Softball Back on the Winning Track – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/13/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 13, 1999
Columbus, Ohio – The injury plagued Ohio State Buckeyes (11-20 overall, 1-7 in Big Ten) are back on the winning track with Sunday’s upset win over the No. 25-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes. But the road doesn’t get any easier this week. Today, the Buckeyes will play host to Bowling Green in a single game. On Wednesday, Purdue will come to Columbus for a doubleheader. Over the weekend, the OSU will travel to East Lansing, Mich., to face Michigan State in a three-game series.
144 GAMES AND COUNTING
If you were to combine the number of games missed by the Buckeyes because of injury, the number is an astonishing 144 games. Kelli Tom, Chrissy Fowler and Kristi Martin have missed the entire season (31 games each). Natalie Woods has been out for the last 18 games. Meaghan Robinson (13), Carrie Vanderpool (7), Holly English (6), Anna Smith (6) and Katie Wessendorf (1) have each missed parts of the season.
THE WALKING WOUNDED
To say the Buckeyes are battling the injury bug may be a major understatement. The roster reads 18 players but in truth, there are currently only 11 healthy members on the team. Pitchers Kelli Tom (chronic left knee pain) and Kristi Martin (impinched ulnar nerve in her right arm) along with infielder Natalie Woods (torn ACL) and outfielder Chrissy Fowler (torn ACL) are done for the season. Pitcher Meaghan Robinson is dealing with a stress fracture injury in her right rib cage. She will only pitch three-to-four innings one or two games per week. Outfielder Anna Smith is dealing with a deep bruise to her right calf muscle. The injury occurred when she scored in a home plate collision with Michigan catcher Karmen Lappo. She is also on a day-to-day basis but should see action this week.
CLUTCHING UP
Five OSU batters are batting .300 or better with runners in scoring position. Leading the way is freshman Stacy Roth who is carrying an awesome .500 BA with runners in scoring position – 185 points higher than her season batting average. Following her are Renae Weigel (.321), Samantha Kimura (.320), Holly English (.316) and Anna Smith (.300). HEAD COACH LINDA KALAFATIS ON THIS WEEK
“The fact that we play seven games this week with our current injury situation will be a big challenge for us,” head coach Linda Kalafatis said. “We’re facing two Big Ten opponents that are having very good seasons to this point in Purdue and Michigan State. But, we’ll have to first put our efforts into Bowling Green, who has played a very challenging non-conference schedule. We faced them and exchanged wins with them this past fall and they were a very solid ball club. We’ll try to get away with not throwing Toni Hileman against Bowling Green to preserve her for Big Ten games. So this means our offense will really need to put up some numbers. I’m hoping the great Iowa win will be a springboard for us and getting Anna Smith back this week will help. In the Iowa win, I saw the offense this team is capable of every game. I hope it keeps rolling.”
OSU ON TELEVISION
Saturday’s doubleheader against Michigan State will be televised by MediaOne. The games will be shown tape delayed in the East Lansing area.
SMITH FINDS HER ZONE
Freshman Anna Smith went through a torrid seven-game stretch for the Buckeyes before her calf injury in the Michigan series. She batted .455 with a team high 10 hits and five runs scored. She also chipped in with two runs batted in, a triple, two stolen bases, a .545 slugging percentage and had zero errors in 17 chances. The hot streak raised her season batting average nearly 100 points (.146 to .243). “There’s no doubt that Anna has stepped up her play these last couple of weeks,” head coach Linda Kalafatis said. “She’s finally feeling comfortable and she’s playing with a confidence I haven’t seen from her yet. She’s so important to this team and to the future of this program, so it’s really nice and important to see her come together as a total player. As a coaching staff, we knew what she was capable of and that it was just a matter of her settling in. She’s a terrific athlete and a great student. We’re ecstatic that she’s a Buckeye.”
HILEMAN PICKS UP THE WORKLOAD
Toni Hileman has been called upon to pick up the slack for the pitching staff (decimated by injuries to three of its members). She leads the Big Ten with 41.0 innings pitched in conference games. She has already tossed 125.2 innings after throwing 60.2 all of last year. In her freshman season at Ohio University, she logged 200.1 innings of work.
