Softball Opens Year at Tournament of Champions – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 5, 2002
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team opens its season with five games in the Cal State-Northridge Tournament of Champions Friday through Sunday in Northridge, Calif. The Buckeyes face the host Matadors at 2:30 p.m. EST and San Diego at 4:30 p.m. EST Friday before battling No. 18 Oregon State at 10:30 a.m. EST Saturday. OSU concludes its stay in California with an 10:30 a.m. EST game against McNeese State and a second game with USD at 12:30 p.m. EST Sunday.
LEADING OFF
Since the 1986 season (accurate year-by-year results are unavailable prior to that season), the Buckeyes are 4-12 in the first game of the year and have won their last two openers. In the 16 lid-lifters, Ohio State has been outscored 64-48. OSU has begun the year in nine tournaments (since 1986) in Arizona where it is 2-7, five events in Florida with a 0-4 mark and once in Hawaii (0-1), Louisiana (1-0) and Alabama (1-0).
LOOKING FOR A REPEAT… AND MORE
Nearly nine months after a 5-4 loss to Penn State in the consolation round of the Big Ten tournament ended its 2001 season, Ohio State is ready to get back on the field and pick up where it left off a year ago: in pursuit of its first NCAA tournament berth.
The Buckeyes won a program-high 46 games and advanced to their first appearance in the conference tournament.
IT STARTS FROM THE CIRCLE
One reason for the success enjoyed by the 2001 Buckeyes was the pitching rotation. Wendy Allen, Katie Chain, Kristi DeVries and Jenn Elwell combined to go 46-18 with 443 strikeouts and the third-best earned runs average in the nation a year ago at 0.82. FOR THE RECORD
Several members of the 2001 squad had a stellar season a year ago on their way to setting individual records at Ohio State. Two pitchers and three fielders added their names to the top of several ledgers.
Inside the circle, Katie Chain established the single-season record for strikeouts (185) and shutouts (11) while teammate Kristi DeVries set the freshman marks in the same categories with 173 and six, respectively. DeVries also set the standard for wins in a season for the rookie class with 17.
Catcher Stacy Roth broke the career mark for runs batted in at 100 and Anna Smith swiped 22 bases to raise her career total to 68 and establish the new mark of achievement. Kristine Himes deposited six pitches over the outfield wall to increase her career total to 16 and set the record.
NEW TEAM MARKS
As individual records fell and were reestablished in 2001, the team combined to rewrite the Ohio State history books in six categories. The Buckeyes finished the year 46-18 to break the 1994 team’s mark of 40-20 for the most wins in a season.
Offensively, OSU totaled a new program high of 460 hits while stealing 96 bases. On the defensive side of the game, new marks were established in strikeouts thrown by pitchers at 433 and shutouts at 22. The pitching staff’s earned run average of 0.82 was not only tops for the program, but the third-best in the nation for 2001.
ALL-BIG TEN RETURNEES
The Buckeyes had six All-Big Ten selections last season, the most in program history. Katie Chain, after setting several single-season and career records, earned first team honors. Wendy Allen was tabbed as Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection along with Anna Smith and Stacy Roth. Jennifer Link and Kristi DeVries also earned Big Ten honors as a members of the third team.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
Seventeen of the 18 members of the roster last year return to give Ohio State one of its more veteran lineups. OSU has five seniors, seven juniors, five sophomores and three freshmen this year.
SENIORS RULE THE SCHOOL
Chrissy Fowler, Jenn Elwell, Anna Smith, Stacy Roth and Sarah West return to the Buckeye lineup for their final year as players in the program. Smith and Roth were selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team a year ago, their second and third times, respectively. Fowler, a tri-captain with Roth and Smith, was voted the team’s Most Improved Player last year after making a solid return from a torn left ACL her sophomore year. West has been solid at first base as well as in the batter’s box and Elwell adds leadership and speed to the roster.
LEADERS IN WAITING
By far the largest class on the roster, the seven juniors are more than halfway through their careers at Ohio State and can be counted on for veteran play and leadership. Elizabeth Kacsanek, Amy Ellis, Annie Dedic, Rogeanna Hottinger, Jennifer Link, Katie Chain and Kristine Himes make up the class and combined to set three team records last year with Chain earning All-Big Ten First Team honors and Link leading the team in batting as a third-team all-conference selection.
ROOKIES NO MORE
The sophomore class of Kristi DeVries, Kari Crandell, Breana Pozzi, Beth McAbier and Wendy Allen took the team by storm as rookies a year ago. DeVires set the freshman marks for season strikeouts, shutouts and wins while being selected to the All-Big Ten Third Team and Allen was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
THE NEW KIDS
The freshmen class of 2002 includes Meghan Rowlands, JJ Johnson and Karisa Evans. Rowlands and Johnson are both shortstops and Evans plays third base. All three are expected to contribute this year by adding more depth to the team.
KALAFATIS ENTERS HER SIXTH YEAR
Linda Kalafatis is in her sixth season with the Scarlet and Gray and has complied a 147-130 (.531) record in five seasons leading the Buckeyes. In her 13 years in the collegiate coaching ranks, Kalafatis has posted a 420-245-2 (.630) mark including stints with her alma mater California (Pa.) and Akron. At California, Kalafatis led her teams to five Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference titles and a 175-53-1 (.764) record. With the Zips, her teams went 98-62-1 (.608) in three years. Kalafatis earned her degree in business administration and marketing from CU in 1988 and added a master’s degree in geography and regional planning in 1991.
