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HCC ATHLETICS
SOCCER
DRAGON DOLLS
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DRAGON ATHLETICS HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT 1300 N. PLUM HUTCHINSON, KANSAS 67501 (620) 665-3530 or (620) 665-3593 FAX # (620) 665-3394
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By Bret Mitchell HCC Sports Information Wednesday, February 27, 2008 In the first three seasons of Jaime Rose’s tenure as Hutchinson Community College softball coach, a lot of returning experience at the season’s start hasn’t been the case. As year No. 4 begins on Thursday, that’ wont’ be the case Hutchinson returns 10 players from last season’s Region VI third-place team that finished with a 29-26 overall record. Almost every position will see returning players, but they will be pushed by a solid class of freshmen. “We have 10 returners, and any time you have that many, it’s a benefit,” Rose said. “They seem to have more of a drive this year.” Not to be overlooked, the seven freshmen, who all come from strong high school programs. “We have seven freshmen, and I really feel that all seven will contribute,” Rose said. “We need all seven to contribute to be successful.” Even with the seven returning starters from a team that tied for the best postseason finish in Lady Dragon softball history, the Lady Dragons are picked to finish seventh in the Jayhawk Conference Western Division. Pratt and Dodge City are the other Division II classification teams in the league. HCC is second among those three teams. “We play to put ourselves in position to get a good seed (in Region VI),” Rose said. “With the Jayhawk West split up, we put our focus on region more than conference. With that said, Rose still has high expectations for the Lady Dragons in her fourth season “Every year I expect our team to do something that our program hasn’t accomplished before,” she said. Rose has accumulated an 87-67 record at Hutchinson in her first three seasons. The season will open on Thursday, Feb. 28 when the Lady Dragons play host to Labette in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Fun Valley.
Pitching Staff Sophomore Kourtney Klein returns to lead the HCC pitching staff. Klein posted a 7-7 record with a 3.56 ERA in 2007, stepping into the circle about one-third of the way through the season. Klein struck out 55 batters in 111 innings pitched. “The majority will fall on Klein,” Rose said. “But all of our pitchers will need to contribute.” Sophomore Nikki Lile could see significant time in the circle, returning from posting a 4.85 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched. Freshman Kelli Walker from Fort Worth, Texas, and Courtney Johnson, from Baldwin City, could very well be keys for HCC this season. The highly touted pitcher from Fort Worth, Texas, comes to HCC with strong credentials. Johnson in the first left-handed pitcher at HCC in several years. Sophomore Jenna Schroeder is the team’s fifth pitcher, despite not pitching the previous season. Rose hopes that the depth of this staff will become a strength her first three teams at Hutchinson hadn’t been able to enjoy. “We will only go as far as our pitching takes us,” Rose said.
Infield The infield could very well be the positions where the depth shows itself the most. Sophomore Nicole Bauer returns from a successful season behind the plate and looks to handle those duties again this season. Jenn Tanno, Christina Mueller and Shea Scanlon should all start according to Rose, leaving just the position of shortstop open. In the hunt for the starting spot at shortstop is freshman Kelli Dennis (Newcastle, Okla.), who should be able to make the adjustment easier than most with such an experience group surrounding her. “I look for our infield to primarily be sophomores,” Rose said. While Scanlon did not start on the infield last season, she still posted the third best fielding percentage on the team, with an impressive .988 in 81 chances. Tanno and Mueller were both solid at second and third, respectively. Overall, the 2007 Lady Dragons turned 14 twin-killings, as opposed to just nine for the opposition.
Outfield The outfield positions are still up in the air, according to Rose. “Honestly, at this point, our outfield is still in the air,” she said. “On the surface that may seem like a problem, but the uncertainty actually comes from depth and the strength of the position. “Defensively, we have the most options with our outfield. Who pitches will dictate who’s in the outfield.” Sophomores Dani Torres, Taryn Whitmore and Megan Hudson all return with outfield experience. Torres was primarily a pinch and courtesy runner last season, getting only four fielding chances for the season. Whitmore and Hudson saw a combined 77 chances. Freshmen who will compete for playing time are Jessica Glenn, Brianna Elman, Courtney Johnson and Ashley Cushinberry. Klein and Schroeder could also see some time in the outfield, but will spend the majority of their innings focusing on pitching.
Offense More times than not, the 2007 Lady Dragons didn’t have much speed on the bases, but depended on power to produce runs. That may change this season. “I think we’re not going to have the same power as last year,” said Rose, speaking of the team that launched 24 home runs and 93 other extra-base hits. “We’re more of a contact type team.” Less power could provide even better results, although as a team HCC did hit for a .311 average last season. “I think we have the potential to hit solidly throughout the lineup, and that’s exciting.” Tanno is one of two .300-plus hitters to return. She hit .349 last season with six home runs and 42 RBIs, both of those marks were second on last year’s team. Schroeder posted a .310 batting average with nine doubles, one triple, and 30 RBIs. Hudson hit .292 average, along with 11 RBIs in 113 plate appearances. |
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