Marshall University Athletics
2009 Marshall Softball Outlook
1/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 29, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - With the departure of one of the best statistical classes, this season's Thundering Herd returns 10 players from last season.
"We graduated a ton of power in Folden, Rodriguez, and Tourville, however, our offensive attack will be more well balanced with our solid mix of returners and number of newcomers.," Stanton said.
To reload the roster, head coach Shonda Stanton has added eight new players as well as two new assistant coaches in former Herd standouts, Amanda Williams and Randi Nielson.
"I could not be any more pleased with the work of both Randi and Amanda this fall. They enjoyed our most successful seasons as players and now as coaches are continually educating our team on what it takes to win Championships."
Williams steps up from the volunteer graduate assistant position to the team's new assistant coach while Nielson will take over the duties of the team's pitching coach.
Among the group of returning student-athletes includes four players that acquired post season honors including senior outfielder Rachael Sofie and junior Caitlyn Jackson.
In 2008, Sofie started in all 55 games for the Herd in the outfield. As a junior, she was second on the team in batting average with .360 and 62 hits. Sofie was named to the Conference USA Second Team and to the NFCA Midwest All-Regional Second Team.
"We will look to Sofie to provide consistent power numbers near the top of the line-up.," Stanton said. "She has great explosiveness which was demonstrated by her results in the weight room this fall."
After just two seasons of play, Jackson is currently ranked fifth in the career list for batting average at .318 and joined Sofie as a member of the NFCA team. A duel threat in the circle and at the plate, Jackson started every game with 33 starts pitching.
"Cailtyn has great hand eye coordination and the ability to be one of the best hitters to come out of our program. She has the opportunity to make her mark this season and must decide to commit to going from a good player to a great competitor."
Other returning award winning student-athletes include senior Kelly Nielson who was named C-USA Co-Newcomer of the Year and freshman C-USA team selection Melanie Stoehr.
"Both Kelly & Mel have proven they can make a difference with one swing of the bat and will be relied upon to drive in runs in the heart of our line-up."
Entering her tenth season at the helm of Marshall Softball, Stanton has captured three regular season conference titles and with a balance of experience and fresh talent, Marshall softball will be poised for a run for the C-USA title in 2009.
THE OUTFIELD
Familiar faces will take up two spots in the Herds outfield with seniors Sofie and Joscelyn Bitner.
Last season, Bitner returned in time for conference play after missing the first part of the year dealing with health and family concerns. Upon her arrival, Bitner returned to her spot in center field. Coming into 2008, Bitner boasted a batting average that ranked highly in the school's career history.
"JJ is one of the best outfielders I have seen. She can run down any ball and has the arm to make a big play and the accuracy to stop runners," Stanton said. "When she is at the top of her game, JJ is a difficult out and a huge threat on the bases."
While Sofie will start in left field, the right field spot will be open for different players to get some time. Junior Caitlyn Jackson played in right when she wasn't in the circle last year but with depth in the outfield, look for her focus to be with pitching.
"Right field is completely up for grabs.," Stanton said. "Hughes, Loesing, and Spurlock are all viable options and each offers a different dimension to our line-up. All three will be used as a pinch runner in key situations when not in right field."
Jessica Hughes will return after an ACL injury from last season. In limited action, Hughes played in 16 games with six starts early on in 2008.
"Hughes has worked tremendously hard to recover from her injury. We are excited for her to be back out on the field with us. If fully recovered, she will be our fastest player with the ability to take the extra base in any situation."
Freshmen Melissa Loesing and Samantha Spurlock may also find time in the right corner of Dot Hicks Field.
Loesing comes to Marshall from Texas with an average of .428 as a senior. She played her first two years of softball in Arizona where she was named as a first-team regional selection with 20 stolen bases as a sophomore.
"Melissa is a natural athlete with a great deal of untapped talent. She really has the potential to explode onto the college scene if she can learn to play at full speed."
A Huntington native, Spurlock was a member of the two-time AAA champions at Huntington High School. She finished her career with a batting average of .563 and received several honors as a junior and senior.
"I am very pleased with Spurlock's development. Her eagerness to learn and improve every time she steps on the field has put her in a position to challenge for this starting role."
THE INFIELD
This season's infield core will be shifted with the departure of Dee Tourville, who had occupied second base over the last four seasons.
Junior Marcena Bertoldo will play her third position in as many years as a favorite to replace Tourville at second. Last season, Bertoldo was the team's starting third baseman and shortstop as a freshman.
"This is the year for Marcena to have a break-out season. She is coming off great play from fall ball and shows a renewed sense of confidence."
Senior Kelly Nielson will switch from shortstop over to third to compensate the hole left by Bertoldo's move. Nielson started in every game last year mostly at the shortstop position.
