2007 Ohio State Softball Season Outlook – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 16, 2007
At a Glance
Not often can a 39-win season and trip to the NCAA tournament be considered a “warm-up” for bigger things to come, but that could be exactly the scenario for the Ohio State softball team from its 2006 campaign to 2007.
The Buckeyes have eight position starters back and return their entire pitching staff from their 2006 squad that went 39-23, finished fourth in the Big Ten at 11-7, led the conference in hitting for the second-consecutive season and advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament. Ohio State then came within one win of an NCAA regional final rematch at Arizona with the eventual national champion Wildcats.
Led by head coach Linda Kalafatis, who enters her 11th season in 2007 and is Ohio State’s all-time wins leader, a return trip to the postseason this May would mark the Buckeyes’ fourth this decade.
Kalafatis welcomes back 74-percent of her team’s hit production from last year and has added eight newcomers to the roster, several of whom are expected to be key contributors in 2007 after helping lead the Buckeyes to an undefeated 6-0-1 record in the fall.
“Our strength is in the number of potential starters we have,” Kalafatis said. “We will have some good players on the bench at times, so there will be competition for spots and good depth. We have a nice mix of experienced leaders and fresh energy all moving in the same direction. I like the focus this team has had from the very beginning. I think we have the personnel and determination to accomplish our goals this season.”
Last year, Ohio State notched five wins over ranked teams, including a win at then-No. 6 Alabama, a sweep at home of then-No. 15 Northwestern, which played for the national title, a win over No. 25 Auburn in the Tucson Regional and a win in Feb. over then-No. 22 Oregon. With the Buckeyes’ talented lineup going up against another challenging schedule in 2007, they will have many opportunities to keep climbing the ladder to a spot among the nation’s elite. “This group will take the field against anyone and expect to win,” Kalafatis said. “We’re going into this season not concerned with who we play, but how we play. We want to be are our own measuring stick. We feel good about what we have in front of us.”
Who’s Who for OSU
Ohio State’s five-member senior class is as talented as any in program history. All five are all-conference candidates, including four-year starters Jamee Juarez at pitcher and third base, Nycole Koyano at second base and Megan Schwab in left field. Christina Douglas, who was named team captain before the season, will be in her third year at first base and Lauren Daykin will be in her second year behind the plate after transferring to Ohio State before last season.
“This is a very good group of seniors and we are counting on them to have the best seasons of their careers,” Kalafatis said.
The Buckeyes have two more starters back in their two juniors, including Liz Caputo in centerfield and Brittany Vanderink in right field. Vanderink was a first-team All-Big Ten pick last year, while Caputo was a All-Big Ten as a freshman in 2005 before missing nearly all of last season with a leg injury.
Ohio State’s four sophomores include pitcher Kim Reeder, first baseman and pitcher Courtney Pruner, catcher Cortney Cannon and newcomer Michelle Reynolds-Parra, who expected to be the team’s top pinch runner this season. Reeder nearly set several OSU freshman pitching records last year and Pruner went 6-1 in the circle and hit seven home runs. Cannon played in 10 games last year and moves from the outfield to catcher this year, while Reynolds-Parra joined the team in the fall after walk-on tryouts.
Eight newcomers proved in the fall they are a talented group that Kalafatis can insert into the lineup right away. Catcher Sam Marder, shortstop Whitney Cooper, pitcher Megan Miller, outfielder Leah Ledford and third baseman Tory Haddad and infielder Arlynda Flores all played well in the fall and will see playing time in the spring, while utility player Rebecca Schultz was held back by injuries in the fall and should return to 100-percent in time for the regular season.
Four seniors from Ohio State’s 2006 team departed after last season, including starters Chelsea Baker (team-high 8 HR) in the outfield and Billie Carder (team-high 35 RBI) at shortstop, part-time starter Stacy Hibma (2 HR, .269) at third base and outfielder Nicole Lancaster (51 games).
Kalafatis, who is among 30 active coaches in the country with more than 600 wins, will be assisted by second-year coach Ali Viola and newcomer Erica Beach, who takes over the pitching staff.
Where It Starts
Ohio State has led the Big Ten in hitting the last two years and has the firepower back to challenge for that honor again in 2007, but Kalafatis does not want to have to outscore opponents every time out.
“We want our defense to be our strength and pitching is part of defense,” Kalafatis said. “I think we have the personnel, but we need to play with consistency every game. That said, I think our offense will be better this year than it has been the last couple years, which was pretty good.”
Offensively, the Buckeyes’ first three hitters in the order return in Koyano, Vanderink and Schwab, all of whom owns a career batting average above .320. Combined with Pruner, Juarez, Douglas, Daykin and Caputo, who are all run-producing threats and/or high average hitters, it is easy to see the high expectations on offense. Add Marder, who hit No. 4 in the fall, and the rest of the newcomers and Ohio State looks set on both offense and defense.
Pitchers and Catchers
The Buckeyes look to be as strong in the pitching circle in 2007 as they have been in several years thanks to the return of Juarez, Reeder and the left-handed Pruner and the addition of Miller. In 2006, Juarez (17-11, 2.48 ERA), Reeder (16-11, 1.91 ERA) and Pruner (6-1, 2.96 ERA) all took turns winning big games for the Buckeyes last season, while Miller showed in the fall she was ready to do the same.