KALAFATIS VS. OPPONENTS THIS WEEK
In her career as a head coach, Linda Kalafatis holds a 1-3 record against the four teams Ohio State will face this weekend in Northridge, Calif. Her teams are 1-0 against McNeese State, 0-2 against CSU-Northridge and 0-1 against Oregon State. Kalafatis has not guided a team against San Diego in her career.
SCOUTING REPORT: CSU-NORTHRIDGE
Barbara Jordan, a three-time All-American for the Matadors, takes over a program that has made a postseason appearance 11 years in a row. CSUN enters the tournament after posting a 3-2 record in the Early Bird Classic it hosted last weekend. Its two losses have come against nationally ranked teams in No. 23 San Diego State (4-3) in the season opener and to No. 9 Washington (10-0).
Christen Bedwell is batting .529 with a team-high nine hits in 17 appearances this year and has collected 14 total bases. Kia Fennell has posted a 2-0 record from inside the circle with a 1.02 ERA and 14 strikeouts, all team-highs.
SCOUTING REPORT: SAN DIEGO
First-year coach Melissa McElvain and the Toreros are 4-5 this year including a 2-1 upset of No. 10 Cal State-Fullerton (Jan. 30). USD currently is on three-game losing streak following a 1-4 weekend at the Thunderbird Canyon Park Classic in St. George, Utah. Stephanie Bisera leads the team on offense. Her .207 batting average is middle of the pack but she leads the team in games played (9), hits (6), doubles (3) and runs scored (4).
SCOUTING REPORT: OREGON STATE
Kirk Walker, now in his eighth-year at the helm of the OSU program, and the Beavers are 3-1 on the year and winners of their last three games. In that stretch, the Beavers have outscored their opponents 24-1.
Crystal Draper has set the defensive tone for the Beavers this year compiling a 2-0 record, a 0.84 ERA and a team-high 20 strikeouts, 12 of which she collected in a 7-0 win over St. Mary’s College.
Offensively, Clarie Burnum is hitting at a .750 clip recording nine hits in 12 at bats with six doubles and a home run. Her 18 total bases lead the team.
SCOUTING REPORT: McNEESE STATE
The Cowgirls, coached by Scott Eastman, enter the weekend 2-0 after sweeping a season-opening doubleheader with Centenary Feb. 2. MSU won by scores of 7-1 and 3-1 and led by Jamie Manuel’s 4-for-7 performance from the plate. Manuel knocked in an RBI as well as scoring three runs and collecting a team high six total bases.
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS SCHEDULE
Friday, February 8 10:30 a.m. Oregon State vs. McNeese State 12:30 p.m. McNeese State vs. CSU-Northridge 2:30 p.m. Ohio State vs. CSU-Northridge 4:30 p.m. San Diego vs. Ohio State
Saturday, February 9 10:30 a.m. Ohio State vs. Oregon State 12:30 p.m. San Diego vs. CSU-Northridge 2:30 p.m. Oregon State vs. CSU-Northridge 4:30 p.m. McNeese State vs. San Diego
Sunday, February 10 10:30 a.m. Ohio State vs. McNeese State 12:30 p.m. Ohio State vs. San Diego 2:30 p.m. Oregon State vs. CSU-Northridge 4:30 p.m. San Diego vs. Oregon State
* All times are Eastern Standard Time
LAST TIME OUT: OHIO CHARITY CLASSIC
The Buckeyes played four games during the fall season in the Ohio Collegiate Charity Classic held in Akron, Ohio, Sept. 28-30. The tournament featured all 11 Division I softball programs from the State of Ohio in a two-bracket event with the winners meeting in the championship game. The Buckeyes made it to the championship game, and won, outscoring its four opponents, 25-0.
Ohio State won its next game, 9-0, over Wright State in five innings. The Buckeyes collected nine runs on 10 hits while holding the Raiders without a hit.
OSU dominated again in the second round in another five inning contest. The Buckeyes defeated the Miami RedHawks, 8-0, on 12 hits while again limiting their opponents to no hits.
In the third round, the Buckeyes posted a 4-0 shutout over Cleveland State. OSU allowed two hits while recording seven of its own. CSU also committed four errors.
In the championship game, OSU posted its second 4-0 win in a row, this time against the Kent State Golden Flashes. The Buckeyes out-hit the Flashes, 9-4, in the win.
BUCKEYE FIELD
Buckeye Field, the outdoor home of the Ohio State softball team, stands as one of the more picturesque yards in the Big Ten. The all-dirt infield gives way to a well-kept outfield and warning track with fences at 190 feet in left and right field and 220 to straight away center. Equipped with field tarps, a press box, two spacious dugouts and full sound capabilities, the field comfortably seats 500 fans.
ON DECK
Ohio State heads out on the road again next weekend to participate in the University of Houston Tournament, Feb. 15-17 in Houston, Texas. The Buckeyes have games slated with Baylor, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State and McNeese State.
