opportunity to pitch," Compton said.
"She's been throwing well this summer. She'll also
get some work in the outfield and possibly
some work at first base. She's another good hitter
so both of the pitchers we're bringing in are
going to be able to hit for us when they're not
throwing."
Matthews first played softball in fifth grade
and made the varsity team as a seventh grader.
Matthews said when Carolina watched her
play, she wasn't pitching her best, so they recruited
her as a utility player with a chance to
show what she can do on the mound.
"They were looking at me playing in the outfield
and at my bat," Matthews said. "I have to
prove I can hold the pitching position. I think if
I get out there and work hard and play my game,
I think that may be enough."
Troesh is the sister of Leanna, Carolina's current
first baseman. The catcher from Santa Maria,
Calif., was named to the All-Area Santa Barbara
Team, All-County Team, All-Northern League
Team, All-CIF Southern Section Team and was
given Righetti High's Defensive Player of the
Year.
"Defensively, she's got a great arm, knows the
game well and knows how to call a game," Compton
said. "Debralee's played against some of the
top competition out in California. She will add a
lot offensively for us and has a lot of pop with
her bat."
Troesh is expected to battle Adrienne Genovese
for time behind the plate.
The Lady Gamecocks will enter the 1)9 season
with a plethora of returning talent.
All four infielders, 3B Sondra Hall, SS Kendra
McCutcheon, 2B Kim Schultze and Troesh, return.
McCutcheon is recovering from ankle
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of the season. On the mound, Nikki Beers, who
left midway through the season because of medical
reasons, and Joyce McMillin are back.
In the outfield, two-time All-SEC member
Kim Retro returns at center field. Jamie Williams
is back and Megan Donohoo, who filled in for McCutcheon
at shortstop, will return to her natural
position of left field. Heather Culver, who
was redshirted as a freshman last year, should
see a lot of time on the mound.
With 10 letterwinners coming back, and a
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and the Lady Gamecocks are looking to return
to the top of the conference and the nation.
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