PALAROAN ADDS TO STOLEN BASE MARK
Cheryl Palaroan’s 12 stolen bases this season not only leads the team but extends her career record to 46. The old mark of 44 was held by Candace Kollen (1995-98). She broke the record against Long Beach State (3/21)
TRAVEL INFORMATION
The Buckeyes will depart by charter bus from the Woody Hayes Athletic center at approximately 6 p.m. on Friday for East Lansing, Mich. The team will stay at the Ramada Inn located at 1100 Trowbridge Rd. The phone number is (517) 351-5500. The fax is (517) 351-5509.
BUCKEYE FIELD INFORMATION
Buckeye Field, home of Ohio State softball, is located at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The press box phone number is (614) 292-0623.
ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
For any questions or requests regarding the Ohio State softball team please contact Assistant Athletic Communications Director Pat Chun. He will be accompanying the team to East Lansing.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
The Bowling Green Falcons enter this week with a 7-17 overall record. Offensively, the team is led by Erin Zwinck. She leads the team with a .421 batting average. Angie Domschot leads her team with 11 runs batted in and two home runs. She is also chipping in with a .333 BA. Inside the circle, Amy Hamilton (2-6) has a team low 1.82 earned run average. Garrett Gholston leads the team with four wins. The head coach is Leigh Ross-Shaw. She is in her first season at the helm.
BUCKEYES vs. FALCONS HISTORY
Ohio State leads the all-time series between the two schools, 14-9-1. The two schools met last year with OSU sweeping a doubleheader, 3-2 and 10-0. The second game featured a grandslam home run by Renae Weigel.
SCOUTING THE BOILERMAKERS
The Purdue Boilermakers are currently in fifth place in the Big Ten with a 3-4 conference record and a 22-16 overall record. Offensively, they are led by Freshman Katie Crabtree. She has a team high .342 batting average and 20 stolen bases. She also has a pair of home runs and 13 runs batted in. Denise Szany leads the team with 20 RBI. Inside the pitching circle, Nicole Crouse has a team low 1.94 earned run average and is 10-8 on the year. Meagan Dooley leads the team with an 11-7 record. The Boilermaker mentor is Carol Bruggeman. She is in her sixth year.
BUCKEYES vs. BOILERMAKERS HISTORY
Ohio State holds a 7-4 edge in the all-time series over Purdue. Last year, OSU swept the Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Ind., 3-0 and 5-2. Head Coach Linda Kalafatis is 4-1 lifetime against Purdue.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
The Michigan State Spartans enter this week with a 26-13 overall record and are currently in fourth place in the Big Ten with a 2-2 record. Offensively, the team is led by Shealee Dunavan. She is carrying a team high .418 batting average and also leads her team with three home runs. Tiffany Yager leads the team with 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts. Molly Hugan has a team high 25 runs batted in. Inside the circle, Erica Strutz has a team low 1.63 era and a team high 18 wins. She has also struckout 108 batters in 145.2 innings of work. The MSU head coach is Jackie Joseph. She is in her sixth season at the helm.
BUCKEYES vs. SPARTANS HISTORY
Ohio State holds a 38-32 edge in the all-time series between the two schools. Last year, MSU won the three-game series in Columbus, 2-1.
LAST WEEKEND AGAINST NO. 25 IOWA
Last weekend, the Buckeyes lost a three-game series to No. 25 Iowa, 2-1. But Sunday’s win proved to be a thriller with the two teams going blow-for-blow for eight innings. They combined for 15 runs, 22 hits and five home runs. But with two outs, in the bottom of the eighth inning, OSUs Katie Wessendorf drove home the winning run with a single to right-centerfield. The win ends a seven-game skid for OSU. “This was a classic battle between two teams that did not want to lose,” head coach Linda Kalafatis said. “We made the adjustments when we needed to and we fought our way through this game. Iowa came to play but so did we.” The Buckeyes entered the eighth inning down 7-6. Stacy Roth led off with a walk. She advanced to second two batters later off a wild pitch by Iowa pitcher Kristi Hanks. The Hawkeyes then removed Hanks from the game and inserted Kelly Zeilstra to face Samantha Kimura. Two pitches later, Kimura drilled a single to centerfield to score Roth and tie the game at seven. The next batter Renae Weigel immediately sacrificed Kimura to second to put OSU in a position to win the game. Jenn Elwell was then inserted to run for Kimura to set up Wessendorf’s heroics. Inside the circle, Kimura improved her record to 3-0 with three innings of relief work. Starter Toni Hileman pitched the first five innings and gave up five runs (four earned) and struckout two. On the offensive side of the ball, four Buckeyes drove in all eight runs. Roth finished the day going 1-for-3 with three runs batted in and her second home run of the season. Kimura went 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Weigel finished the day with her third home run of the season to cap off a 1-for-3, two RBI performance. Wessendorf (1-for-3) chipped in with the game-winning RBI. The Buckeyes lost Saturday’s doubleheader, 3-0 and 2-0.
