North Carolina State University Athletics
2008 Softball Season Preview
2/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BY BRANDON YOPP
RALEIGH, N.C. - The 2008 NC State softball team enters the season with 11 returning letterwinners from its 2007 version, which finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season, and earned a No. 1 regional seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Alongside the experienced nucleus of returning players, nine newcomers, seven freshmen and two transfers, will look to bolster the Pack as the program enters its next phase.
The pitching staff will no doubt look noticeably different from years past, as one only returning pitcher, senior Megan Dalthorp, remains on the team following the graduation of All-American Abbie Sims and 2006 ACC Tournament MVP Shaina Smith. State, however, did pick up two valuable transfers for work inside the circle. Junior Mendy McKenzie joins the program after two highly successful seasons at Western Carolina, including being named 2006 SoCon Pitcher of the Year. Sophomore Lindsay Campana comes to Raleigh after one year at Cuesta College where she posted a 0.93 ERA and 29 wins. Freshmen Aly Burr and Lauren Taylor will both command innings and provide depth as they continue to mature and perfect their craft during their first season with the Wolfpack. Taylor stands as the lone southpaw on the pitching staff.
Sophomore Claudia Cooper and freshmen Alyssa Allbritten and Lacey Holm will all compete for the starting spot behind the plate. Cooper was used in several key pinch-hit situations a year ago, but saw little playing time with two seniors ahead of her on the depth chart. Allbritten wields a dependable bat, while Holm offers a power stroke.
Junior Lisa Nentwig is the odds-on favorite to play first base due to her outstanding defense the previous three seasons. The offensive emergence of sophomore Allison Presnell last year, however, figures to make her an important staple in the team’s lineup. Junior Mackenzie Mangum offers power from the left side of the plate and swung the bat very well during fall ball.
Sophomore Kristine Bechtholdt spent nearly half of last season taking care of all duties at second base for the Pack and sprinkled in some big RBI at-bats throughout the season. Sophomore Lauren Peters, who was forced to sit out last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, makes her debut and has the ability to cover a lot of ground in the middle infield with her speed. Freshmen Alyssa Ishibashi and Eliza Jacobellis both offer steady glove work and defense.
While several spots are up for grabs on the diamond for the red and white this season, it’s an absolute guarantee that shortstop belongs to senior and 2006 All-ACC first-team member Shanna Smith. After hitting .306 and stealing 25 bases last year, Smith, arguably the best shortstop in the league, will look to add another feather to her cap during her farewell season. Ishibashi and Jacobellis can both hold down the position if need be, but baring injuries Smith will be locked into place until the season ends.
Third base remains up for grabs following the loss of ACC career home run leader Jen Chamberlin. Cooper, Holm and freshmen Bridget Desbois can all hold down the hot corner. Head coach Lisa Navas is looking for someone to step up and win the starting job with impressive defense and the ability to drive in runs.
The Wolfpack outfield isn’t etched in stone, but the personnel is more set than in the infield. Senior Blair Harkey will no doubt patrol center field, while fellow senior Ashleigh Davis and Peters figure heavily into the plans for the corner spots. Speedy sophomore Krystal Hawkins will find time in the grass, as will Dalthorp, Bechtholdt, Presnell and Taylor. The quickness of Davis, Hawkins and Peters gives the Pack a favorable cast of players in the outfield, able to cut off hits into the gap as well as long fly balls. Davis, Harkey and Dalthorp each had several outfield assists last season, forcing opposing base runners to think twice before attempting to advance. At the plate, Davis, Harkey, Hawkins and Peters are all slappers, while Presnell and Taylor hold the ability to deliver the long ball. Bechtholdt will make the adjustment to the outfield for the first time in her career.
“We have a nice core of returning experience, and we are excited about the new players on the team,” said head coach Lisa Navas. “This freshmen class adds a lot of versatility.”
An annual vote of the ACC softball coaches handed State a predicted sixth-place finish when the preseason poll was released on Jan. 22. The Pack received 25 points total in voting.
State will begin its 2008 regular season on Feb. 8, taking on Kansas at the UCF Softball Tournament in Orlando, Fla. The squad will also compete at four other challenging tournaments; the FAU “Strike-Out” Cancer Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla., the College of Charleston Tournament in Charleston, S.C., the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., and the USF Under Armour Invitational in Clearwater, Fla.
Feb. 27 is certain to be one of the most anticipated days in the history of the Wolfpack softball program. At 3 p.m., State will begin its first of two games against UNC Greensboro, marking the inaugural game at the Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium on the NC State campus.
