Softball hopes to return to playoffs
Stu Weis
Staff Writer
New softball head coach Amy Gradecki is looking to lead the Lady Pioneers from fourth in the North Division to a winning team.
Last season, Carroll finished with a 4-9 record in conference and a 12-15 record overall. The team was outscored 124-104 in total, which is roughly one run per game.
Offensively the team should be better with key returnees; sophomores Maggie Shaffer and Nicki Leden leading the team. Shaffer during her freshman season led the team in batting average, hits, doubles and home runs. Leden was third in batting average and was second in RBIs. In addition, sophomore Kelsey Morris and junior Bird Dostalek took part in more limited roles last season.
The weakness last season, offensively, was an abysmal 1 to 3 walk to strike out rate, which led to a team on-base percentage of .307. If the team can get on base more, it will allow Shaffer and Leden to improve their RBI totals from last season.
To help the offense, Coach Gradecki is implementing a new system that will have a more small-ball strategy. They are going to play with more speed and will bunt more often. The plan is for them to rely less on the big hits from Carroll’s best hitters.
The biggest question mark entering the season will be the pitching staff.
Recent graduate, and ace pitcher Kelsey Deakins, earned a 3.29 run average, which left a big hole in a pitching staff who combined for a team ERA of 4.47. According to Coach Gradecki the bulk of the pressure will fall on a pair of incoming freshman shoulders, those of Christine Roggemann and Aimee Ambrose.
To help the pitching staff the defense has been tweaked in the offseason, and defensively the team is very promising.
The team has players practice at multiple positions, such as infielder Shaffer who can play both shortstop and second base exceptionally well.
The biggest opposition for Carroll will be regining Midwest Conference tournament champion St. Norbert College. Carroll plays St. Norbert Apr. 17 in a double header at St. Norbert.
Carroll’s opens with a doubleheader against the College of Wooster and Wilmington College in Ft. Myers, FL on Mar. 8.
If Roggemann and Ambrose pitch well and the team becomes a little more patient at the plate, Carroll will be a very dangerous team this year.