2009 Maryland Softball Season Outlook
2/3/2009 7:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 3, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Like a baserunner rounding the diamond with keen determination and an eye on home plate, the University of Maryland softball team has progressed steadily under head coach Laura Watten and her staff, advancing closer toward obtaining the program's ultimate goal with each passing season.
Continual improvement has defined Watten's first three years in College Park. From 32 to 33 to 36 wins, the Terrapins have upped their victory total in each of the last three seasons en route to laying claim to the third-winningest season in program history, as well as a school-record win streak, in 2008.
Consequently, the Terps enter their 2009 campaign in scoring position - seemingly poised to continue their pursuit of an NCAA Regional bid. Yet fulfillment of that goal will not come easy for a squad that must contend with major graduation losses and a challenging slate of 53 regular-season games.
The 2009 edition of Terrapins softball features a youth movement of sorts, as the team boasts just three seniors (Sarah Dooley, Breanna Shaw and Devon Williams) and welcomes 10 newcomers (five freshmen, four transfers and one walk-on) in hopes of compensating for the loss of nine letterwinners from 2008.
Offensive leaders Jenny Belak, Brittany Bessho and Sarde Stewart, as well as pitching ace Meredith Nelles, are gone from last season's squad that reeled off a 16-game winning streak and achieved rankings in both national polls for the first time in nine years. Still, there remains reasons for optimism the Terps can continue their climb up the improvement ladder in 2009.
"We were hit pretty hard by graduation, but I like the way our team is shaping up for this season," Watten said of her squad. "We have a nice blend of talented returning players and promising new players who should all contribute toward our success."
PITCHING
Despite the loss of Nelles, pitching should represent an area of strength for Maryland in 2009 thanks in large part to Dooley, a product of Golf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla. During her first season adorning a Terrapin uniform in 2008, Dooley emerged as the anchor of the pitching rotation, leading the squad in wins (16) and strikeouts (179), while logging the fourth-most innings (206.1) in a single season in team history.
Dooley returns for her senior year a seasoned veteran occupying a leadership role and will likely toe the rubber in big games for the Terps.
"Sarah showed a lot of toughness and determination with her performance last season," Watten said. "She has a quiet personality off the field, but when she gets on the mound she pitches with great intensity. She's such a smart pitcher, and we are expecting a lot from her this season."
Maryland's dual-purpose threat, pitcher/utility player Kerry Hickey, excelled for the Terps last season both at the plate at on the mound, where she posted a 4-0 record with a 2.48 ERA. She led the team with 16 relief appearances as a freshman in 2008, and could be called upon either to start games or to provide relief from the bullpen this season. At the plate last season Hickey batted .292 with 45 hits, four home runs and 31 RBIs - each of which leads Maryland's returnees.
"Kerry performed exceptionally in both her roles last season, and we will continue to rely on her to contribute to our team in many ways," Watten said. "She's developed so quickly it's easy to forget she's only entering her second collegiate season."
Freshman Kendra Knight, a highly-touted recruit from Salem High School in Virginia Beach, Va., rounds out Maryland's 2009 pitching rotation. The hard-throwing right-hander garnered all-region and all-state honors in 2008, averaging nearly 15 strikeouts per game during her final prep season.
CATCHING
Following the graduation of Brittany Bessho, who started all but five games behind the plate last season and finished her career as the team's all-time leader in batting average (.315), the Terps are looking for a pair of transfers to assume catching duties in 2009. Junior Lydia Fowler and sophomore Jennifer Anderson both had productive junior college careers prior to transferring to Maryland.
Fowler came to College Park by way of Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Fla., where she garnered All-Southern Conference honors last season. Indiana Tech product Anderson started at catcher during her first collegiate season, batting .340 with 15 doubles and 30 RBIs for the Warriors.
Brittany Murray, a freshman who played every inning of every game during her prep career, adds another option behind the plate.
INFIELD
Maryland's infield returns three starters from 2008, including a pair of seniors in Williams and Shaw. Having already played in 144 games as a Terp during the first three years of her career, Williams represents the team's most-tenured player. The Terps' third baseman enters her senior campaign having improved her batting average by at least 36 points in both of the previous two seasons, and she paces the team's returnees with her on-base percentage (.372) from last year.
The latest in a pipeline of successful Bethune-Cookman College-to Maryland transfers under Watten, Shaw demonstrated her ability to hit for power last season by having 12 of her 40 hits account for extra bases. She started 39 games at second base, 17 at third base and one at shortstop a year ago.
