2007 Softball Preview

Last season, the Jackets softball team went 48-22. They ended their season with a No. 19 ranking and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Their season ended in a 7-2 loss to No. 4 Alabama 7-2 in the Regional Finals. On this past Tuesday, the Jackets were picked to finish No. 5 in the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Tech lost a key member of its team over the off season as Head Coach Ehren Earlywhine left for a coaching job at the University of Missouri, close to his hometown.

Sharon Perkins joined the team as the new head coach. The former Georgia associate head coach helped lead the Georgia program to a 313-104 record with two SEC titles and five straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

"I'm excited. It's been a great rivalry over the past few years, especially in softball. There are a lot of good players here, and I can't wait to play [UGA]," Perkins said when asked about coaching against her former team.

On the plus side, Perkins will have one of the best players in the NCAA in her batting order.

Sophomore Whitney Haller had a .393 batting average to go with her .513 on base percentage. Haller also hit 24 home runs and drove in 72 runs. Her 24 home runs led the team and the ACC, while placing her in a tie for second in the NCAA. Haller has also been named to the watch list for USA Softball National Player of the Year.

"I never dreamed of having a season like the one I had last year. It's really hard to put into words. I really hope that it continues to get better," Haller said.

Pitching

Tech's leader in ERA and wins from a year ago returns in senior Sarah Wood. Last year, she hurled 166 innings from the circle compiling a 20-8 record, and an ERA of 2.87. Wood also struck out 98 batters, while walking only 38.

"[Perkins] really has helped out the pitchers and works with us a lot. She has really helped improve my pitching, but also has helped my mental game," Wood said.

Behind Wood, there is plenty of experience. Junior Whitney Humphreys and sophomore Lacey Richardson pitched over 240 innings combined last season, and should see similar playing time. Statistically, Humphreys had an 18-7 record, 2.87 ERA and 88 strikeouts to 24 walks, while Richardson had an 8-6 record, 3.57 ERA and 69 strikeouts to 42 walks.

Sophomores Haller and Tiffany Johnson will also give Tech a number of innings from the circle, while also fielding their respective positions, first and third base.

Catcher

Behind the plate, Tech returns all of their catchers. Junior Savannah Brown leads this group as she hit .295, with 11 home runs and 47 RBI's along with an on-base percentage of .397.

Behind Brown, the Jackets have seniors Daisy Paez and Kristina Hull. Last season, both catchers struggled behind the plate, but provided experience and defense to the team.

First Base

Tech's strongest position on the team is at first with Whitney Haller leading the team in essentially every category. While Haller hit well last season, she may find it more difficult to put up similar numbers.

"My hitting perspective has to change this year. Last year, no one knew about me, so I could go up and get pitches to hit. This year, since I was successful last season I probably won't see as many good pitches this season," Haller said.

Senior Kristina Hull will back up Savannah Brown behind the plate, but also will be Haller's back up.

Second Base

The Jackets return another key player at this position in Aileen Morales. Morales brings a lot of experience and speed to the Tech order. Last season, she only hit .247, but she stole 30 bases out of 35 attempts. Combined with her .353 on base percentage, Morales was a pesky player for the opposition.

Juniors Becky McGraw and Brittany Barnes will backup Morales.

Third Base

Last season, Savannah Brown and Kristina Hull each started several games at third base, with Blair Shimandle, an outfielder, getting a few starts as well. This season, Tiffany Johnson will be the starter.

Johnson transferred from Florida A&M. The NCAA allowed her to play immediatly. While she may have left her former school behind, she would face her old team on the opposing side when the Jackets and Rattlers faced off in the NCAA Regionals. Tech came away victorious in both games that the two played. In those games, Johnson went a combined 1-6 at the plate, with a run scored and an RBI.

"It's great, and she is totally different from the other pitchers. It is also nice to have a pitcher that can bat in the lineup as well," Head Coach Perkins said.

At Florida A&M, Johnson hit .307 at the plate, with five home runs and 27 RBI's.

From the circle, she was 15-6 with a 1.95 ERA and struck out 124 batters while walking only 40. She was the MEAC Rookie of the Year and earned second team All-MEAC honors.

Shortstop

Christine Sheridan's graduation from Tech has left the team with a hole in this key position. Last season, she hit .332, with four home runs and 43 RBI's. Her replacement, most likely sophomore Jennifer Yee, will have big shoes to fill.

Yee transferred to Tech from Niagara. While there, she won the MAAC Rookie of the Year award as well as being named to the first team All-Conference. For the Purple Eagles, she broke the school record with a .466 average, placing her third in the nation. She also set school records in hits (62), runs (39) and home runs (11).

Outfield

The Jackets lost another key player in the outfield with the graduation of Amy Hosier. With the loss, the Jackets will have a lost a player that had a .370 batting average and .513 on base percentage. Hosier's on base percentage led the team, while her batting average was second only to Whitney Haller.

Despite the loss, The Jackets will still hold on to two time all-ACC outfielder Caitlin Lever.

"The seniors understand what it takes. We have had to deal with overcoming doubts from other people, and come up with big wins against teams that they didn't think we necessarily could," Lever said.

Junior Stephanie Butler and sophomore Blair Shimandle will also see significant playing time in the outfield this season. Last season, the Jackets got great production out of Lever and Shimandle. Lever hit .352 for the year, with 10 home runs and 39 RBI's., while Shimandle hit .305, with four home runs and 32 RBI's. Each of these players showed speed on the base paths as Lever stole 15 of 17 bases last season, and Shimandle stole 17 of 19.