SOFTBALL: 2008 Season Outlook
Alma, Mi. - With virtually their entire lineup returning from the team that went 30-13 and captured a share of the MIAA Championship, the Scots are looking forward to the upcoming season. Alma returns 17 players with varsity experience from last year’s squad that went 16-4 overall in league play including a 14-2 mark in regular season action.
Recognized as one of the premier programs in the country, Alma has produced an overall record of 475-141 in the last 14 years, a stellar .771 winning percentage. In that span they have won eleven league crowns and five Regional titles, finishing as high as third in the country in 1999 and 2000 and making World Series trips as recently as 2004 and 2005. The Scots are typically ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III poll and are always a threat to contend for Regional and National Championship honors.
Alma’s senior class will lead the way again in 2008 as the Scots return some outstanding talent. Centerfielder Missy Morcom (Chelsea) will be a four-year starter as will shortstop Amy Gaudard (Mt. Pleasant) and both are back for their senior year. Morcom hit ten home runs from her leadoff spot a year ago while Gaudard hit .362 and both came through with clutch hits time after time. Both were first team All-MIAA players in 2007. First baseman Taylor Erwin (Fenton) has also been in the starting lineup for most of her career and has been a reliable hitter, baserunner and defensive player. Liana Easterby (Troy) has shown power at the plate and is a solid backup in the infield at several positions while classmate Heather Saputo (Macomb Township/East Detroit) will look to contribute again in the infield.
Several players in the junior class have already been key figures in the Scots’ success recently including Katie Koechling (Wheaton,IL/North) who will be in the starting rotation for her third season in 2008 after All-MIAA performances her first two years. Catchers Sarah Seals (Alma) and Trista Geier (West Bloomfield/Walled Lake Western) have been in the starting lineup since their freshman year and bring experience and strong arms behind the plate. Third baseman/pitcher Brittany Fales (Midland/Dow) broke into the starting lineup last year and showed a powerful and steady bat, hitting over .300. Pitcher Jamie Christian (Armada) also has varsity experience and looks to work into the rotation this year along with fellow juniors Tracy Blessing (Birch Run), Megan Darcy (Ravenna) and Lilly Pritula (Ann Arbor/Manchester).
Houston Verbeck (Flint/Kearsley), Kasey Miller (Grand Ledge) and Sarah Johnson (Portland) lead a strong sophomore group as all three started as Freshmen. All three batted in key spots in the lineup with Verbeck leading the team in batting average, Johnson having the second highest RBI total and Miller leading the team in steals. In addition, Kelsey Rightenburg (Lexington/Croswell-Lexington) Cassie Schwab (Midland), and Kelsey Thompson (Morley-Stanwood) spent significant time with the varsity and will push for playing time this season. Classmates Ashley Mankin (Cheboygan), Katie Sigman (Manistee) and Sadie Green (Elsie/Ovid-Elsie) had good j.v. seasons a year ago and will look to contribute at the varsity level as well.
The 16-game MIAA schedule and tournament should be a challenge again and the Scots will also have a 20-game j.v. schedule. With a wealth of varsity players returning along with support from the j.v. team and another strong incoming freshman class, look for Alma to again be one of the favorites in 2008. Come and watch the Scots as they bring their trademark enthusiastic style of play to work towards another MIAA title and NCAA trip. GO SCOTS!
Posted: Mon, December 10th, 2007 at 11:29AM
