Jan. 22, 2002
"No better time than now. No better place than this."
That is definitely a statement that the University of Missouri softball team can apply to their 2002 campaign as they take on some of the best competition in the country when the season begins on February 8.
The Mizzou roster features a great balance of youth and experience with four seniors, four juniors, four sophomores and five freshmen. Combine that with a very tough 2002 schedule and the time is definitely right for the Tigers to make a run at the Big 12 Conference title.
Also, for the first time in program history, the Tigers will play home contests at night at University Field thanks to the recently installed lighting system. The new addition truly makes the Tigers home field one of the best facilities in the country. After going 12-0 during the fall campaign at the newly lighted University Field and winning all three tournaments they played in, Coach Jay Miller believes the Tigers are ready to roar in '02.
"Our kids are ready to get the season going," Miller said. "I feel very good about where we are in every facet of the game and we look forward to a lot of success this season."
The Tigers will have to achieve that success without two of the major contributors from last year's squad. Pitcher Stephanie Falk, who paced the Tigers in wins and appearances the last three seasons and received All-Big 12 and Academic All-Big 12 honors in '01, graduated along with NFCA All-American and All-Midwest Regional First Team member Karen Williams, who recorded the highest single-season batting average in school history last season. Both players were also named to the NFCA Academic All-American team this past season.
The Opposition
To make it to the great Sooner state in May for the Women's Collegiate World Series, Mizzou must conquer what could be considered to be one of the toughest schedules in the country. The Tigers will open their 2002 campaign in San Diego, California. Mizzou will face the Aztecs of San Diego State, which finished 2001 ranked 24th in the final USAToday/NFCA Coaches Poll, and Hawaii in the season opening tournament. The Tigers will then welcome 2001 NCAA Tournament qualifiers Western Illinois, Illinois-Chicago along with Rhode Island to University Field for the first home action of 2002 in the Mizzou Round Robin on February 16-17.
The Tigers then head to Georgia for the second straight season for the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, which runs February 22-24. All three opponents the Tigers will face (WCWS participant Stanford, UMASS and Cal-State Fullerton) at the Classic participated in the NCAA Tournament. The following weekend will feature a trip to Plant City, Fla. for the Strawberry Cup. This marks the first year the Tigers will play in this tournament as they face the likes of NCAA qualifiers Central Michigan, South Carolina, and WCWS participant Michigan and will take on Michigan State and Ohio University as well.
Following their final regular season road tournament, the Tigers will host four-school tournaments each of the next two weekends. Columbia University, Louisville and Drake all come calling the weekend of March 8-10 for the Missouri Classic. Following a mid-week trip to Evansville, Ind. to take on the Purple Aces of Evansville, the Tigers will host the Missouri Invitational, which will feature Connecticut, Loyola and Big 12 foe Iowa State on March 15-17.
Mizzou then enters the gauntlet that is the Big 12 Conference season with its first two series on the road at Texas and Iowa State before returning home for three straight games with Oklahoma State and vaunted rival Kansas. After back-to-back match-ups with instate rivals St. Louis and SEMO, Mizzou welcomes the Baylor Bears to Columbia for an April 6-7 series and the 2000 National Champion Oklahoma Sooners for a midweek double header in Columbia.
The Tigers will then enter a brutal five-game-in-five-day road trip with an April 13-14 visit to Nebraska, a Tues., April 16 double-header with UMKC in Independence, Mo., and another face-off with Kansas. Mizzou will then return home for four games in four days as the Red Raiders of Texas Tech come to the Tigers den for an April 20-21 match-up followed by a doubleheader with St. Louis on Apr. 23. The Tigers will wrap up their regular season with a road trip to College Station, Texas for a doubleheader with Texas A&M before beginning the Big 12 Tournament, which will be held in Oklahoma City, Okla. on May 2-5.
Infield
Much like the Tiger squad as a whole, the infield positions feature a good mix of youth and experience.
"This group has the talent to be the best infield we've had in 10 years," Coach Miller said.
First baseman Erin Erickson, who received the "Golden Glove" award last season for her solid play and .993 fielding percentage, returns at first base to anchor the infield. Erickson was a 2001 National Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association All-American. Junior Melanie Fisher can also fill the first base post. Fisher was excellent for the Tigers both defensively and offensively. In 2001she was named an NFCA All-American and also received All-Midwest Regional first-team honors. She put up huge numbers at the plate batting .379 with 10 doubles, 33 RBI, three triples and two home runs while also recording a 1.000 fielding percentage at first base. She will join the team after the University of Missouri women's basketball team's season has concluded.
