University of Massachusets Athletics
2001 UMass Softball Season Outlook
February 13, 2001 | Softball
Feb. 13, 2001
Over the past 27 years, University of Massachusetts softball and success have become synonymous with one another. The Minutewomen have won all but two Atlantic 10 championships since the conference's inception in 1986, and in those two years that UMass didn't claim the title, it was the runner-up.
UMass has not only established itself as the class of the conference, but also as the softball power of the East. The program has made 10 trips to the NCAA Tournament, including eight in the last 10 years, and three trips to the College World Series.
Individually, there is no shortage of hardware in the UMass trophy case either. UMass has produced 12 All-Americans, 61 All-Conference selections, six Atlantic 10 Players of the Year, and eight Atlantic 10 Pitchers of the Year. One of the pitchers to be honored as pitcher of the year was current UMass assistant coach Danielle Henderson, who also received the 1999 Honda Award as the nation's top collegiate softball player.
After a somewhat surprising 2000 season in which UMass posted 35 wins, won the Atlantic 10 title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, the Minutewomen have quite a bit to look forward to in the spring of 2001. With the loss of only one senior to graduation in Nikki Faessler, head coach Elaine Sortino is excited about the experience gained by her young team last year. Brandi Cross, Kaila Holtz, Anna Perey and Emily Robustelli started every game for UMass last season as freshmen, while Ashley Bakken and Cherra Wheeler started every contest as sophomores in 2000.
"I believe we have a bunch of people on this team who have excellent leadership qualities, both on the field and off," Sortino said. "We have the capacity to score runs this year as well, and I feel very good about our ability to play good defense."
Pitchers
While youth reigned last year in nearly every aspect of the UMass team, nowhere was it more apparent than on the pitching staff. Three players saw significant time on the mound for the Minutewomen, led by freshman Kaila Holtz, who was first on the team in innings pitched (154.1), strikeouts (141), appearances (29) and wins (16).
"Pitching is where it all starts," Sortino said. "To be a good team, you must have solid pitching."
Junior co-captain Jen Hadley posted a 12-7 record in 27 appearances (137.1 innings), and was second on the team in strikeouts with 86. Senior Carrie Jeffries rounds out the staff and will be counted on to have a solid year. She compiled a 7-8 record in 19 appearances in 2000.
"We are going to need a `go-to person' to emerge on our pitching staff this year," said Sortino. "Last year, we struggled to figure out who would do the best in a particular situation because they were so young. This year, we are going to have to find that person who we can go to for the big game, but also to close it out if we get into trouble."
Holtz and Hadley threw UMass' two no hitters last season, as Holtz stymied the Temple (April 16) bats for a 1-0 win in the second game of a doubleheader sweep for the Minutewomen. Hadley's no-no came in the second of two games with Central Connecticut (April 6), as UMass pounded out a season-high 17 hits and won 9-0.
"In the off-season, we have been able to generate a little more speed and definitely more movement on the ball, which is key," Sortino said. "And each of our pitchers are a year older now, and have worked in between seasons to become more consistent in both of these areas."
Catchers
With the loss of Nikki Faessler, the position of catcher will be one of the most important voids to fill this season. Faessler, a three-year starter behind the plate for the Minutewomen, ranks third all-time at UMass with 11 home runs, and is tied for seventh all-time with 29 doubles.
"We are going to have to do the most shifting to cover the catching position," Sortino said. "Because a great catcher is critical to a good softball program."
But Sortino wasted no time in bringing in more talent at the position, as both sophomore transfer Jessica Bartlett and freshman Jamie Cahalan were both highly-regarded catchers at the prep level. Bartlett will be essential in warming up pitchers in the bullpen, and will also see time as a pinch hitter. Cahalan had a solid fall season for the Minutewomen, and appears to be the heir apparent behind the plate.
Sortino is very high on Cahalan and confident in the newcomer's abilities both defensively and at the plate.
"She's got a great arm and she's going to have a great bat," Sortino said. "But most importantly, she's a great receiver. She's getting better at blocking balls, and her intelligence in terms of knowing what pitchers need to do with the ball is invaluable to me as a coach."
Infield
The infield returns intact this year for the Minutewomen, and will be strong and deep at every position.
