2001 Season Outlook – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
For the 2001 Ohio State softball program, the goals for the season are familiar: qualify for the Big Ten Tournament and win the Big Ten title.
“Those will always be the goals of this program,” Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. “Our team is definitely capable and ready for the title. While we cannot predict injury, we are well suited for those obstacles this year. I expect big things. I’ll let the team determine how big.”
Entering her fifth season at OSU, Kalafatis has her most solid foundation since taking over at Ohio State. Added to that base are additions that will make OSU a formidable team ready to compete against nationally-recognized opponents.
“For the first time since I’ve been here, it’s basically the same nucleus of players out there from the season before,” Kalafatis said. “We’re adding to a great nucleus of starters, rather than depending on so many new people to come in and make a difference.”
Returners
OSU returns all but three starters (Renae Weigel, a four-year starter at shortstop, and pitchers Toni Hileman and Kristi Martin). Included in OSU’s nucleus are three All-Big Ten selections.
Junior catcher Stacy Roth, a first team All-Great Lakes Region and second team All-Big Ten selection, is back behind the plate. Roth was second in Big Ten play last season with 14 runs batted in. Her 36 RBI on the season are the second most in a single season at OSU. She was named the Buckeyes’ Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year.
Centerfielder Anna Smith, a junior, is coming off consecutive All-Big Ten seasons. She was named third-team All-Big Ten as a freshman and second-team All-Big Ten last season. She led OSU with 37 stolen bases as a sophomore (on 44 attempts) and ranked seventh in conference play with six steals. She also cracked the Top 10 with a batting average of .339 (10th) and 19 hits (fifth) in conference play. Middle infielder Jennifer Link earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors last season as a freshman. Link had a batting average of .294 and 20 RBIs. She also had a fielding percentage of .959 and was named OSU Defensive Player of the Year. Also returning are Kristine Himes at third base and sophomore pitcher Katie Chain. Himes hit 10 home runs last season, crushing the former OSU single-season record of six and nearly eclipsing the career mark of 12 in her first year. She hit three home runs in conference play, fifth in the Big Ten.
Chain, despite being hampered with a finger injury, still managed to pitch 149.1 innings (including 50 in the Big Ten) and set a freshman record with 125 strikeouts, easily breaking the old record of 83. She comes into the 2001 season healthy and confident and will be the Buckeyes’ ace.
Outfielder Holly English, the lone senior on the roster, returns, as does Sara West at first base and Rogeanna Hottinger in the outfield. The three started all 54 games last season.
Also returning and challenging for starting time are outfielder Chrissy Fowler, shortstop Elizabeth Kacsanek and pitcher Jenn Elwell.
Newcomers
Highly touted freshmen Kristi DeVries and Wendy Allen will help the Buckeyes in the circle. Both are offensive threats as well, and will each see time in the outfield and at first base.
Freshman Breana Pozzi and sophomore Annie Dedic, a sophomore transfer from Fullerton Junior College, also will contribute this season. Pozzi is expected to take over at shortstop and Dedic brings depth to the catcher position and will be a part-time starter. Beth McAbier, Kari Crandell and Amy Ellis, a sophomore transfer from Ball State, should gain valuable experience behind solid starters and be able to step in and perform if needed.
Pitchers
The pitching staff will be anchored by sophomore Katie Chain. Kalafatis said perhaps too much was asked of Chain last season. Chain, who suffered through a finger injury, still managed to lead the Buckeyes in wins (12), innings pitched (149.1), strikeouts (125) and was second with an earned run average of 2.67. Kalafatis expects the hardships Chain endured her rookie season to lead to big things this year.
“Katie had a lot to carry as a freshman coming in and not being 100 percent healthy,” Kalafatis said. “We knew from the start that she was going to throw a lot for us. I think she had too much responsibility as a freshman.
“This year she came in a lot more confident and healthy. I think her experience last year has done Katie a lot of good. She’s our hardest thrower and she has a good mix of pitches. Katie’s leadership on the mound is something we will count on.”