KENTUCKY INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS
On March 6-7 in Lexington, Ky., the Buckeyes took home their second tournament championship in as many weekends. In frigid conditions, OSU pulled out a 3-0 tournament record with wins over Kentucky, Akron and Canisius. In the opener against UK, OSU jumped to a 4-0 lead before the Wildcats came back to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning. The Buckeyes secured the win when Stacy Roth scored on a ground out in the bottom of the sixth. That was followed by an 11-1 pummeling of Akron, with OSU getting home runs from Renae Weigel and Katie Wessendorf. With the championship game cancelled due to the temperatures below 30 degrees, OSU could secure the tournament title with a win in its final game against Canisius. The Buckeye attack awoke in the top of the third inning against the Golden Griffins, scoring twice and never relinquishing the lead. OSU would eventually win the game 3-0 led by the pitching of Toni Hileman. Fellow pitcher Meaghan Robinson continued to shine with a 2-0 record, 0.00 earned run average and 10 strikeouts.
THE CAPTAINS
Jaime Chenevey, Natalie Kratzer, Cheryl Palaroan and Renae Weigel have been named captains for the 1999 Ohio State softball team. “I expect our captains to represent and reflect the ideals we want out of our student-athletes,” Ohio State head coach Linda Kalafatis said. “Natalie, Renae, Jaime and Cheryl all possess excellent work ethics, they are academically focused and are solid people. They characterize what our program stands for in every sense of the word.”
PAIR OF BUCKEYES DRAFTED
In December, Jaime Chenevey and Cheryl Palaroan, respectively, became the second and third Buckeyes ever to be drafted by the Women’s Professional Softball League. The Akron Racers selected Chenevey in the third round and Palaroan in the eighth round in the WPSL Senior Draft.
THE 1999 SCHEDULE
Ohio State will travel 20,372 miles, visit nine states and five different time zones this season. The travel log features four tournaments and a four-game swing through Southern California. At home, Buckeye Field will play host to Michigan, Iowa, Bowling Green, Purdue, Butler, Dayton, Northwestern and Youngstown State.
1998 SEASON REVIEW
The Buckeyes finished the 1998 season with a 33-23 overall and 10-14 Big Ten record. The overall record marked the first winning season since 1995. The 33 wins marked only the fifth time in school history that OSU has won at least 30 games. The .589 winning percentage was the school’s third highest in the 90s and the highest since 1994s .667. Within the conference, OSU finished in sixth place.
MEDIA GUIDES ON SALE
Copies of the 1999 Ohio State Softball Media Guide are on sale at The Winning Schott, the gift shop inside the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Store hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, please call (614) 292-2073 or 1-800-678-6022.
GETTING RESULTS
Results for the Buckeyes will be posted through www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com approximately two hours after the last game of each day. Results are also available through the Fax-on-demand service (The Big Ten passcode – 282; Release – 2665, Last Game Result – 2667).
ON DECK
On Tuesday, April 20, OSU will host Butler in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. The following day, OSU will play host to Dayton in a doubleheader. On Saturday, April 24, the Buckeyes will travel to Madison, Wisc., for a three-game series with the Badgers.
PLAYER PROFILE UPDATES
00, Julie Darney, 3B/P, Fr.
Made her college debut against Hawaii (2/12) as a pinch-hitter. Threw a shutout inning against Cal-State Fullerton (2/14). Academically ineligible for the remainder of the season.
1, Kristi Martin, P, So.
Is still recovering from offseason surgery on her right arm. Is out for the season.
3, Cheryl Palaroan, CF, Sr.
Co-captain of this year’s team. Went 2-for-4 against Loyola Marymount. Had a career high three hits and four runs scored against St. Louis (2/27). Batted .300 at the Kentucky Invitational. Leads the team with 12 stolen bases in 12 attempts. Has started every game in centerfield and as the leadoff hitter. In the first inning against Long Beach State (3/21) she broke the OSU all-time career stolen base mark of 44. Batted .333 during the California trip. Continued the consistency with a .333 BA at the Georgia Tech/ Buzz Classic. Had a season high eight-game hitting streak from 3/22-3/31. Batted .333 during the month of March.
