Michigan State University Athletics
2006 Michigan State Softball Outlook
10/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The 2006 Michigan State Softball season will surely match they hype and excitement the coaching staff, student-athletes, community and Green and White faithful expect it to be. Returning 15 letterwinners from a year ago, Spartan Head Coach Jacquie Joseph is eager to take the field in 2006.
MSU will once again play an extremely challenging schedule, facing 11 NCAA Tournament teams from 2005 and five teams ranked in the final 2005 NFCA Top 25 poll. Returning with a solid core of veterans with championship experience, Joseph welcomes three newcomers to the dugout in 2006, while newly appointed associate head coach Kathryn Gleason and assistant coach Nikki Myers begin their second season with the Green and White.
"We have very high expectations this year, last season we were a very young team that played a very difficult schedule that has really prepared us very well for this year," Joseph said. "We have a lot of returning letterwinners in key positions and we've added three freshmen that will all contribute. Our coaching staff expects great things to happen for our team this year."
The fall season proved very successful as experienced players continued to improve and newcomers made their mark on the field;
"We played well throughout the fall training sessions and during our fall competition which gives me great confidence that we will be able to continue to get better and carry that on through the spring," Joseph commented.
The Spartan philosophy is not only based on wins and losses, but rather on the process to becoming solid student-athletes both on and off the field: "As a collective coaching staff we don't talk in terms of outcome goals with our team. We talk about the process, about getting better every time we take the field and learning from our losses and our mistakes. We really work hard on one pitch at a time - break everything down one game, one inning, one pitch, Joseph said. "Our goal as a coaching staff is to keep our team focused on the process which will lead us to our on and off the field accomplishments. If we take care of the small things, the winning will take care of itself. We try to play the game vs. the game, not play the game vs. the opponent."
Pitchers -
Joseph feels the pitching staff is the heart of any great team. Freshman Megan Hair will join the Spartan pitchers this season, where after an outstanding season a year ago, junior hurler Rachel Turney will lead the Spartan's on the mound in 2006. A former junior college First-Team All-American, Turney paced the Spartan staff in 2005 posting a 14-16 overall record with 18 complete games during her first season wearing the Green and White. Her 1.90 ERA and 160 strikeouts were a team-best, while her 195.0 innings pitched and four shutouts ranked among conference leaders in 2005.
"I think the key to any season is our pitching staff. I really like the way our pitchers have developed throughout the summer and fall training sessions. I think Rachel (Turney) had a terrific first year of collegiate competition in 2005, and so far this fall, she is even better."
Lesley Noel, Abbie Lincoln and Jackie Noble all return from the 2005 pitching staff that allowed opponents to hit just .270 with a combined 225 strikeouts for the season. During an 8-5 freshman campaign, Noel tallied 31 strikeouts, two shutouts and six complete games in 21 appearances for the Spartans. Lincoln made just eight appearances with five strikeouts in 2005, however Joseph feels the returning experience and depth at the pitcher position will only make MSU stronger in the upcoming campaign:
"Depth will be a great advantage for us within our pitching staff this season. Everyone has worked hard to improve throughout off-season training. Lesley Noel, and newcomer Megan Hair, bring added depth while both have improved during fall play."
Catchers -
The catcher position is one of the strongest on the field in 2006. Returning two letterwinners who saw significant playing time in Caitlin Mahoney and senior Amy Szawara, Joseph has full confidence in the leadership and experience behind the plate.
"We are very fortunate to have our senior leader Amy Szawara back at the catcher position. That position is so important because it provides great leadership behind the plate and helps our pitching staff continue to develop," Joseph said. "Caitlin Mahoney, who saw considerable time behind the plate due to an injury last year, also returns in 2006, while freshman Kara Weigle will also see significant time catching this spring. The depth and leadership at such an important position provides us with a solid foundation to jump-start the team."
Szawara tallied 12 hits, including two doubles and one triple, during her junior campaign, while Mahoney ranked near the top of the MSU charts with a .288 batting average in 2005. Freshman Kara Weigle joins the squad from Naples, Florida after earning all-state honors all four years competing with the varsity team. While Mahoney will see the majority of her time at the third base position in the year ahead, the added depth Weigle brings behind the plate will make for an even stronger Spartan squad.