Freshman Kristi DeVries and Wendy Allen also will be depended on. DeVries helped lead Corana High School to the state championship game last season and is used to pitching in pressure situations. DeVries and Allen played together in the summer with the prestigious club team, the Gordon Panthers.
“When you look at Kristi and Wendy, you couldn’t ask for more experience in freshmen after playing with a top team like the Gordon Panthers,” Kalafatis said. “Kristi is a strong athlete who is very versatile.I think the fact that she played at such a high level will help her contribute early. She has championship experience. She’s not just a good pitcher, she’s a solid softball player. She gives us an added dimension because she is so sound defensively and offensively”
Allen spent last year recovering from an ACL injury and missed her high school and summer seasons as well as the OSU fall season. Kalafatis said Allen is a strategist on the mound. If healthy, she will give OSU a different look with her lefthand delivery.
“Wendi is a real smart player. She’s a thinker, not a thrower. She manages herself real well. Defensively, she’s strong.”
Allen could also see time in the outfield.
“We’re hoping she’ll be an everyday player,” Kalafatis said. “Adding Wendy to the roster really elevates the team offensively and defensively.”
Sophomore Jennifer Elwell had a strong fall season and will be counted on to add depth to the pitching staff. She will fill in as a starter and be used primarily as a reliever.
“We saw a sense of confidence in Jennifer this fall that we hadn’t seen from her to that point,” Kalafatis said. “We’re counting on her to compliment our other pitchers. She will work mostly out of the bullpen, however, she may be a spot starter for us, too.”
With the combination of ability and health, something the Buckeyes have lacked of late, pitching coach Belinda Cernava sees this group as the strongest during her five-year tenure at OSU.
“We have more velocity on the mound this year, which will compliment the movement that we’ve always had,” Cernava said. “This is the healthiest group we’ve had.
“Potential of this pitching staff is the best it’s been since I’ve been here. That is due to natural ability and being healthy.”
Catchers
Behind the plate, OSU has a mix of offensive firepower and veteran leadership savvy. Stacy Roth was second in the Big Ten in RBIs in conference play despite missing half of the games. Annie Dedic is a stabalizing presence that helps guide the pitchers.
“Obviously, we’re counting on Stacy offensively,” Kalafatis said. “Behind the plate, we’re counting on all of our catchers to compliment our pitchers and run our defense. We want our catchers to elevate the performance of our pitchers.
Roth is best known for her offensive production, but is also solid defensively.
“Stacy is difficult to run on,” Kalafatis said. “She handles the ball well in the dirt.”
Kalafatis said Dedic is the consummate catcher behind the plate.
“One of the best things you can say about the catcher is they make the pitcher better,” Kalafatis said. “Annie does that for us. Annie’s strength is that she can make our pitchers throw better.”
Karie Crandell gives the Buckeyes added depth at the catcher position.
“Each of them give us a strong defensive presence,” Kalafatis said. “We were very successful at throwing runners out in the fall. Defensively, we have the best catching unit we’ve had. We have three catchers that we can count on.”
Infielders
OSU returns three starters in the infield from last season. Jennifer Linkagain will cover second base. To her left, Sara West returns at first base. Kristine Himes is again stationed at the third base. Freshman Brianna Pozzi is expected to take over the shortstop position.
Link was OSU’s Defensive Player of the Year last season despite leg injuries.
“Jenn did an exceptional job of handling her defensive duties at second base for us last year,” Kalafatis said. “She was hampered by some leg pulls and looks even quicker this year. We expect her to have another big season for us.”
Himes, OSU’s homerun leader, also is a solid defender at the hot corner.
“Kristine is very quick and agile for a third baseman,” Kalafatis said. “She moves and responds well to the ball.”
West has consistently improved at first and showcased some highlight reel plays in the fall.
