Wilmington University Softball

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Softball 2008 Season Outlook

After a very successful 2007 season, the 2008 Wildcats look to continue where they left off, and finally challenge for their first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference championship.

The 2007 squad, although very young, completed one of the greatest turnarounds in all of Division II. Coming from a 9-31 record the previous year, last year’s team finished 31-15, third in both the regular season and in the playoffs. Under the direction of first year head coach Erin Harvey, Wilmington responded and completed their most successful season since they made the transition to NCAA Division II in 2005.

The ‘Cats enter the 2008 season filled with optimism, confidence, and a sense that they should be considered a threat in the conference. Head coach Erin Harvey, in her second season, as well as assistants Eric Zebley, Dana Travis, and Melissa Zebley, are very eager to begin what promises to be an exciting season.

The reason for such a positive outlook is that the program returns ten players from last year, including eight starters, while five new members were added during recruiting in the off-season. The young, but extremely talented pitching staff looks to be the backbone of the team. The infield, now has collegiate experience under their belts, and brings much more range and flexibility to the team. In the outfield, the ‘Cats have several players who each bring a different dimension to the game. As a result, Wilmington looks to have a few potential combinations and the lineup will be adjusted to meet the offensive production needs.

The strength of the team will be their pitching staff. Returning sophomores Kim Lawrence and Katie Turner will shoulder much of the work, while freshmen Kate Brown and Nicole Gebhart give the staff considerable depth. Lawrence, the CACC Pitcher of the Year in 2007 was also a first-team All-CACC and second-team All-Northeast Region selection. She went 19-5 with a 1.34 ERA in 27 appearances, and led the conference in wins, earned run average, opponents’ batting average, shutouts (3), saves (2), and fewest walks. In 167.2 innings pitched, Lawrence struck out 136 while only walking 28, and her opponents hit a dismal .228 against her. Turner came on strong late in the season and looks to have a breakout year in 2008. She went 12-10 with a 2.46 ERA during her freshman campaign, and was named to the CACC All-Tournament Team for her performance in the playoffs. Kate Brown (North East HS/North East, MD), a pitcher/first baseman, was the Cecil County Player of the Year and First Team All-County selection this past season. Brown helped lead the Indians to the finals of the Maryland Class AA State Championships. Nicole Gebhart (Concord HS/Wilmington, DE), a pitcher/utility player, was a Second-Team All-State selection this past season and three-time All Blue Hen Conference award winner during her career. Both will be counted upon to provide depth and change to the pitching rotation.

Behind the plate, Wilmington returns All-Region (NFCA) junior Kelly Schirmer. Also an All-CACC Tournament Team nominee, she finished the year hitting .389 with 18 runs scored and a team-leading 37 runs batted in. Schirmer was second on the team in hitting, doubles (11), triples (2), home runs (3), slugging percentage (.556) and on base percentage (.435). Also returning, is sophomore Jaime Hurlock, who now healthy, looks to contribute more defensively, as well as keep up her offensive numbers as well. A .301 hitter, she will also see time in the designated player position, and has the ability to be a significant run producer in the line-up.

The infield was both solid offensively and defensively last season, and they will be relied upon to contribute heavily on both sides of the ball again this year. Leading the way is senior shortstop and captain Nicole Hays. Hays hit .306 last year and led the CACC in stolen bases with 18. The coaches hope she can continue to use her speed as a major threat on the base paths. Sophomore second baseman, Heather Bush, a second team All-Conference selection will shore up the middle infield. One of the best defensive second basemen in the region, her glove will be huge for the right side of the field. The spark-plug of the line-up on the offensive side of the ball, she will occupy the lead-off spot and use her aggressive style to cause opponents’ fits. A .331 hitter, she was third on the team in batting, second in RBI’s (25), and fourth in runs scored (22). Lindsay Watson, a sophomore, returns for second season at third base. Watson, is a defensive machine on the hot corner, and the team will continue to count on her to stop just about everything that comes her way. Offensively, she is a threat every time she steps to the plate, and has the ability to hit for both contact and power. Freshmen Kate Brown and Nicole Gebhart will share duties at first base, and both bring solid defense coupled with powerful bats. At 6’1” Brown provides a great target at first, while she also has a tremendous amount of power on the offensive side of the ball. Gebhart is aggressive defensively, and offensively, she has the ability to hit to all fields with gap power.

The outfield will be led by senior captain Shustine Wilson, who will patrol centerfield for the Wildcats. Wilson, an excellent defensive presence, controls her other fielders with precision and is a true leader on the field. Offensively, she will be counted upon to advance runners into scoring position, work pitchers with her outstanding ability to draw walks, and provide a spark to the line-up. The corner outfield positions will be held down by junior Lindsay Frye and freshman Kristin Tomlinson. Frye has a solid glove and brings a great deal of speed to the offense. She has the ability to slap from the left, while also hitting consistently from the right side. The coaches plan to use her speed more this season and help set the table for the run producers that follow her in the line-up. Kristin Tomlinson (Sussex Central HS/Millsboro, DE) was a First Team All-Henlopen Conference and First-Team All-State selection in 2007. She reads the ball very well in the field and also has some pop in her bat. Kristin will be counted upon to contribute immediately as a freshman. Freshman Nicole Gebhart will also see time in the outfield, as will the remaining three players on the Wildcats’ roster. Sophomore Katie Walsh, and freshman Cari Lindstrom give the outfield tremendous depth and they will be asked to fill numerous roles this season. Katie Walsh (Del-Tech Stanton CC/Bear, DE), a former All-Blue Hen Conference outfielder at Newark High School, has a good glove, solid arm, and is not afraid to sacrifice her body to help record an out. Cari Lindstrom (Elkton HS/Bear, DE), helped lead the Golden Elks to the state playoffs, and is a skilled utility player. She brings the ability to play multiple positions, and those talents will help the Wildcats over the long 50-plus game season.

Overall, the Wildcats believe their offense is more than one-dimensional this year---a fact that they are very proud of. “This team is much more oriented on run-production than our teams have been in the past. We have the ability to execute small ball, and come up with the long ball when we need it. We will not rely on only one way to score,” states Coach Harvey. Defensively, Wilmington looks to improve on their fielding percentage from a year ago.

Over the years, the Wildcats have been a competitive program, but the ascension gets more difficult each year as the sport continues to flourish. CACC play has now become a springboard to elite play in the region, as the conference has made its move to the ECAC and NCAA Division II. Armed with an offense that boasts speed, consistency, and power, coupled with strong pitching, and a defense to match, the Wildcats are out to prove that they are a contender.