First Base -
The 2006 Spartans return nearly every position player including first baseman Dayna Feenstra. Starting all 54 games for the Spartans a year ago, Feenstra tallied 32 hits, including seven doubles and three homeruns, with a .218 batting average at the plate. Her .988 fielding percentage was a team-best throughout the infield positions, while her 228 putouts were also a team-high in 2005. A freshman on the 2004 Big Ten Championship team, Feenstra is a strong part of the returning Spartan core.
"I think our returning letterwinners that were a part of that special team in 2004 certainly understand the difference in a championship caliber team," Joseph said. "Last season we were very young, where as this year we have those that have been through a collegiate season, been through training and understand what it takes to be successful and that is the starting point. Our team has shown that they can work through the tough issues and excel, and really come out better players from those experiences."
Second Base -
With the departure of four-year letterwinner Janette Hurtado, who started 227 of 229 games during her career at State, MSU will rely on newcomer Gina Mondo and junior Nicole Mercado to fill the void at second base. A member of the 2005 State High School Championship Team, Mondo received NFCA All-East Region accolades her junior and senior seasons en route to NFCA Second Team All-American honors her junior year, and an NFCA First Team All-American tab her senior season at Amity High School. Mondo posted strong numbers throughout fall competition and Joseph feels very confident in her abilities:
"We have one new player in the infield this season and that is freshman Gina Mondo at second base. Gina is an excellent player who we expect great things from during her freshman year. She has big shoes to fill with the departure of four-year starter Janette Hurtado, but Gina has done an excellent job during her time at MSU."
Mercado will see the majority of her time competing in the outfield in the season ahead. In 2005 she hit a solid .236, starting 48 contests with 33 hits at the plate. Her seven doubles, two triples and 13 runs batted in were among team leaders en route to a 2005 All Big-Ten Second Team selection, the first post-season accolade of her career.
Short Stop -
Returning at the short stop position is the duo of Meghan Darhower and Traci Nicosia. Both Florida natives, Darhower enters her junior season in the Green and White while Nicosia begins her sophomore campaign with the Spartans. Both saw considerable time on the field last season throughout the infield. Nicosia tallied a .253 batting average starting all 53 games for the Spartans in 2005. Leading the team in triples (5) and runs batted in (23), Nicosia ranked among the top three on the team in eight offensive categories adding a .922 percentage in the field. Darhower, a three-year starter for MSU, tallied 24 hits in 49 appearances in 2005. Playing at the short stop and third base position, Darhower's versatility will be a great asset for Joseph and her staff in 2006.
"We are literally back at every position - we have depth and veteran experience at every spot, and that will make us a very solid and tough team this spring. Having the depth and leadership with veterans such as Traci (Nicosia) and Meghan (Darhower) is such an advantageous place to be in, unlike last season where we were a very young team."
Third Base -
Caitlin Mahoney and Meghan Darhower will battle for time at third base for the Spartans in 2006. Splitting time between third and at the catcher position last season, Mahoney hit .288 with a .368 slugging percentage at the plate, while her .983 fielding percentage was a near Spartan high. Traci Nicosia may also see time at third for the Spartans in the season ahead.
"Caitlin had a great start during her freshman year in 2005. Her ability to play throughout the infield at different times last season proved a great addition to our infield unit. " Joseph commented. "Again the depth and experience at the third base position returns in 2006."
Outfield -
With the departure of Victoria Morache from the outfield to the coaching ranks in 2006, MSU will count on five returning letterwinners to anchor the Spartan defense. Senior Elizabeth Peterson hit .228 in 2005 with 29 hits (seven doubles, three homeruns) in 51 appearances at both the outfield and designated player positions. A backup for Dayna Feenstra at first base, Peterson should see considerable time in left field for Joseph in 2006.
"Elizabeth is one of the most powerful hitters throughout the Big Ten Conference. Her ability to put up big numbers at the plate will lead her to a breakout season in 2006," Joseph said.
Junior Erin Harvey and Nicole Mercado will also see time competing in Spartan outfield in 2006. A season ago, Mercado made 51 appearances with 48 starts in the Green and White. As mentioned, Mercado ranked among team leaders in every major statistical category leading the Spartans with a .378 batting average against conference opponents during her sophomore season. Also looking to make an impact on the field for MSU this season is sophomore Nikki Nicosia. Nicosia saw 51 starts in 2005, the majority in center, though the sophomore from Florida tallied 14 starts in right field. Hitting .240 for the year with 30 hits and four runs batted in, Nicosia led the squad going 18-21 in stolen bases for the season. Nicosia's three stolen bases vs. Florida Atlantic in mid-March tied the MSU record for stolen bases in a game, while her total of 18 ties her for seventh on the all-time single season record charts. The experience both on the field and at the plate from the Spartan outfield will be key for success in 2006.