At the corners, UMass returns its first-ever freshman All-American in first baseman Brandi Cross and power hitter Cherra Wheeler at third base. Cross led UMass in batting (.383), hits (62), and home runs (nine), and was second in RBI (37) in her rookie season, while also racking up a .992 fielding percentage. A true lefty, she brings both power to the plate and an important lefty glove to first base.
"Brandi is going to be a better hitter this year -- she is just learning to hit at the college level," said Sortino.
Wheeler made a smooth transition from first to third base last season, and started all 58 games while batting .325 with 53 hits and 34 RBI. She will be counted on for power in the middle of the line-up as well.
Up the middle, UMass looks to be solid as ever with sophomore Emily Robustelli and junior speedster Ashley Bakken anchoring shortstop and second base. Robustelli had a tremendous freshman year, as she started every game while banging out 46 hits, including seven doubles and four triples, and collecting 23 RBI. Bakken, whom Sortino describes as "a great defensive second baseman," started all but two contests last year and led the team in assists with 156 and stolen bases (29-of-34). She also hit .313 at the plate with 47 hits.
"Our defense is very strong both up the middle and at the corners," said Sortino.
Other Minutewomen who will strengthen the infield include freshmen Nicole Wilson and K.C. Budrewicz. Wilson is expected to be able to be a back-up at either first or third base, while Budrewicz, a local product out of Turners Falls, is a good athlete who can play at either side of the bag in the middle infield.
Outfield
Speed. That is the best way to describe this year's outfield.
Junior co-captain Teri Rooney started every game last year in centerfield, and will be the anchor once again in the outfield for coach Sortino. Rooney, who batted .324 last year, led the team in both RBI (38) and runs scored (40) and ranked second on the team in hits (58). She will again hit at the top of the order for the Minutewomen, and has the capability to hit for both power and average.
"Teri will be taking charge out there in the outfield," Sortino said. "She will be taking control over what will be unbelievable speed around her. Our outfield has never been faster."
Sophomore Anna Perey started all 58 games last year in right field for UMass, and has greatly improved both her offensive and defensive skills. She collected 30 hits on the year and was second on the team in stolen bases with 13 in 15 attempts.
If there is a question mark in the outfield for coach Sortino, it might be in left field. Seniors Debbie Tomoguchi, who held the spot for most of the 2000 season, along with Rachel Parziale, and freshman Aisha Franke will all be battling for the starting nod.
Tomoguchi started 42 games last year and had 15 hits, while Parziale saw spot duty as a pinch hitter. Franke is a converted middle infielder who Sortino says "has the speed of Anna Perey and Ashley Bakken."
Schedule
UMass once again takes on some of the best teams in the nation as it will participate in four major tournaments before mid-March. The Minutewomen open the season in Phoenix, Ariz.. at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament from Feb. 9-11, and then travel to the Lead Off Classic in Atlanta two weeks later. The second weekend in March (9-11) sees the Minutewomen playing in the Speedline Tournament in Tampa, Fla. followed a week later by the Tallahassee Democrat Tournament at Florida State.
"[These games] are a reality check -- we want to know what we need to do to be better," Sortino said. "We want to know how we are going to compete with nationally-ranked programs."
Five of the teams that UMass will face in these tournaments were ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Preseason Top 25. Arizona State (six), LSU (eight), Michigan (11), Florida State (17) and Oregon (20) all received pre-season recognition, while UMass just missed the top 25 at number 29.
The Atlantic 10 Conference schedule cannot be overlooked either. Temple, Rhode Island, Dayton, St. Joseph's and St. Bonaventure will all present tests for the Minutewomen as each team continues to improve its respective softball programs. Independently, UMass will face regional rivals Boston College, Connecticut, Harvard and Vermont.
"We have a very tough schedule," Sortino said. "We are going to face possibly 14 ranked teams this year."
Wrap Up
There is no doubt that the 2001 UMass softball team has the talent and drive necessary for a 11th trip to the NCAA Tournament and fourth trip to the College World Series. After losing only one senior to graduation, the Minutewomen are experienced at all positions including, most importantly, that of pitcher.
"We are going to need better pitching this year, and pitching with speed and movement," Sortino said. "We are also going to need better hitting and a sound defense -- in that order."
And with the parity in women's softball across the country becoming more apparent every year, Sortino stressed the importance that solid pitching and hitting will play if UMass is to have yet another championship season.
"We have to be able to hit better pitching," Sortino said, "and we have to be able to pitch against better hitting."