2010 Season Preview
The MSOE softball plans on making their presence felt in the Northern Athletics Conference this year with a combination of solid returnees and freshmen.
"This year, our team is more skilled and dedicated to the game of softball," said MSOE head softball coach Jessica Ott. "With that said, I feel our expectations have risen dramatically and need to improve on getting our batting average up and fewer errors. With the talent, we will be in every game we play. I expect our team to move up in the NAC standings."
MSOE's top two hitters from last year return for another season. Sophomore pitcher Jessica Iversen (.427 batting average in 2009, 15 RBI) was all named to the NAC All-Freshman team last season and looks to improve on her solid season she had in 2009. Iversen will also be counted on the mound by the Raiders. Another solid sophomore Jessica Phillips (.342, 13 RBI) is back after a successful freshman campaign.
"However, our lineup this year has considerably changed from the previous year," Ott said. "We have hitters in the entire lineup. Last year, we couldn't string more than a couple hits together. This year I look for numerous players to be an impact offensively such as Iversen, Phillips, Julie Windish, Lianna Campos, Kate Klaubauf, Samantha Herold and Rebecca Gardner."
Windish, Campos, Klaubauf, Herold and Gardner are all freshmen looking to step right into big roles on this team.
"Our freshmen players are going to really contribute this year," Ott said.
Sophomore Elise Pinkerton (.274), juniors Sara Achten and Brittany Remington, senior Chaley Morris and freshman Courtney Leaf will be important members of the Raiders lineup this season.
Ott believes that her team may be able to sneak up on some of the teams in the NAC after going 6-22 overall and 4-20 in conference action last year.
"We will surprise a few teams this year," Ott said. "Nobody except us, feel we will make any noise in the conference. For us to continue moving forward we will have to move up in the NAC standings."
In order to have a solid season, the Raiders will need to avoid injuries in order to keep their key players on the field
"First of all, we need to stay healthy," Ott said. "With only one pitcher that will be important. Then we need to strive to bat over .300 as a team. Lastly, we have strengthened our defense so that is going to help us."
MSOE starts their season at the Finlandia Dome Tournament in Marquette, Michigan at the end of February. The Raiders begin their NAC schedule Saturday, April 3 in Mequon against Concordia University Wisconsin. The NAC Tournament will take place May 6-8.