4, Natalie Kratzer, 3B, Sr.
Co-captain of this year’s team. Singled in first at bat of the season against Cal-State Fullerton (2/11). Has started every game at third base. Rock solid defensively with just four errors in 86 chances (.953).
6, Meaghan Robinson, P, Sr.
Opening day starter against Cal-State Fullerton. Second consecutive season she got the call on opening day. Recorded a career high seven strikeouts against Indiana State (2-27). Was 2-0 with a 0.00 earned run average at the Kentucky Invitational. Her 51 strikeouts has already surpassed last year’s total of 36 and surpasses her career high of 44 set in her sophomore season. On a five-game winning streak. Did not play in California due to a strained pectoral muscle. Returned with a splendid complete game, 0 ER, 6 K win over Evansville (3/26). Is dealing with a stress fracture injury to her right rib cage. Team doctor’s have decided to limit her to just three-to-four innings per game, once or twice a week. Returned with a splendid four inning shutout performance against No. 25 Iowa (4/10).
7, Kelli Tom, P, Sr.
Will miss the remainder of the season due to chronic left knee pain.
8, Chrissy Fowler, UT, So.
Is out for the season with a torn ACL in her left knee.
9, Katie Wessendorf, 1B, So.
Started season opener against Cal-State Fullerton (2/11). Batted .556 at the Georgia State Softball Classic. Went 2-for-3 with an RBI against Indiana State (2/27). Carried a .333 BA during the month of February. Blasted her first career home run in the first inning off Akron’s Tiffany McCoy (3/6). Led the team with a .385 BA during the California trip. Batted .364 at the Georgia Tech/Buzz Classic. Batted .314 during the month of March.
10, Natalie Woods, 2B/SS, Jr.
Made her OSU debut with a starting assignment at second base against Hawaii (2/12). Recorded her first career hit and RBI against Loyola Marymount’s Jenny Hart (2/13). Went 2-for-4 with her first career triple against Akron (3/6). With miss the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL in her left knee.
11, Jaime Chenevey, C, Sr.
Co-captain of this year’s team. Batted .636 at Georgia State Softball Classic with a team high seven hits. Went 3-for-4 against Georgia State (2/27). Batted .545 at the Kentucky Invitational. Went 4-for-5 with an RBI against Akron. Drove in a pair of runs against Cal-State Fullerton (3/22). Hit an awesome .714 at the Georgia Tech/Buzz Classic with a home run against Evansville. Led the OSU with a .455 batting average during the month of March.
15, Jenn Elwell, P, Fr.
Began the season as the team’s manager but was activated due to the rash of injuries to the pitching staff. Made her collegiate debut against Indiana (4/7). Was the game winning run in the Iowa win (4/11).
17, Carrie Vanderpool, 2B, Sr.
Started season opener against Cal-State Fullerton (2/11). Recorded the first hit of her season against Baylor (2/13). Went 2-for-3 with an RBI against Tennessee Tech (2/28). Missed the Kentucky Invitational and the California trip with a second degree right ankle sprain. Returned in the Maryland (3/26) game.
18, Renae Weigel, SS, Jr.
Co-captain of this year’s team. Off to another awesome start. Led the team with a .333 batting average at the Paradise Classic. Batted .500 at the Georgia State Softball Classic. Blasted her first career triple, went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and scored 3 runs against St. Louis (2/28). Led the Buckeyes with a .417 BA during the month of February. Bombed her first home run of the year, a three-run shot, in the first inning of the Akron contest (3/6). Belted a sixth inning, two-run, game-winning home run against Miami (3/30). Had a 2-for-3, three RBI game in the second Michigan contest (4/3). Leads the team with 17 RBIs. Hit her third home run of the season, a two-run shot, in OSUs 8-7 upset win over No. 25 Iowa (4/11).
20, Anna Smith, LF/2B, Fr.
First career start came in season opener against Cal-State Fullerton. First career hit and RBI came in the third inning of the Oregon State (2/12) game off Tarrah Beyster. First career start at second base was against Long Beach State (3-21). Batted .364 at the Georgia Tech/Buzz Classic. Went 2-for-4 with an RBI against Maryland (3/26). Had another 2-for-4 game against Campbell. Had a career high five-game hitting streak from 3/26-3/31. Against No. 7-Michigan, batted .500 with two runs, a triple and an RBI. Dealing with a deep bruise to her right calf muscle. The injury occurred when she scored in a home plate collision with Michigan catcher Karmen Lappo. Should see action this week.