"Kelly is a prototypical third baseman with a solid build, strong arm, and big bat," Stanton said.
Incoming freshman Alianna Telles will take over the shortstop role for the Herd in 2009. In high school, Telles gained national attention for her play at Sylmar High School. She batted .436 as a senior and 10 home runs.
"Ali is an amazing talent that needs to step in and play as a veteran. She has had great success in the past and now just needs to prepare better to stay healthy and be a consistent, reliable force for us up the middle."
First base will be a position where a few different players can fill the spot. Melanie Stoehr returns after a standout year as a freshman at first but will spend time behind the plate at catcher.
To fill in for Melanie will be freshman Rebecca Gamby. Coming out of high school, Gamby was injured as a senior but batted .492 as a junior as a catcher.
Two other players that could occupy first are Senior Rachel Schmidt and freshman Alysia Hively who also is a pitcher.
"Schmidt is working hard to be an everyday starter on the field and not only in the offensive line-up," Stanton said. "She understands are system and we are excited about her power potential at the plate. Her development defensively has made her a solid option for us at first base."
Hively, a West Virginia native, play at Clay County High School with multiple all-state selections.
"Unfortunately, Hively is recovering from a fall injury and will continue to rehab throughout the spring. She proved to us what a great asset she will be when available."
THE CATCHER
Filling the hole left by four-time all-American Rachel Folden is a hard one to replace, but Stanton has two experienced catchers to take over behind the plate.
"This is the position I am most excited about," Stanton said. "To graduate Folden, and to have Stoehr and Gamby both available is incredible. Our pitchers are in great hands and we will look to find the best rotation. Both of them will be instrumental to our success."
Sophomore Melanie Stoehr is a catcher by trait in high school but spent last year at first base. In the regular season finale at Georgetown, Stoehr filled in for an injured Folden in two games.
"Mel is such a fundamentally sound athlete that she will produce regardless of where we have her on the field or in the line-up."
Gamby is another face that will be behind the mask for Marshall. Like Stoehr, Gamby was a catcher in high school but missed her senior year due to injury so both student-athletes have had time away from the position.
"Gamby will contribute early and often in her career. She has great presence and consistent power."
PITCHING STAFF
This season Coach Nielson will have plenty of options to choose from with a staff of six players that can be used in the circle in 2009.
"We have never had a pitching staff this deep before," Nielson said. "They have been competing against each other all fall to be the number one which in turn has made each of them better. I am excited with the options we have this season to match up against each opponent we face."
Returning from last season, the staff has Jackson and senior Autumn Mitchell. Jackson started in 33 games and a 14-17 record overall. She finished the year with a 3.76 ERA and 83 strikeouts. Caitlyn has proven her arm strength time and time again especially with an nine and 2/3 innings against UAB last year.
"After not being as successful as she wanted to be last year, I am excited to see her settle some unfinished business. She has made great strides to build confidence and she will do great things this season."
Mitchell's 2008 season was a banner year as the then junior started the year primarily as a relief pitcher, really came into her own in the second half of the year with eight starts. She posted a winning record at 10-5 and struck out 95 batters.
"Autumn is our most successful returning pitcher, and with her consistency on the mound she is able to throw any pitch at any time making her very dangerous. She will be called upon to be a senior leader this year."
Also returning from last season's staff is sophomore Rachel Rillo. As a freshman, Rillo only pitched two and 2/3 innings and allowed two hits.
"She is most effective when she is able to throw her moving pitches while keeping the ball down." Nielson said. "She had a successful fall and we look for her to carry that into the spring."
Two juniors have the ability to make an impact on the mound in transfers Virginia Campbell and Katie Murphree.
Campbell was with the team last year but was redshirted after transferring from Alderson-Broaddus, a division II school. While there she finished her time with a 1.69 ERA and a 12-3 record.
"Virginia throws hard but works even harder. She has improved her moving pitches this fall to the point where she feels comfortable throwing them on any count."
Murphree brings to Huntington a long list of accolades with her. After playing two years at Santa Fe Community College. She set numerous school records including 36 wins in one year and lowest ERA (0.88). Murphree won over 50 games in both seasons. She was the conference pitcher of the year and recognized as one of the best 16 players on the junior college level last year.
"A pitcher with the success that Katie has had brings confidence to the mound, which in turn gives the team confidence. With her maturity, work ethic, and drive to get better every time out, she cannot help but bring success to this team."
Incoming freshmen include Hively and Kayla Stinson. Stinson was teammates with Spurlock at Huntington High. In her time there, she finished her four years with a record of 68-19 and 582 strikeouts both of which are Huntington High records.
"With Hively being injured Kayla is the only available freshman on staff, providing more depth to an already deep staff. Kayla will continue to work this spring in making the adjustment from high school to college line-ups."
