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SCSU softball is equipped for second run at division crown
By Jay Corn
Minnesota cabin fever has broken, and SCSU students took advantage of the first warm days of the year this week by breaking out Rollerblades, Frisbees and short sleeves. With all of the good that can be found in climbing temperatures, there are some often unnoticed downfalls. Most notably, the transformation of winter to spring brings the melting of a hefty winter snowfall, causing havoc for outdoor athletic teams like the SCSU softball team.
The Huskies were scheduled to host St. Paul Concordia at Selke Field this week for a double header. The games, originally scheduled for Tuesday, were rescheduled and eventually cancelled due to an unplayable and water-logged softball diamond. Selke Field is currently under a foot of standing water in some parts, and the ground is as soggy as week old lettuce, preventing any serious athletic activity, let alone a double header.
Bailing water out of the area between home plate and first base (a notorious spot for Selke Field flooding), head coach Laura U'Ren updated the status of the cancelled games.
"The Concordia St. Paul games are cancelled for right now, but they will hopefully be played somewhere down the line if we have an opening in the schedule," U'Ren said. "It helps that they're only an hour away, but it's important that we do everything we can to make them up somewhere because we do need the games."
Flooded field or not, SCSU has gotten off to a good start this season, and after returning home from tournaments in Florida and Georgia, the squad's overall record stands at 13-4. That mark is good enough for an 18th ranking in Division II. SCSU hopes to see that rank rise as the season progresses; however, a three-game losing streak combined with the cancelled games has put them a little behind schedule.
The Huskies are fortunate to have virtually its entire starting lineup from last year return, a lineup that captured the Division title for SCSU. There are some new faces however, including second baseman Abby Augdahl. U'Ren has been impressed with her young middle infielder, and didn't hesitate to say so.
"If we were playing fantasy softball, I'd say that Abby Augdahl would be a sleeper that everyone should keep their eye on," U'Ren said. "She didn't play a lot last year, she's from Alaska, but she's super fast, can lay down the bunt and can hit with some power. We'll see her at second, but she can play the outfield effectively and is also our third pitcher."
Position by position, these are the names and faces that will surround Augdahl and will round out the starting lineup.
Pitching
The Huskies have the benefit of being able to put one of the premiere pitchers in the country on the mound in the form of Nicole Webb. Webb has already accumulated a team-high seven wins on the young season (to go with 0 losses) and is on pace to possibly triple her eight wins tallied a year ago. Webb has the ability to throw a lot of innings, and despite recent minor back spasms, should be the workhorse and an ace for SCSU. The one red flag that the statistics reflect is that Webb's E.R.A. to date stands at 1.47, a respectable ratio at any level, but is almost double her E.R.A. from last season (0.76). The concern is that hitters may be starting to figure Webb out, and have learned to be patient against the hard throwing righty.
Lacey Trossbach is the No. 2 pitcher and has actually logged one more strikeout than Webb this season. Trossbach is only a freshman and will use this season to learn the ropes of collegiate softball with Webb serving as a perfect mentor.
Infield
Brooke Gentzler returns for her senior season ready to pick up where she left off. Through the young season, Gentzler has already socked a team-high four home runs, and is tied for the team lead in RBIs with 15. Gentzler will, in all likelihood, be turning pro at the season's conclusion after being drafted by New England of the National Pro Fastpitch League. She is one of the premiere power hitters in the country, and 25-30 home runs seems very realistic.
"Brooke is really our most dangerous power hitter," U'Ren said. "She was the only Division II player to be selected in the pro draft, and she should really give our lineup some consistent power."
Augdahl has been getting the majority of starts at second, and could be poised for a breakout season. Augdahl is hitting .261 in 46 at bats this season and hit her first homerun of the season during the team's recent trip to Florida. Despite making a defensive switch from outfield to second base, Augdahl is expected to provide solid offensive numbers.
Augdahl is also the team's No. 3 pitcher if she's needed, a commodity that may prove invaluable over the course of the season.
Combined with short stop Angie Berg, the Huskies are expected to have stellar defense up the middle.
Angie Berg (one of the team's three) returns to the Husky lineup for her final season. Berg is a 'glue player,' and seemingly is the adhesive that holds everything together both offensively and defensively. The slick fielding shortstop has been a constant in the field and should work nicely with her second base counterpart Augdahl.
"Angie and I really are on the same page, and it's been great to be able to play next to her," Augdahl said. "I felt a little uncomfortable at the beginning of the season moving to a different position, but that's really all behind me now, and a lot of that has to do with working with Angie everyday on the ins and outs of playing the infield."
Berg is hitting .321 in 17 games and is tied with Gentzler for the team lead in RBIs with 15. Berg also has two homeruns to her credit this season, and she should provide a legitimate power threat batting behind Gentzler.
Junior Megan Fuches will be at third base for the Huskies for the third straight year. Fuches certainly is solid defensively, but her offensive showing thus far is mediocre. Through the first 17 games, she's batting a paltry .241 with seven RBIs.
It looks like the catching duties will fall mainly to sophomore Jessica Preiner. Preiner is hitting a microscopic .158, but has emerged as the No. 1 backstop option for coach U'Ren. Preiner will have to improve on her three for 19 clip with runners in scoring position up to this point in the season (including zero for two with the bases loaded), but has proven she belongs at this level. Preiner's backup will be Melissa Owen, a freshman from Iowa. Owen has seen some time at the plate this season, but isn't faring much better than her teammate Preiner.
Outfield
The trio of Abby Velta (RF), Jessica Swartout (LF) and Cally Stewart (CF) will round out the Husky outfield, one which promises to be as consistent and durable as any in the country. Velta is hitting .476 through her first 17 games, and leads the team in hits (30), at-bats (63), runs (19), triples (two) and stolen bases (eight successful swipes in 10 attempts). Velta has been flip-flopped with Swartout back to her natural right field position, a switch that may or may not last the entire season, and U'Ren believes the switch will improve the team's overall defense.
"Velta has played right field for the past couple years now and we really like her arm and her speed out there," U'Ren said. "She's just so fast, and I think it'll work out better if she plays there."
Both Swartout and Stewart give the Huskies solid and, more importantly, consistent offensive and defensive play. Between the two of them they've combined for three homeruns and 16 RBIs to go along with 18 walks. They both will be on base regularly, and should provide Gentzler and company with ample RBI chances.
If the Huskies don't grap their second strait NCC crown, it won't be due to a lack of weapons.
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