2008 preseason information


2007 overall record: 27-13
Iowa Conference record: 9-7/5th
Letterwinners lost: 6
Letterwinners returning: 9
Position starters lost/returning: 4/5
Pitchers lost/returning: 0/2

Outlook
            There are renewed hopes that Central College will make a quick return to its familiar role as NCAA Division III softball playoff contenders.
            But to do so, the Dutch are relying heavily on the rapid development of what appears to be its most talented freshman class in recent years.
            The infield could include as many as four freshmen at times as Central looks to better last year’s 27-13 record. The 2007 team overcame some significant adversity, but missed the NCAA Division III tournament for just the second time since 1985. Central has captured four national titles and earned 20 NCAA tourney berths, reaching the national finals 12 times.
            Despite the graduation of a big chunk of the Dutch offensive attack, coach George Wares enters his 24th season anticipating improvement. He enters the year within sight of his 800th career win (780-256-3 over 23 seasons) and would be just the second Division III coach ever to reach that milestone. The newly inducted NFCA hall of famer’s optimism is fueled by a rejuvenated pitching staff. All four of last year’s hurlers return and the Dutch staff will likely get an immediate boost from some highly regarded freshman pitchers. And the return of three-time all-conference catcher Kelly Harris should speed the young pitchers’ progress.
“We can put a battery out there every game that’s nationally competitive,” he said. “When you can do that, it makes the rest of our concerns a lot easier to deal with.”
           Wares also senses a fierce determination to improve on last year’s fifth-place finish in the powerful Iowa Conference, the lowest finish of his tenure.
            “We’re not going to dwell on it and we’re not putting it on any bulletin boards, but the players all remember we were fifth and there’s a pretty strong desire to finish much higher than that,” he said. “But at the same time, there’s also the reality that in this league, we could play a lot better and still only move up to third.”
            Wares isn’t the only one anticipating a Central resurgence. The Dutch are 21st in the NFCA Division III preseason coaches’ poll.

Pitchers
            Junior Megan Swingen heads what is becoming a deep pitchingMegan Swingen staff. She took over Central’s No. 1 starting spot last year and drew numerous challenging assignments, emerging with an 11-9 record and a 3.09 earned run average in 117.1 innings, striking out 73 and walking 51. She was 13-6 with a 1.74 ERA as a freshman in 2006, when she handled the No. 2 role.
            Senior Amy Zellmer saw her most significant action last year and was tabbed as the team’s most improved player, posting an 11-4 record with a 2.81 ERA, fanning 66 batters in 99.2 innings and walking 36.
            Senior Lacey Ritscher was a pleasant surprise in her first year of college softball. As a spot starter and reliever, Ritscher was 5-0 with a 1.38 ERA in 25.1 innings. Sophomore Natalie Deming compiled a 1.31 ERA in 16 innings.
            “Megan’s the most experienced,” Wares said. “Amy’s improved tremendously and Natalie showed she can get some people out.”
            Swingen likely won’t need to shoulder the No. 1 position by herself this spring.
            “Our depth will likely help her a lot,” Wares said. “By her own admission, she feels more comfortable that way.”
            The quickest assistance will likely come from freshman Kiley Lythberg of Mount Prospect, Ill., who pitched for the Chicago Sun-Times All-Star team among numerous other prep honors.
            “We obviously recruited Kiley very hard and she had a very good fall,” Wares said. “The flip side is, she hasn’t pitched an inning of college softball yet, so we’ve got to be realistic. But we expect her to be in the mix right away.”
            Katie Tenboer of Morrison, Ill. also boasts some glittering high school credentials. But Wares has been so impressed with her ability to play other positions as well that he’s looking at her handling a dual role.
            “We’ve put her everywhere,” he said. “We’ve tried her at third base, shortstop and first base. To her credit, she’s been able to handle it all very well.”
            Another freshman, Brittany Becker of Don Bosco High School in Gilbertville, is in a similar spot. Becker made her name in the pitching circle but could help the Dutch elsewhere as well.
            “We’re going to be counting on them,” Wares said of the freshman pitchers. “It may take some growing pains to get us where we want, but I think we’ll be better.”

