UT Softball Primed For Big Season
Following a record run to the NCAA South Region Finals last season, The University of Tampa softball team returns the nucleus of its record setting squad. Primed to make another postseason run, head coach Leslie Kanter returns seven starters and all three pitchers from the 2008 team that went 35-13.
Kanter will boast the return of her top two hitters, Ashley Arcuri and Michele Horan. The middle infielders hit .336 and .308 respectively last season. Her top power hitter, Jessica Tejas, is also back after smacking a team high five home runs in 2008.
Pitching will remain the strong suit for the Spartans, with the return of arguably one of the nation's top starting duos. Deanna Henriott was 24-9 with a 1.58 ERA while setting UT's single-season strikeout record with 251 as a freshman. Heather Van Landingham will also baffle opposing hitters as she completed the 2008 campaign with an 11-4 record to go with a 1.95 ERA. Both pitchers held opposing batters to a .197 average at the plate. Sophomore Kari Walsh will also see time at pitcher in relief of Henriott and Van Landingham.
Arcuri and Horan will occupy second base and shortstop while also hitting at the top of the order. First baseman Samantha Becker is primed for a big senior season after clubbing a team-high 11 doubles last year. Walsh will serve as her back-up at first while freshman Kasey Johnson will spell Arcuri.
At third base, freshman Susan Jallo will take over for graduated Krystal Crooks, who was one of the squad's .300-plus hitters at .308 last year. Kanter raves about Jallo's potential, as the energetic player also has a strong arm along with a big bat. Sophomore Maggie Holden will also see time at third.
After serving as the designated player last year, Rachel Browning will split her time this year between catching and DP. The senior will rotate game with talented freshman Becky Vyzas. A local product, Vyzas is a good hitter with an excellent arm. Sophomore Kristi Humphrey will also figure into the mix.
In the outfield, seniors Jessica Keefe and Kallan Casey will start in left and center field. Keefe started 41 games last season while Casey suffered a season-ending injury just six games into the year. Sophomore Cassie Barnes, who started in center last year, will platoon with Keefe in left. Junior Shannon Kelly will compete for time in center.
Tejas, who has a cannon arm, will occupy right field and hit in the middle of the lineup. Ashley Carrea will also see time in right field after a breakout performance in last year's NCAA Regional. The junior from Tampa belted three home runs in the first three games of the regional en route to being named to the all-tournament team.
Carrea will also serve as the team's top pinch runner, as she scored 15 runs in 38 games last season. Kelly could also figure into the mix as a pinch runner.
With a strong returning cast to go with some talented newcomers, coach Kanter has many reasons to be optimistic about the 2009 season. Though she will be tested by an always competitive Sunshine State Conference, Kanter will do so with five seniors in the starting lineup to go with a pair of dominant pitchers.