Senior Lindsey Jacoby will also provide experience on the right side at second base. Jacoby has been named the "Most Improved Player" by the Tiger coaching staff the past two seasons and is coming off of a great fall in which she hit .464 in ten games with four doubles, a triple and 13 RBI. Jacoby also will provide some offensive spark on the base paths. She finished second on the squad in 2001 with 11 stolen bases in 13 attempts.
Talented freshman Heather Kunkel will take over primary duties at shortstop. Kunkel had a solid fall campaign and showed her base running savvy scoring a team-high 12 runs in 11 games of action. Look for sophomore Morgan LeCluyse to also play a major role in the Tigers plans at shortstop. LeCluyse, who transferred to Mizzou this past fall from Iowa State, saw action in all 12 Tiger contests this fall recording 12 assists while going 4-for-4 in the stolen base column.
"With the two new folks we brought in to solidify the middle of our infield, (Kunkel and LeCluyse), Lindsey will move back to her more natural position at second base," Miller said.
Rock-solid sophomore third baseman Rachael McGinnis returns for her second season at the hot corner. McGinnis was brilliant in 2001 receiving All-Midwest Regional first-team honors. She pounded out a .330 batting average while starting in 58 games for the Tigers at third base. She was also very good defensively recording 52 putouts and 111 assists while slating a .948 fielding percentage. McGinnis had a very good fall campaign hitting .421 while leading the squad in RBI with 16. McGinnis was also named co-rookie of the year by the Tiger coaching staff with Fisher.
Outfield
The Tiger outfield is loaded with experience as two juniors and a senior will make up the starting three.
"This is a very talented group of individuals," Miller said. "We are very excited about the progress all three have made in terms of becoming better all-around players and they really began to work well together at the end of the fall."
Nacogdoches, Texas native and senior Heather Allister will roam right field for Mizzou. After transferring to MU from Palomar Junior College last season and seeing action in 54 Tiger contests, Allister has become one of the Tigers offensive juggernauts. Allister hit a scorching .629 this fall recording 22 hits (three doubles, one home run) while also slating an .800 slugging percentage and a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Junior Kristen Burke has taken over as the general of the outfield moving to center field after the departure of Williams. After starting just 14 games last season, Burke will be called upon to be the Tigers everyday centerfielder. If the fall is any indication of what is to come from her, Mizzou is in good hands. Burke was outstanding hitting .407 while also drawing seven walks and recording a 1.000 fielding percentage.
"I was very impressed with Kristen this fall." Miller said. "She has really stepped up offensively and defensively and has really made strides in becoming a great player."
The prototype leadoff hitter, junior speedster Sara Vassmer will start in left field. Vassmer was second on the squad in stolen bases last season and paced the Tigers with seven steals this fall. She is also very good at advancing runners for the Tigers as she put down 10 sacrifice hits, good enough for tops on the Tiger squad. Look for sophomore Daisy Mettlach and freshmen Sabrina Padgett and Ashley Hays to also see time in the Tiger outfield.
Pitchers
Junior Ingrid Werner will be the veteran of the Tiger pitching staff, as she will be accompanied on the staff by two freshmen. Werner sports a career mark of 19-17 and a career ERA of 2.48. She has been named to the NFCA Academic All-American team the past two seasons and was named the Tiger's "Rookie of the Year" in 2000.
"Ingrid has a great opportunity to really step up for us this season," Miller said. "She is a good role model both on the field and off for our young staff."
Freshman Erin Kalka will also play a major roll in filling the large shoes of the graduated Falk. Kalka made the first step in showing that she could carry that load this fall. She was dominant recording a miniscule 0.14 ERA in nine appearances while recording a 7-0 record. Kalka gave up only one earned run in 48.1 innings of duty while striking out an amazing 68 batters.
"As far as our freshman go, it is just a question of growing up. Erin Kalka threw great for us this fall and I think she established herself and proved that she can pitch at this level. The question is can you do that when we get into the Big 12 portion of our season and she gave every indication this fall that she can handle that level of competition."
Queen Creek, Arizona native Veronica Flournoy rounds out the Tiger pitching staff. Flournoy sat out the fall campaign due to injury, but will be back for the spring. She earned All-State and All-Region honors at Highland High School and will play a crucial roll in the Tigers success on the mound.
Catchers
Senior Mary McGrane will handle the young pitching staff, which Miller said is OK by him. McGrane has recorded a .990 fielding percentage or better in each of the last three seasons. McGrane brings great intangibles to the Tiger lineup and orchestrates the Mizzou pitching and defensive attack in the infield
"Mary works so well with all of our pitchers," Miller said. "Her experience and patience will be crucial for us as we bring along our pitching staff."
Mettlach and freshman Sabrina Padgett will also see time behind the plate and will be valued pinch and designated hitters for the Tigers as the season progresses. Mettlach had a great fall. She recorded seven hits in 23 at bats, three of which were homeruns, which led the Tigers.