Central Michigan University Athletics
2005 Chippewa Softball Outlook
2/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 13, 2005
It's year one of "LAP" for Central Michigan University softball - Life after Puchalski.
Former Chippewa pitcher Amber Puchalski etched her name among the Mid-American Conference's elite over the last four years, twice earning MAC "Pitcher of the Year" honors and setting the league record for career victories (81) and strikeouts (970). She led CMU to three MAC regular season titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
In 2005, Chippewa softball will rely on a different philosophy in pitching. Instead of a strikeout pitcher dominating in the circle, the pitcher's role will be to get the opponents to hit the ball where the defense can make plays.
"There's no question that Puchalski was a strikeout pitcher," coach Margo Jonker said. "This staff will allow a lot more ground balls and the defense will be able to do the job. That should equal the same success in the win column, but not in the individual record book."
The Chippewas return 11 letterwinners from last year's team that finished 32-19 overall and 21-3 in MAC play. CMU won the MAC regular season title and earned the league's first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The two losses from a year ago are Puchalski and cleanup hitter Aimee Smith.
CMU's pitching staff will use a rotation of three in junior Jessica Garvin, sophomore Jill DeRoche and freshman Amy Candioto.
"We're excited about the pitching staff working together as a whole and the team experiencing success together," Jonker said. "With contrasting styles, this pitching staff will be effective as a unit."
Behind the pitching staff is an infield defense that Jonker points to as one of the team's strengths.
"In the fall we came up with some big plays," she said. "If we can have a consistent group on the field together, then balls will have a hard time getting through."
The lineup consistency will be determined by which catcher CMU puts behind the plate and the team's overall injuries. Many of CMU's players can play multiple positions, but that juggling cuts down on the consistency.
Sophomore Lindsey Calme and junior Brittany Decker will share catching duties again this season but both can play elsewhere depending on team needs.
The middle of the infield will have a pair of returnees looking to turn the double play in junior Karen Hohs at second and junior Stephanie Crews at short. The corners will likely have new faces in place with sophomore second team All-MAC designated player Christan Dhondt, redshirt freshman Chivon Kloepfer, Calme, or sophomore Angie Hunter taking over at first base for the graduated Aimee Smith. Freshman Amy Hudson gives CMU great defense at third and junior Allie Hansen and Calme are other possibilities.
CMU's outfield is anchored by the lone senior, Christin Sobeck, a first team All-MAC pick last season. Sophomores Jacque Benedict and Brittany Fulks each had plenty of starts there as well.
Senior Christin Sobeck needs just four home runs to tie the CMU career record of 16.  | |
"We made positive improvements in swing mechanics and we're looking for that to translate into power and consistency," Jonker said. "We're going to have to rely on a lot of people to produce runs for us and that way the opponents can't pitch around us. If everybody comes through in their role, we'll be in good shape."
The Chippewas were picked to finish first in the MAC West Division, according to the coaches' poll. Picked to finish behind CMU in the West were Bowling Green and Western Michigan. Miami was the East Division favorite followed by Marshall and Kent State. Miami also was the predicted MAC Tournament champion.
CMU will face stiff competition in the season-opening Campbell/Cartier Tournament in San Diego, Feb. 18-20. The Chippewas face a pair of preseason ranked foes in No. 19 Fresno State and No. 20 Long Beach State.
Two different tournaments in Florida comprise CMU's 10-day southern trip. The first is the UCF Tournament, March 4-6, and then the Speedline Tournament, March 10-13.
CMU's home schedule begins on March 22 with a non-league game against Oakland. The Chippewas begin their MAC title defense on March 30 with a midweek doubleheader at Ohio.
Other highlights on the home schedule include an April 6 twinbill against 2004 WCWS participant and preseason No. 8 Michigan and an April 27 doubleheader against MAC East Division favorite Miami.
The MAC Tournament will once again be held at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio, May 11-14. One difference this year is that the league's top eight teams will advance to the tournament and a new format will have two separate four-team double elimination brackets with the bracket winners meeting in a championship game.
The MAC Tournament winner receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 64-team NCAA Tournament will also have a new format this season. Sixteen sites will host four-team, double-elimination regional tournaments, May 20-22. The regional winners will advance to Super Regionals to be held at eight sites, May 27-28. The Super Regionals will pit two regional winners against each other in a best-of-three series. The Super Regional winners advance to the Women's College World Series, June 2-8, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Rankings according to USA Today/NFCA Preseason Poll.
