2012 Spartan Softball Preview
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Now in the second year of the Josie Henry era, the Case Western Reserve University softball team will look to build on last season's hot finish as it hopes to take another step forward during the spring of 2012.
During Henry's first season as head coach, the Spartans finished at 19-25 overall with a 13-5 mark over the final 18 games. The 19 victories were a 10-win improvement versus Case's total from 2010.
"We definitely feel that last year's momentum will carry over into this season," said Henry. "There is a major difference in the mindset of our returning players. They had to start believing they could win, and once that came to fruition, that mentality caught fire and spread throughout the club."
Henry will once again enter the 2012 season with a young roster. But different from last season, that roster will be much deeper with established players in the lineup and a revamped pitching staff consisting of three newcomers. The roster Henry inherited last season did not include a pitcher.
"Our pitching was inexperienced early last spring, and I really feel like that contributed to our slow start," noted Henry. "Once we fought through that, our confidence as both individuals and as a team began to improve. Our returnees really dedicated themselves this offseason, especially knowing we have a true pitching staff."
Overall, Henry's 16-player roster consists of five starters and seven letterwinners.
Headlining the group is 2011 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American first baseman/designated player Lauren Wolz (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge).
The first All-American in program history, Wolz hit .408 with school-record totals of 10 homeruns and 49 runs batted-in last spring. She also doubled 11 times, scored 25 runs and struck out only five times in 130 official at-bats. Wolz was tabbed first-team All-University Athletic Association and first-team NFCA All-Central Region – also a program first. In just three seasons, she ranks first on the CWRU career leader board with a .390 (128-of-328) batting average, 20 homeruns and 89 RBI.
"Lauren (Wolz) is a vital part of our offense and really poses a threat to anyone we face," said Henry. "She possesses a ton of power and has the ability to consistently put the ball in play. I feel like anytime we can get our top-of-the-order batters on base, Lauren will find a way to drive them home."
Also back from the senior class is third baseman Kaeleen Boden (Strongsville, Ohio/Holy Name) and catcher/designated player Ianna Wasser (Warwick, R.I./Toll Gate).
Boden, a Capital One Academic All-District IV selection, finished third on the team and 15th in the UAA with a .350 batting average while totaling two homeruns, 14 RBI and a team-high tying 12 walks. In 125 career games, she has batted .322 with 50 RBI.
Wasser, a two-year starter behind the plate, batted .299 with three homeruns and 13 RBI. She will likely see significant at-bats from the designated player spot as a career .258 hitter with nine homers and 44 RBI.
"Having experienced players like Kaeleen (Boden) and Ianna (Wasser) provides excellent protection for Lauren when opponents intentionally walk her," said Henry. "Our senior trio will provide a strong core that we can build around."
Outfielder Chelsea Lasky (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy), who has played in 29 games during the past two seasons, returns as the club's lone junior.
Back for their second seasons are sophomores Makenzie Lein (Petersburg, Mich./Ida) and Katherine Seo (Salt Lake City, Utah/Olympus), who each moved from their traditional positions to split time between the field and the pitcher's mound in 2011.
Lein, who pitched for the first time since her early high school years, led the team with a 13-8 record, 132.1 innings pitched, 15 complete games and 42 strikeouts. She will move back to the middle infield full-time this season after hitting .329 with six homeruns and 25 RBI.
Seo, who was 6-10 in 105 innings pitched last season, will move back to the outfield full-time. She hit .240 with two homers and 14 RBI, while stealing eight bases in nine attempts.
"I don't feel like Makenzie (Lein) and Katherine (Seo) will be impacted much from moving back to the field," noted Henry. "However, I do feel that having a year of swinging the bat at the collegiate level along with growing maturity at the plate will help them be even more productive. Pitching for an entire season will also make them better hitters, knowing how to create and read spin out of the pitcher's hand."
Sophomore catcher Amy Taylor (Brier, Wash./Inglemoor) is also back after playing in 28 games with 25 starts as a freshman. She batted .293 with three homers and 12 RBI.
As previously mentioned, the 2011 roster did not include a true pitcher. This year will be much different with three freshmen arms in camp all vying for time on the mound. Rebecca Taylor (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe) is the front-runner to be the Spartans' ace, while Christina Hunger (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) and Hillary Bunnelle (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) are also expected to compete for significant innings.
"I have high expectations for our pitching staff," said the head coach. "Although they are young, they have been very consistent in their preseason work, and I look for them to flourish in game situations."
In addition to the pitching trio, Henry is also expecting significant contributions from the rest of her freshman class with several of the rookies expected to start at open positions.
Molly O'Brien (Northbrook, Ill./Loyola) will rotate the middle infield positions along with Lein, while Lizzy Kolar (Morgantown, W. Va./University), Shruthi Srinivas (Clemsford, Mass./Clemsford), Gena Roberts (Miami, Fla./Palmer-Trinity) and Ashley Parello (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) will likely complete the outfield rotation. Catcher Janis Cava (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Dominican) will be counted on to add depth behind the plate.
The 2012 schedule will once again be challenging with the annual University Athletic Association Championship in Florida in early March and a number of top regional opponents throughout the northern portion of the schedule.
The Spartans open the season on Saturday, February 25 with a pair of games versus Alabama A&M University and Centre College (Pa.) at 12:00 and 4:00 p.m., respectively, at the Birmingham Southern College Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama.
After four more games down south in Alabama and Florida, the Spartans head to Altamonte Springs, Fla. for the UAA Championship from March 13-17.
The team then opens its northern slate at home versus Westminster College (Pa.) on Wednesday, March 21 at Mather Park.
"I feel like there is a lot of unfinished business, especially for our senior class," said Henry. "This group has worked really hard and has played in a challenging conference. It will be great for them to come out and show that all of that work has paid off. We are excited to keep the program moving in the right direction."