Sophomore Jessica LeFevre will look to improve on a successful freshman campaign. Her 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts, was a team second-best behind Nicosia, while in 38 appearances, LeFevre scored 13 runs for MSU.
Staff -
Along with the return of 15 letterwinners from the 2005 team, Joseph welcomes back nearly her entire staff from a year ago. Kathryn Gleason was promoted to Associate Head Coach during the off-season, while Nikki Myers begins her second season with the Spartan program. Eric Breece enters his fourth season as a manager for the squad, while volunteer assistant coach Tony Perino enters his second season in the dugout for the Spartans.
"Again the stability factor, just as everyone is back at our position spots, everyone is back in the dugout as well. - that is another aspect which only strengthens our team. I have an excellent coaching staff," Joseph said. "Our staff has really settled into our roles well and I think the players have really responded. I have very qualified assistants and that brings such a sense of confidence to the field every day."
2006 Schedule -
As with every season, the Spartans face tough competition from start to end in 2006. MSU will face five teams ranked in the final NFCA Top 25 poll from 2005, including top ranked Michigan and the ninth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in early season play. State will kick off the 2006 campaign with a trip to Greenville, N.C. where they will take part in the Holiday Inn Express Pirate Classic hosted by East Carolina University Feb. 17-19. MSU will face Army, Seton Hall, Bucknell and host ECU in the three day event. State continues the string of tough competition at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia Feb.24-26. State will battle Seton Hall for the second tournament in a row, followed by a contest with nationally-ranked Georgia and Southern Illinois who ranked as high as 20th in the nation in 2005. Continuing tournament action, the Spartans will take part in the Plant City Tournament in Plant City, Fla. At the three day event March 3-5, State will again face Boston University, Temple, Harvard and Buffalo.
MSU will continue play throughout the State of Florida with back-to-back tournaments March 9-19. First at the USF-Adidas Spring Break Invitational, State will battle Georgia Tech who ranked 17th in the nation in the final collegiate poll of 2005. Wright State, Long Island, Boston University and host South Florida will provide strong competition throughout tournament play. Competing at the Florida Atlantic Tournament March 17-19, the Spartans will face the UNC-Chapel Hill, UT-Chattanooga, UMASS and host Florida Atlantic. The Tarheels posted a fifth place finish in the ACC in 2005 with an NCAA Tournament berth, while UT-Chattanooga finished second in Southern Conference play.
"The schedule is very typical of what we do every year at Michigan State. It has a good balance of teams in our region, of top teams throughout the country, and our preseason competition is a great example of that. Our conference is just outstanding," Joseph said. "There is not one team in the Big Ten that can win or lose on any given day. Our non-conference games in the regular season are all regional games, which are very important to our overall success. Our schedule is very demanding, especially mentally. When we get into the heart of April when we are playing every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I am very excited about our 2006 schedule."
MSU travels to face non-conference foe IUPU-Ft. Wayne March 22, before taking part in the Indiana University Tournament March 25-26 where they face Wright State, Western Kentucky. After nearly two straight months competing away from East Lansing, State returns to Old College Field for the 2006 home opener vs. cross-state rival Eastern Michigan March 28. The Big Ten Conference season begins March 31 when the Spartans play host to Minnesota in a two game series. Purdue will travel to East Lansing April 7-8, followed by a conference doubleheader with Indiana April 9.
The Spartans will face Bowling Green and Loyola-Chicago in non-conference action April 11 and 13 respectively, before traveling to face Wisconsin and Iowa in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes ranked 24th in the final NFCA Top 25 poll in 2005, while Wisconsin looks to improve on its fifth place Big Ten finish in 2005. State travels to face Penn State and Ohio State April 21-23, before returning home to face Northwestern who ranked 15th at the 2005 season's end. Illinois hits Old College Field April 30, followed by a weekend series with the top ranked, and defending national champion, Michigan Wolverines May 6-7. The 2006 Big Ten Championship Tournament takes place May 11-13 followed by the NCAA regionals May 19-21.
Joseph feels the effort to play the best competition throughout the country makes MSU one of the most competitive program's in the nation; "What I want our current players and our recruits to know that when they play at MSU they are going to have the opportunity to play top quality teams from around the country. Not only is that attractive, but that is the approach you have to take if your sights are set on making the NCAA tournament every season, and at MSU that is our goal."