“Last year, we had a junior and two freshmen so we were still relatively young in the circle,” Kalafatis said. “This year we have a lot of experience with a senior and two sophomores and with our freshman, those four can give us a lot of different looks. They will perform as a staff in that they may all start and they may all relieve. We will throw whoever gives us the best chance to win that particular game so I’m not going to say we have a particular rotation. I like the work ethic of our pitching staff and believe that one of our strengths as a team is our depth on the mound.”
With a strong senior season, Juarez will conclude her career as one of Ohio State’s all-time bests. After a school-record 25 wins in 2005, she enters 2007 with a 55-33 career record and 507 strikeouts. However, her 2005 and 2006 team MVP honors came because she is equally valuable at third base.
“Jamee has always been a hard worker and a key player for us whether on the mound, at third or at the plate,” Kalafatis said. “As good a pitcher as Jamee is, we are best defensively with her at third base because she is such a good defensive player. That could be where Megan really helps us out and the depth of our pitching staff shows. Kim, as a freshman, was our best pitcher at times last year so with a year of experience under her belt, we’re certainly expecting big things from her.”
Depth behind the plate is also plentiful with four catchers, led by Daykin, who started all 18 Big Ten games last year and added three home runs and 21 RBI’s. Marder showed in the fall she can be a big-time player with her arm and bat, while Cannon and Haddad could contribute at other spots in addition to catcher.
“I have already seen Lauren be more aggressive this season,” Kalafatis said. “And with Sam, we have two catchers who have the capability to throw out a lot of runners. We’re very solid behind the plate and when not catching, Marder will be the leading candidate to be in our line-up at the DP position.”
The Infield
Douglas (3 HR, 18 RBI) returns at first base and Koyano (.289, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 26 SB, second-team all-region) is back at second, but the left side of the infield lost two of its three regulars. Carder’s departure at shortstop leaves perhaps the biggest shoes to fill, but Cooper, though just a freshman, is ready to make that spot her own.
“We have the potential to have four seniors in the infield with Juarez, Koyano, Douglas and Daykin,” Kalafatis said. “They are all hard workers, but Whitney Cooper may be the harder worker than all of them. That’s certainly a compliment to Whitney and I’m sure success will come her way because of that.”
Juarez (.290, 4 HR, 32 RBI) will hold down third base when she is not pitching, but when she is in the circle, newcomers Haddad, Flores and Marder may see time in her place. Pruner (7 HR, 33 RBI) will also see time at first base, while Flores will also back up Koyano at second and Cooper at short.
Vanderink returns to her spot in right field but could come in to second base, her natural position, at any time, while Schultz is also in the mix at second.
“Our goal is to be more consistent defensively,” Kalafatis said. “We’ve got some depth so that helps. We have very good leadership in our infield, which is key and Douglas, Koyano and Juarez have plenty of experience.”
The Outfield
Schwab (.337, 4 HR, 31 RBI, second-team all-region) returns for her fourth year in left field, while Vanderink (.359, 16 SB, first-team all-region) is back in right field after moving there last season. In centerfield, Caputo (.371, 11 games) was an all-conference pick as a freshman but a leg injury caused her to miss nearly all of last year, when Baker and Lancaster took over.
“We have speed that can cover a lot of ground and our arms in the outfield are strong and accurate,” Kalafatis said. “It’s a veteran group with a senior and two juniors who are also very productive in the line-up. Our three starters are sound defensively and exciting players offensively.”
Ledford will back up all three outfield spots, while Pruner and Cannon could also see time in the outfield.
“Leah is learning the fundamentals necessary to excel at this level and playing in the outfield may be another way to keep Pruner’s bat in the line-up,” Kalafatis said.
The Schedule
Ohio State has finished fourth in the Big Ten the last two seasons and wants to challenge for the title in 2007. In addition, an NCAA bid in May would be the fourth for the Buckeyes this decade.
“Our goal is to win the Big Ten championship,” Kalafatis said. “That is what motivates us. The Big Ten has proved that if you can do that, you can play for a national championship. It’s an outstanding conference and the last couple years have shown that with Michigan in 2005 and Northwestern in 2006. We believe our preseason and non-conference schedule will prepare us nicely.”
Before Big Ten play begins, however, the Buckeyes will travel to the Arizona State Kajikawa Classic Feb. 9-11, the Palm Springs Classic Feb. 23-25, the UAB Magic City Classic March 3-4, the South Florida-adidas Invitational March 8-11 and a six-game spring break trip in the Los Angeles area March 20-24.
Ohio State begins and ends league play with series at Buckeye Field, sandwiched around three consecutive Big Ten road trips in between. Minnesota (March 30-31) and Wisconsin (April 1) visit Columbus to open the conference slate before Ohio State travels to Michigan State (April 6-7), Michigan (April 8), Northwestern (April 13-14), Illinois (April 20-21) and Iowa (April 22).
The Buckeyes then host Purdue (April 27-28), Indiana (April 29) and Penn State (May 5-6) before the Big Ten tournament gets underway May 10 at the site of the regular-season champion.
In midweek doubleheaders, Ohio State hosts Ohio University (April 4), Wright State (April 11), IUPUI (April 18) and Miami (April 25) and travels to Akron (May 2).