Catcher
            Harris ranks among the best the Dutch have put behind the plate. A two-time all-region pick, Harris has picked off a school-record 41 baserunners in her career and allowed just 15 stolen bases in 27 attempts last season. Despite battling injury throughout 2007, Harris hit a team-high .351 last season with 10 doubles, four triples, two homers and 25 runs batted in. She stole nine bases, giving her 52 thefts for her career.
            “Kelly deserves to be an all-American,” Wares said. “She’s a very solid defensive player, particularly with her ability to pick off runners. And she’s a tremendous contributor offensively.
            “But she’s also an outstanding leader. With the young pitchers we have, it’s good that they have a catcher like Kelly. She leads so well by example with what she shows in practice every day and the kind of effort she gives.”
            Freshman Trisha Shimak of Cedar Rapids, sister of graduated first baseman/catcher Tina Shimak, is a candidate for the back-up role.
            “From where she was in the fall, Trisha has come a long way,” Wares said. “She’s an outstanding athlete. We have to find the best place for her to help us.”
            Also catching is freshman Amber Voss of West Allis, Wis.
            “She’ll probably catch a lot of JV games for us,” Wares said.

Infield
            While Wares hasn’t yet determined how Central will fill openings at first base, second base and shortstop, he likes his options.
            Junior Ryann Engholm has seen limited action at first base while otherwise serving as the designated player. She hit .312 with seven doubles and 15 RBI while earning first-team all-league honors.
            But after seeing Tenboer perform at first base in the fall, he may elect to keep Engholm in the DP slot.
            “Katie handles the glove very well,” he said. “Obviously Ryann will still get a lot of time but I’m not going to rule out Katie.”
            Becker could also play first as could freshman Melanie Anderson of Fairfield, sister of last year’s team MVP, graduated outfielder Laura Anderson.
            Wares said there’s one choice at second base.
            “Youth, youth and more youth,” he said.
            Freshmen Bethany Koskamp of Cedar Rapids and Katie Hruby of Carol Stream, Ill. are getting the early looks.
            “Bethany is very steady,” Wares said. “She seems able to make all the plays and has a good understanding of the game.
            “Katie’s very quick and a good athlete,” Wares said. “Eventually she’s going to get on the field somewhere, it’s just a question of where. She runs well and is turning into a good slap hitter.”
            The starter at shortstop is likely to be a freshman as well. Rachel Whiteside of Sheffield, Ill. has caught Wares’ attention.
            “Rachel has played the position and will give us a solid bat,” he said. “She doesn’t have a lot of power but is a good contact hitter.”
            Shimak is a possibility, Wares said, as is Tenboer. And the Dutch could also slide sophomore Afton Nelson over from third base.
            “But that’s not something we want to do,” Wares said.
            That’s because Nelson has quickly become a defensive key for Central at third base. Nelson earned second-team all-conference honors as a freshman, hitting .294 with 20 RBI and 23 runs scored. She missed fall practice because of off-season surgery but should be ready for the opening game.
            “We’re very optimistic that she’s recovered completely,” Wares said. “She’s been working very hard in rehab. It’s just a question of getting back in playing shape, but she’s very excited to be back. She’s already one of the best around at that position.
            “Hopefully she’ll be able to extend her range to her left. She’s got a good arm and brings a lot offensively. She has the ability to hit away more than she gives herself credit for.”