21, Stacy Roth, OF/C, Fr.
Recorded the first hit of her first career in her very first plate appearance against Cal-State Fullerton’s Jana Oetgen (2/12). Also notched her first career RBI that game. Had a career high three walks against CSUF (2/14). Batted a robust .667 at the Kentucky Invitational. Batted .500 at the Georgia Tech/ Buzz Classic. Went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI against Campbell (3/27). Batted .393 during the month of March. Jacked her first career home run of Michigan’s Marie Barda. Belted her second career home run, a three-run shot, against Iowa’s Kristi Hanks in OSUs 8-7 upset win over the No. 25 Hawkeyes (4/11).
23, Toni Hileman, P/1B, Jr.
Winning pitcher in OSUs first win of the season over Baylor (2/13). Went 2-for-3 at the plate against Oregon State (2/12). Winning pitcher in OSU’s 16-1 drubbing of St. Louis (2/27). Wining pitcher in OSUs first shutout of the season, a 3-0 win over Canisius (3/7). Recorded her first save of the season against Evansville with a perfect final inning of relief work. Has been the OSU workhorse.
24, Samantha Kimura, 1B/C/P, Fr.
Started season opener against Cal-State Fullerton (2/11). Recorded the first hit of her career against Baylor’s Carrie Arn (2/13). Finished that game 2-for-3 with a double. Belted the first home run of her career against St. Louis. Was on a team high nine-game hitting streak (2/13-3/6). Finished the month of February with a .310 batting average. Went 3-for-4 with an RBI against Akron (3/6). Batted .500 at the Kentucky Invitational. Has played in every game. Made her pitching debut against Cleveland State (3/31) and earned the victory. Went 3-for-10 in the Michigan series. Batted .300 (3-for-10) with a double and a pair of RBIs against No. 25 Iowa. Drove in the game tying run in the eight inning against Iowa. Earned her second win of the season in OSUs 8-7 win over No. 25 Iowa (4/11).
26, Sarah West, 1B, Fr.
Made career debut as a pinch-hitter against No. 17 Hawaii (2/12). Made first career start against Cal-State Fullerton (2/14). Notched her first career hit and RBI against St. Louis’ Jennifer Riva. Blasted her first career home run off Cleveland State’s Cassie Pittman (3/31). Went 2-for-3 in the final Michigan game (4/4).
28, Holly English, OF, So.
Missed the first tournament of the season due to injury. Returned to the lineup at the Georgia State Classic. First hit of the year was a double against Georgia State (2/27). Scored three runs against St. Louis (2/27). Batted .300 at the Kentucky Invitational. Continued her steadiness with a .300 BA during the California trip. Batted .500 at the Georgia Tech/Buzz Classic. Went 3-for-4 with two RBI against Campbell (3/27). Batted .313 during the month of March. Came through with a clutch two-RBI pinch hit double in the fifth inning of the second Michigan game. In that series, she went 3-for-7 (.429).
SOFTBALL INFORMATION
Location: Columbus, Ohio Enrollment: 48,278 President: William E. Kirwan Athletic Director: Andy Geiger Associate Director: Archie Griffin Nickname: Buckeyes Colors: Scarlet & Gray Mascot: Brutus Buckeye Home Facility: Buckeye Field at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center Capacity: 800 Dimensions: 190-220-190 Conference: Big Ten Conference 1999 Record: 11-20 overall, 1-7 in Big Ten Head Coach: Linda Kalafatis, California (Pa.),’88 OSU Record: 64-74 (.464), Third Year Career Record: 337-189-2 (.640), 10th Year Assistants: Belinda Cernava, Drema Neal, Shauna Bowman Miller Trainer: Daniel Hamilton Athletic Communications: Pat Chun Phone: (614) 292-6861 Fax: (614) 292-8547 Home: (614) 326-0193 E-mail: chun.18@osu.edu Website: www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com Address: Room 124, St. John Arena 410 Woody Hayes Drive Columbus, Ohio 43210-1166
THIS WEEK
Tuesday, April 13:
OSU vs. Bowling Green, 3 p.m., at Buckeye Field in a single game.
Wednesday, April 14:
OSU vs. Purdue, 2 p.m., at Buckeye Field in a doubleheader.
Saturday, April 17:
OSU vs. Michigan State, 1 p.m. at Old College Field in a doubleheader.
Sunday, April 18:
OSU vs. Michigan State, noon at Old College Field in a single game.