“Sara has continued to develop,” Kalafatis said. “She played exceptionally in the fall. Every game she made a big play at first to pick out a ball or make a tag to get us out of an inning. She moves around the bag really well. She’s a playmaker. She can turn a bad situation into a good one.”
Pozzi took the inside track for the shortstop position with a impressive fall campaign.
“Pozzi has good instincts and a good glove, two things you really want in a shortstop,” Kalafatis said. “She had a strong fall season and we expect her play to continue to rise.”
Elizabeth Kacsanek and Amy Ellis can play at both middle infield positions.
“Liz has experience at both middle infield spots,” Kalafatis said. “We’ve pushed her over to short more exclusively and she will challenge for starting and playing time.”
Amy also played both infield positions. We’ve pushed her over to second base. That’s where she can help us the most.”
Newcomer Beth McAbier, a former shortstop/first baseman, was moved to third base.
“Beth has great size,” Kalafatis said. “We’ve isolated her at third, hoping she’ll develop there. We expect her to be a feared hitter in the Big Ten.”
“The fact that we have four returners in the infield (including Roth at catcher) is a luxury that we haven’t had here,” Kalafatis said. “We have a lot of key personnel in the infield. Even though it’s a young group, they have more experience than it may appear.”
Outfielders
The outfield is a veteran unit, returning starters in every position. Anna Smith, Holly English and Rogeanna Hottinger are all back. Junior Chrissy Fowler, a part-time starter last season, gives the Buckeyes another seasoned outfielder.
Smith, the Buckeyes top base stealing threat, also uses her speed as a defensive attribute.
“Anna runs the ball down in the gaps really well,” Kalafatis said. “She picks the ball off the grass well and is able to get rid of the ball quickly.”
As the lone senior on the roster, English gives the Buckeyes veteran leadership and composure.
“Holly gives us leadership and experience as a senior,” Kalafatis said. “She is a gamer. She knows how to get the job done.”
Hottinger has a strong arm, which may lead to her playing the centerfield position. She has the ability to make acrobatic catches look routine.
“Rogeanna has the strongest arm on the team,” Kalafatis said. “We’re looking to see her in centerfield to utilize her arm more. She is not afraid to go airborne to make a play.”
Fowler offers the Buckeyes a dependable player who can fill in at many positions and situations. She started 46 games last season and played in 47.
“You know when Chrissy is in there that she will lift her teammates,” Kalafatis said. “She will be a part-time starter. She has a strong arm and will do whatever it takes to catch the ball.”
Wendy Allen and Stacy Roth could also see time in the outfield to add depth.
Offensive production will determine the lineup, meaning there could be several different variations of the outfield throughout the season.
“We experimented with moving people in the outfield around in the fall,” Drema Neal, OSU assistant coach, said. “We want to continue to do that. Their production offensively will determine who plays defensively.
The Schedule
The schedule could be one of the strongest the Buckeyes have ever gone up against. With three early tournaments at Auburn, San Diego State and Miami, Fla., and a steady home schedule to start the season, the young Buckeyes have an opportunity to gain experience and confidence. Ohio State has an opportunity to play an OSU-record 65 games this season, depending on how they fare in tournaments.
“The schedule is turning into a stronger one than we anticipated,” Kalafatis said. “It will challenge us and yet give us an opportunity to succeed. As a young team, success is instrumental in building confidence.”
The non-conference schedule also will allow the Buckeyes to gain exposure throughout Ohio. OSU will play at Akron and Dayton, giving Ohiofans who cannot make it to Columbus and opportunity to take in a Buckeye game.
Iowa, defending Big Ten champions, travels to Columbus March 30 to open the conference schedule. In all, OSU will host six Big Ten opponents.
The Future is Now
Looking over the Buckeyes roster and seeing the combination of youth and experience, one could expect high expectations down the road. Coach Kalafatis, her staff, and her team don’t plan on waiting.
“The future looks bright, without question,” Kalafatis said. “The future is now. We fully expect to finish in the top six of the conference and qualify for the Big Ten tournament. From there, you never know, anything can happen!”
