Pitching to be strength for Panthers
Team returns key players for 2010 season
Josh Hall
Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: Voices
While the snow lingers on the ground, the thought of it being softball season is hard to comprehend. But the Drury softball team is ready for its opening day, this Friday against Lincoln University.
After battling a slew of injuries last year- playing most of the season with just 10 players - the Panthers would finish up the season at 14-40.
With 19 healthy players on the team now, this season looks to be a different story. Drury returns senior standouts Sadie Ball and Stephanie Ray to help fuel the lineup. Ball hit .388 with nine homeruns, 44 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Ray batted .316 with 10 homers and 31 RBIs in the Panthers' first season.
"We have a lot of depth and a lot of options," third year coach Annie Medico said. "We have a lot of good things going for us right now."
Medico said pitching will be a strength this year, as the Panthers return four players from the rotation in which the staff compiled a combined 2.78 ERA.
Juniors Laura McCarthy and Kelsea Garthoff will compete for the one and two spots on the mound. McCarthy went 8-16 with a 2.10 ERA as a sophomore. Garthoff made 20 appearances, allowing eight walks in 71.1 innings.
"They should both have the ability to throw seven innings for us and keep us in games," Medico said. "I am definitely looking for that to be a strength for us this year."
Coming on strong late last year, Garthoff has emerged as one of the top pitchers for the Panthers according to Medico.
"Kelsea has the potential to throw a lot of different pitches," Medico said. "She throws lots of strikes and when she is on and healthy, she can throw inning after inning and just give up a run or two."
Junior Brittany Davis will add depth to the rotation after starting 28 games last year. Davis went 3-16 on the mound with a 3.30 ERA.
Senior Tori Whitehead and freshmen Hallie Petersen and Denise Taylor will add depth to the mound as well.
"The great thing about our pitching staff this year is how much depth we have," Garthoff said. "All of our different styles and maturity levels should prove to be extremely effective, and hopefully carry our team to the next level of competition."
On the offensive end, Drury returns senior Jessica Matlock, the team's top hitter last year. Matlock hit .284 with 17 RBIs. Junior Ashley Balazs lead the team with 22 RBIs.
"Everybody is pushing hard to win a spot," Matlock said. "But at the same time, everybody is backing each other up."
That philosophy may be the difference for Drury this year as they have already gotten off to a good start. The Panthers spotted their first winning record during the fall season and will look for that momentum to carry on this spring.
In the Great Lakes Valley Conference pre-season poll, the Panthers were picked to finish 12th in the 15- team league. However, Medico doesn't make much of rankings that are based on the past.
"We don't really put any focus on that," Medico said. "Our goal is to be one of the top five teams in the conference. I think that is a very obtainable goal for us."
After battling a slew of injuries last year- playing most of the season with just 10 players - the Panthers would finish up the season at 14-40.
With 19 healthy players on the team now, this season looks to be a different story. Drury returns senior standouts Sadie Ball and Stephanie Ray to help fuel the lineup. Ball hit .388 with nine homeruns, 44 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Ray batted .316 with 10 homers and 31 RBIs in the Panthers' first season.
"We have a lot of depth and a lot of options," third year coach Annie Medico said. "We have a lot of good things going for us right now."
Medico said pitching will be a strength this year, as the Panthers return four players from the rotation in which the staff compiled a combined 2.78 ERA.
Juniors Laura McCarthy and Kelsea Garthoff will compete for the one and two spots on the mound. McCarthy went 8-16 with a 2.10 ERA as a sophomore. Garthoff made 20 appearances, allowing eight walks in 71.1 innings.
"They should both have the ability to throw seven innings for us and keep us in games," Medico said. "I am definitely looking for that to be a strength for us this year."
Coming on strong late last year, Garthoff has emerged as one of the top pitchers for the Panthers according to Medico.
"Kelsea has the potential to throw a lot of different pitches," Medico said. "She throws lots of strikes and when she is on and healthy, she can throw inning after inning and just give up a run or two."
Junior Brittany Davis will add depth to the rotation after starting 28 games last year. Davis went 3-16 on the mound with a 3.30 ERA.
Senior Tori Whitehead and freshmen Hallie Petersen and Denise Taylor will add depth to the mound as well.
"The great thing about our pitching staff this year is how much depth we have," Garthoff said. "All of our different styles and maturity levels should prove to be extremely effective, and hopefully carry our team to the next level of competition."
On the offensive end, Drury returns senior Jessica Matlock, the team's top hitter last year. Matlock hit .284 with 17 RBIs. Junior Ashley Balazs lead the team with 22 RBIs.
"Everybody is pushing hard to win a spot," Matlock said. "But at the same time, everybody is backing each other up."
That philosophy may be the difference for Drury this year as they have already gotten off to a good start. The Panthers spotted their first winning record during the fall season and will look for that momentum to carry on this spring.
In the Great Lakes Valley Conference pre-season poll, the Panthers were picked to finish 12th in the 15- team league. However, Medico doesn't make much of rankings that are based on the past.
"We don't really put any focus on that," Medico said. "Our goal is to be one of the top five teams in the conference. I think that is a very obtainable goal for us."
Article last update: 2/2/10 at 8:38 PM CST
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