Fellow returnee Alex Schultz started 53 games at shortstop in 2008, setting career highs in most offensive categories. As a sophomore last year, she led the team in hit by pitches (14) and demonstrated excellent range in the field, tallying a team-high 106 assists along with 77 putouts.
"Breanna, Devon and Alex give us a lot of stability and versatility in our infield," Watten said. "Each contributed a great deal last season, and in the case of Devon and Alex, they have been doing so for several seasons. We need that trio to lead our team onto the field this year."
Sophomore Krista Gould, who saw time at both second base and shortstop last season, provides depth for the Maryland infield. Gould served as the team's top substitute in 2008, entering 30 games off the bench.
In addition to the returning players, several new faces could occupy the infield this season. A trio of transfers - junior Nadine Blackie (Pensacola Junior College), sophomore Marisha Branson (Central Missouri) and freshman Kathy McLaughlin (Towson) will vie for playing time this season with the Terps.
OUTFIELD
Redshirt sophomore Niki Lau represents the team's lone returning starter in the outfield. Lau, who made all 56 of her starts in center field in 2008, ranked third on the team in both runs (26) and stolen bases (eight) last season.
The corner outfield positions will likely be occupied by a combination of players in 2009. Candidates for those spots include sophomore Lauren Ghent, a walk-on who served as one of the team's top defensive substitutes and pinch runners last season, and several newcomers, including Blackie.
Freshmen outfielders Vangie Galindo and Michelle Takeda both arrive at Maryland from California boasting strong credentials. Galindo, who played outfield for Etiwanda High School in Etiwanda, Calif., earned all-county honors as a senior and set her school's record with 32 career stolen bases. Playing for a high school located just 35 miles southwest of Galindo's school, Takeda earned three varsity letters, helping El Dorado High School finish the 2006 season as state runners-up.
"Our infield is a bit more settled than our outfield this season, so we need some players to emerge for us in left and right field," Watten said. "Right now there are plenty of possibilities in the outfield, but ideally some candidates for those positions will start to distinguish themselves in the coming weeks."
Junior Kailyn Cage could see action at various positions this season for Watten and her staff, which consists of assistant coaches Alissa Smith (fourth season at Maryland) and Courtney Scott (first season). Cage has a background in track & field, and should add speed on the basepaths for the Terps.
SCHEDULE
Maryland's 2009 schedule calls for 24 matchups with 14 opponents who made the 2008 NCAA Tournament, and the Terps face nine foes whom were ranked in the final 2008 USA Today/NFCA Softball Collegiate Top 25.
"My staff and I are excited about the competition that awaits our team in 2009," Watten said. "We have a young but talented team, and we have compiled a schedule that will challenge our players to grow and develop throughout the season."
The Terps open the season Feb. 6 at the Florida Atlantic Kick-Off Classic in Boca Raton, Fla., against 2008 NCAA Tournament participant UMass. The FAU Tournament also features a showdown with 2008 NCAA Super Regional qualifier Michigan, whom Maryland beat for the first time last season.
Maryland then heads to Palm Springs, Calif., for the prestigious Cathedral City Classic from Feb. 19-22. There, the Terps will face several formidable opponents, including UCLA, a participant in the 2008 Women's College World Series.
A five-game stretch at the Stetson University Tournament in Deland, Fla., starting Feb. 27 precedes the Maryland Round Robin, which welcomes Dartmouth, Manhattan and Gardner Webb to College Park. Following their official home opener March 11 against Towson, the Terps play host to the Maryland Invitational, which includes Seton Hall, Delaware, Fordham, Mount St. Mary's and Howard.
The Terps commence Atlantic Coast Conference play and an eight-game homestand with a weekend series versus North Carolina March 21-22. That series marks the first of four three-game sets pitting Maryland against conference opponents in College Park, as NC State, Boston College and Georgia Tech also visit Taylor Stadium.
In its 2009 conference road schedule, Maryland makes trips to Virginia, Florida State and Virginia Tech, which won the ACC Championship last season.
Other non-conference games slated for 2009 include home games against NCAA Tournament teams Northwestern and Hofstra, as well as George Washington and Penn State.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, Maryland travels to Raleigh, N.C., for the 2009 ACC Tournament (May 7-10). Last season's tournament champion, Virginia Tech, ultimately advanced to the NCAA College World Series.
