North Carolina State University Athletics
Softball Readies to Begin New Era
2/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 4, 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. -
2004 Softball Season Preview
"The Beginning"
The NC State softball team will begin their inaugural season in 2004. The program prepares to enter a full Division I schedule in the highly competitive Atlantic Coast Conference. With a roster composed of 14 freshmen, two sophomores, a junior and a senior, head coach Lisa Navas' main goal is to build as the program steps into uncharted territory.
"Patience is going to be a factor for us this year," said Navas. "This is a new program with very little collegiate experience. We do not have upperclassmen leadership, but our players are anxious, hard working and ready to matchup against some of the best teams in the country. At this point we will go out and play the best we can; just play hard."
On the mound: NC State's pitching arsenal is in good hands behind the know-how of pitching coach Pat Conlan. Junior Lee Hasper has played at Glendale Community College in Arizona. She brings not only experience, but first hand knowledge of what is necessary to compete at the collegiate level. Two freshmen will join Hasper in the circle, Abbie Sims of Artesia, N.M. and, Shaina Ervin of Charlotte, N.C., both have the ability to carry the Wolfpack.
"As a pitching staff, the three rely a lot on each other for support and motivation," said Navas. "They are young and inexperienced, but I see growth as the season goes on. They have a great work ethic, which has driven them to practice hard to be competitive heading into the season."
The group will also lend their skills at other positions. Both Hasper and Sims will see time in the outfield, and Ervin will step in at first base when she isn't pitching. "It's going to be challenging for these three to adjust to playing more than one position," said Navas. "They will be asked to do a lot for this team and are continually working hard."
Behind the plate: Freshmen Miranda Ervin of Charlotte, N.C., and Jennifer Patterson of Salinas, Calif., will be looked upon for their catching knowledge and their bats. Ervin is the twin sister to Shaina Ervin, while Patterson has spent the last seven years catching for one of the best pitchers in California. Joining Ervin and Patterson behind the plate will be sophomores Caroline Blount (Coral Gables, Fla.) and Ashley O'Daniel (Atlanta, Ga.).
The infield: Options and youth will be the key to the Wolfpack infield. Navas expects freshmen Heather Gelbard (Miami, Fla.), Jennifer Chamberlin (San Mateo, Calif.), Rene? LaCroix (Killarney, Fla.), Laura Klem (Huntingburg, Ind.), Jessica Willems (Concord, N.C.), and Allison Cuculich (Chicago Heights, Ill.) to see playing time.
"Gelbard has been solid for us at third and at the plate," said Navas. "Chamberlin adds needed depth. It is a day-to-day battle at third. Chamberlin is one of our most powerful hitters. Cuculich is an excellent long ball hitter with great bat control. She stepped in this fall and did a good job at first base."
Klem was sidelined with an arm injury during the fall season and spent most of her time rehabbing to get back into the lineup. Klem, Willems and LaCroix will stabilize the middle infield. LaCroix and Willems garnered middle infield duties this fall.
"Rene? has a lot of spunk and shows great leadership ability on the field," said Navas. "She is also a great contact hitter who will move runners around for us. Laura has worked hard rehabbing her arm and we are looking forward to seeing that hard work pay off. She has a strong throw that will be needed at second base."
With Klem out and LaCroix at second, freshman Jessica Willems stepped in to play short stop this fall. Her strong arm and competitive nature will keep her in the lineup.
The Outfield: Several players will be called upon to step in and contribute on the grass. Freshmen Chamberlin, Heather Jedrey (Wilmington, N.C.), Sherry Lail (Rutherfordton, N.C.), Beth Poore (Charlotte, N.C.), Moffatt Steele (Huntersville, N.C.), senior Stacee Powell (Clinton, N.C.), Caroline Blount along with pitchers, Sims and Hasper, will compete for time.
"We are looking for players who can step in, play defense, but most of all for those players who are going to take advantage of their at-bats," said Navas. "We have the depth to move people around."
Adjusting to the rigors of playing nearly every day is one thing the young players have yet to experience. As high school players, the freshmen are used to playing once or twice per week. The schedule of a collegiate player is much more demanding. NC State is privileged to be a member of the second-highest power-rated conferences in the nation (ACC), behind the Pac-10.
NC State will begin its 2004 slate in February when it competes in the Triangle Classic. The Pack will face Louisville and Radford in its pool. Other top teams among the 20 participating; include Purdue, Virginia, Temple and Kent State, just to name a few. The Pack will compete in five more tournaments throughout the season. Following the Classic, NC State will travel to the South Florida Tournament to face USF, Temple, Maryland and Rhode Island. The final tournament of the month will take place in Charlotte. The Wolfpack will go head-to-head with Kent State, Appalachian State and Charlotte. Throughout the last two weeks of March, NC State will travel to Georgia Tech for the Buzz Classic to take on Tulsa, Georgia State, Bowling Green and Eastern Illinois. The final tournament will be at fellow ACC team, Virginia, to face the Cavaliers, Penn State and Seton Hall.
The ACC slate will begin on April 9, when the Pack travels to North Carolina. Other ACC foes include Georgia Tech, Virginia, Maryland and Florida State. All in all, the Pack will play in 48 games before postseason play begins in May with the ACC Tournament set for May 14-16. NCAA Regional play will begin following the conference tournament on May 20.
With fall ball in the history books, NC State now looks to the horizon to begin writing a new chapter on its first year of competition. "This team showed a lot of heart in the fall," said Navas. We were able to learn from our mistakes and grow."
The 2004 season will have some hurdles to clear but the Wolfpack Softball team is determined to build a successful program at NC State.
"Everyday will be an experience. We have to be patient and continue to learn from each game. NC State has the option to either roll over, or step up to the challenge."
