Softball to open 2010 season at Combat Classic

02/10/2010 | 12:00:00 | Softball

Feb. 10, 2010

By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois softball team will begin the 2010 season this weekend at the Combat Classic in Miami, Fla. The Salukis are scheduled to face North Florida, UIC, No. 20 UMass, FIU and Providence.

2010 Season Preview

The Salukis head into the 2010 season after recording the program's 13th consecutive winning season in 2009 with a 33-13 overall record. Returning six starters and six of the their top eight hitters puts the Salukis in good position for another successful season. The team welcomes seven highly acclaimed newcomers who bring excellent talent to the field providing depth for the 2010 season. With the disappointment of not receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament last season, the Salukis look forward to this season with excitement of where their team skill level can take them in 2010.

Pitching
As a former standout college pitcher, head coach Kerri Blaylock recognizes the importance of having a solid pitching staff. The Salukis return one pitcher this season while adding two new hurlers to the lineup. Junior Danielle Glosson (Winston-Salem, N.C.) returns to the mound after 25 appearances last season. She recorded 117 strikeouts, only allowing her opponents to hit .206 in 114.0 innings pitched.

"Danielle obviously has had two good years for us," Blaylock said. "I'm ready for her to have a breakout year. Danielle has been doing really well in winter workouts."

Joining Glosson this season is junior college transfer Alex Peters (Pryor, Okla.) and freshman Brittney Lang (Leavenworth, Kan.).

Peters comes to Southern Illinois from Crowder College where she posted a 1.24 earned run average and struck out 587 batters in 420.0 innings pitched. In two seasons Peters recorded a 30-13 overall record and was named to the 2009 All-Region First Team. Blaylock is excited about the experience Peters brings having pitched at the collegiate level. Lang set the school record for most strikeouts in a season (218) and career (641) while entering the Kansas Hall of Fame for most strikeouts in an extra inning game after recording 38 strikeouts in 23 innings.

"Along with Glosson and Peters, who we feel can really be a veteran punch, we're excited about Lang and what she can bring to the table," Blaylock said. "They all three throw differently, and we are excited about the strides each of them have made."

Outfield
With one of the deeper outfields in the midwest, the Salukis have plenty of rotation options taking them into the 2010 season.

Senior Katie Wilson (Alton, Ill.) is a solid right-field veteran, who played in all 46 games last season hitting .230. Totaling six game-winning at-bats and four game-winning runs last season, Wilson provides powerful offense for the Salukis.

Junior Chelsea Held (Anderson, Ind.) is a solid center fielder, while sophomore Mallory Duran (Windsor, Colo.) has proven herself in center and left field. Newcomers Morgan Barchan (Arcadia, Calif.) and Michelle Bradley (Land O'Lakes, Fla.) provide extra depth in the outfield, giving the Salukis an advantage and added potential.

"We are the deepest we've ever been in the outfield, no question, because we have several kids who are capable," Blaylock said. "This fall we would just rotate the kids in with everyone proving their abilities in various positions in the outfield. So we are very deep as far as who we can put in at what time, and what needs we have against a certain team and our matchups."

Infield
Alicia Garza (Lafayette, Ind.) returns to second base for the Salukis and Haley Gorman (Arcadia, Calif.) will resume her position as the starting short stop.

"We have a veteran middle. When you have a shortstop and a second baseman who can play like Gorman and Garza it makes you really comfortable," Blaylock said. "Those two are kind of the leaders, they're the vocal people and get everyone calmed down."

The Salukis have added depth at first and third this season with the addition of two transfers. Natalee Weissinger (Madison, Tenn.) joins the team from the University of Tennessee and Corinna Gonzalez (Ft. Collins, Colo.) comes to Southern Illinois after two years at the University of Arizona.

Sophomore returners Alicia Junker (Saugus, Calif.) and Courtney Kennedy (St. Louis, Mo.) are proven talents at first and third for the Salukis.

"We have Weissinger and Kennedy battling at third base and we have Gonzalez and Junker battling at first base," Blaylock said. "I think the competition has elevated our play."

Junior Cristina Trapani (Herrin, Ill.) and freshman Sydney Shelton (Glen Carbon, Ill.) will be vying for the starting catching position following a successful fall season.

"Behind the plate we have Trapani and Shelton battling," Blaylock said. "Combined, we feel like we have a lot of capable people that will be on the infield."

Offense
The Salukis boast a solid batting lineup with the right amount of power and speed to propel them in tough competition this season.

Wilson, Garza, Gorman and Held will lead the Saluki offense this season after all four were among the team's top batters last season and combined for more than half of the team's stolen bases.

"I think offensively we can bring not only speed, but power to the table, we're multidimensional," Blaylock said. "I think we can hit people from different areas. We are very fast and I think we're going to run."

Duran will be another big contributor to the Saluki offense going 9-for-10 in stolen bases last season with a .330 on-base percentage.

"When you're multidimensional, I think it's hard to defend against it, because you don't know where you're going to get hit from" Blaylock said. "We feel like we have some veterans who need to step up in the top of the order and then we have some really good newcomers who have really shown that they can be a force."

Schedule
Blaylock has created a schedule that challenges the team in non-conference play in order to prepare them for a competitive season in the Missouri Valley Conference.

"I just really feel like every year we need to schedule at an elite level, if you want to have a good RPI and want to get an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament," Blaylock said. "One of the focuses is that we feel that we were one of the last teams left out of the tournament last year. Whether we were the 65th or 66th team, we were left out, and that motivates us as a team."

The Salukis will face 10 teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last year, two of which advanced to the Women's College World Series.

"We've been really working hard at that, and that's really where our schedule comes in. You play elite teams to get you ready for conference and to also get ready for preparation if you are fortunate enough to make the NCAA Tournament. That's how we want to approach things."