BY POSITION BREAKDOWN
Pitching
The pitching staff has a pair of returnees in junior Jessica Garvin and sophomore Jill DeRoche, along with freshman newcomer Amy Candioto.
"Garvin spent last summer pitching in the Netherlands and that experience has helped her confidence," Jonker said. "She looked significantly better in the fall and we'll be relying on her heavily this year."
Garvin was 9-6 with a 2.18 ERA, including a 6-2 record in MAC action. She picked up a win against No. 5 Oklahoma early in the year.
DeRoche has been hampered by a back injury but the Chippewas are hoping for a full recovery by late spring. "If Jill is healthy we will have two strong, but different, pitchers with experience," Jonker said.
DeRoche was 2-2 last season with a 2.13 ERA and a pair of saves.
Candioto figures to be used often in her first season.
"Amy showed mental toughness in the fall ... getting hit early but making adjustments in the next innings," Jonker said.
Local freshman Christa Delamater could be added in the mix here if she recovers from offseason surgery.
Catcher
Lindsey Calme was CMU's second-leading hitter last season as a freshman. She batted .289 with 16 RBI. | |
"Calme's a great defensive catcher who calls an excellent game," Jonker said. "Decker has great energy and is very vocal."
Calme was CMU's second-leading hitter last season with a .289 average, two homers, and 16 RBI. She'll also see time on the corners.
Decker hit .215 a year ago with two homers and 21 RBI. She also plays the outfield.
Sophomores Angie Hunter and Lynsey VanSweden, a transfer from Kalamazoo College, could also see action here. Hunter relished her role as bullpen catcher last season and she could possibly be used at first base. The coaching staff is hoping to redshirt VanSweden, a second team All-MIAA pick last season, despite her great arm.
First Base
First base has plenty of options with Christan Dhondt, Chivon Kloepfer and Lindsey Calme among the most likely candidates here.
Dhondt was second team All-MAC as a designated player a year ago with a .284 batting average, four homers, and 19 RBI.
Kloepfer is a redshirt freshman who has made great improvements, according to the coaches, and Calme could rotate in here if she's not behind the plate.
Also figuring in the mix are freshman Amy Candioto when she's not pitching, junior Allie Hansen, and Angie Hunter.
Second Base
Second base will either have junior Karen Hohs or freshman Amy Hudson looking to turn two.
Christan Dhondt was a second team All-MAC pick last year at designated player. She will play a defensive role this season at first base. | |
Hudson is a slick fielding newcomer who will play either second or third depending on how the rest of the positions shake out from game-to-game. Second could be an option for Allie Hansen who could also play short or third.
Shortstop
Junior Stephanie Crews started all but one game at shortstop last season in her first year with the Chippewas. Great with the glove, Crews hit .220 with two homers and 20 RBI.
She'll likely see a majority of the time here again this season with Amy Hudson and Allie Hansen figuring in the rotation. Lynsey VanSweden is an option if she doesn't redshirt.
Third Base
Amy Hudson at third and Stephanie Crews at short would give CMU a tough defensive lineup on the left side of the infield. Hudson made incredible plays in the fall and she's looking to establish herself offensively. Allie Hansen has been a solid fielder at the hot corner in the past but will need better offensive numbers to earn a spot in the lineup.
Lindsey Calme saw plenty of time at third last year but she'll likely be utilized elsewhere. Brittany Decker and Angie Hunter also provide possibilities.
Outfield
First team All-MAC pick Christin Sobeck started every game in center last year and the senior has that spot wrapped up again. She had great offensive numbers, hitting .322 with seven homers and 23 RBI last year, but she has to be more consistent for the team to be effective. Her strong arm should limit hits in the gaps to singles.
Sophomores Jacque Benedict and Brittany Fulks are veterans in the outfield as well with 45 and 28 starts, respectively, in their first season last year.
Benedict hit .205 with 14 RBI and 10 extra base hits. She's made improvements defensively.
Fulks finished strong last season with a great showing in the NCAA Tournament. She hit .186 on the year with two doubles and two triples.
Four other players could see time here. Newcomers Suzie Giroux and Katie Horvath give the Chippewas speed while Karen Hohs and Brittany Decker could play somewhere in the outfield as secondary positions. Freshman Rosemary Wagner is a candidate in the outfield if she does not redshirt.
Giroux was a three-time all-state selection while Horvath will have sophomore eligibility after transferring from Grand Valley State where she played volleyball the past two seasons.
"Our outfield lineup will be determined by defensive consistency and who is getting hits," Jonker said.