Outfield
            The outfield is more stable. Junior Hannah Weindruch was a frequent defensive replacement in left field last year and is likely to take over this season, becoming the fourth Pleasant Valley High School grad in the Dutch starting lineup, joining Harris, Nelson and center fielder Alysha Overturf. Weindruch hit .292 in limited action at the plate.
            Overturf enters her third year as the starter in center field. A first-team all-conference pick in 2006 when she batted a team-high .384, Overturf hit .272 last season but still led the team in runs (29) and ranked second in RBI (28). Wares likes what she’s done and is asking even more.
            “She’s as good as any around,” Wares said. “The big thing this year for Alysha is to step up and show some leadership in the outfield. She needs to be able to take charge and call off teammates on fly balls when she can.
            “What she gives us offensively is very important, too, because a big part of what we lost to graduation was at the plate.”
            In right field sophomore Laura Braun enters her second year as a starter. She batted .292 with 25 runs scored and 18 stolen bases.
            “Laura is coming off a good freshman year,” Wares said. “She has really worked hard with Coach (Alicia) O’Brien on being more aggressive in the outfield and I think she will give us a lot offensively.”
            There’s little experienced depth, although Engholm saw a little outfield time in 2006. Freshman Jessica Bixler of Oskaloosa joined the team late and could help.
            “She was a quality outifielder for Oskaloosa High School and she runs very well,” Wares said.
            Wares would prefer to leave Hruby in the infield but she could fill in if necessary.

Designated player
            If Engholm isn’t the starting first baseman, she’s the obvious choice as the DP. But if Engholm plays first, Becker will likely get the nod.
            “Brittany swings it well,” Wares said. “It will probably be one of those two.”
            Becker is also a possibility as a pinch-hitter, a role where Wares thinks he has several good choices, including Anderson, Shimak and Hruby.

Pinch-runners
            Pinch-runners continue to play a crucial role in the Dutch attack. Central held a 95-15 advantage in stolen bases last year and often tops 100 thefts in a season. The Dutch have a number of newcomers who could help, most notably freshman Ashley Holcombe of Earlham.
            “Ashley’s very quick, very intelligent and is learning what we need from our pinch-runners,” Wares said. “Katie Hruby is also very good on the bases and Trisha Shimak is as well.”
            Wares also has a surprise option in Ritscher, a senior pitcher who is sharing team captain’s duties with Harris.
            “Lacey came up and asked if there was any other way for her to contribute to the team,” Wares said. “That shows what kind of person she is and what kind of captain she is. She was actually a sprinter in high school and is very smart on the bases.”
            Wares noted that the Dutch won’t need to call on pinch-runners extensively.
            “We’ve got pretty good quickness within the lineup,” he said.

The season
            The Central schedule is typically daunting. Among the spring-break opponents at the Sun West Classic in Orange, Calif. are third-ranked Plattsburgh State (N.Y.), fourth-rated St. Thomas (Minn.) and 14th-rated host Chapman (Calif.).
            “We need to see if some of these kids believe in themselves as much as we believe in them,” Wares said.
            The Iowa Conference is loaded. Luther was the surprise league champ last year and will be a threat again, Wares said. Wartburg and Coe were in the NCAA tourney field and Simpson will also contend.
            “If you finish in third place, you can feel pretty confident you’ll get into the tournament,” Wares said. “But it would be nice to win it. I think we’re in the mix.”
            The ride is likely to be a bumpy one at times, but Wares is ready to climb aboard.          “Our objective is the same,” he said. “That’s to get better every day in practice and in games. We need to focus on the big picture and keep sight of where we want to go by the end of the season.”

The staff
            Wares is excited about a couple of additions to the Central coaching staff, Mary Vande Hoef and Jake Fisher. Already providing instruction are associate head coach Alicia O’Brien, who compiled a 423-213-3 record with eight NCAA tourney berths in 17 seasons as head coach at Western Connecticut State, and highly regarded pitching coach Steph Anderson, who pitched in the Division III national tourney for Wartburg.
            Vande Hoef was a co-captain of Central’s 2003 NCAA championship team and spent the past two seasons as assistant coach at Ithaca (N.Y.), which reached the Division III finals in 2006.
            Fisher, a former Central student assistant, was a highly successful ASA coach in Kansas.
            “I thought our coaching staff was solid last year but throwing in Mary and Jake makes it that much better,” Wares said. “They’ve already been very valuable to us.
            “I told the players that when these people talk, they really need to listen. They contribute a lot.”
            O’Brien continues to work with the Dutch outfielders while Vande Hoef tutors the catchers and pinch-runners. Fisher provides instruction for the team’s slap hitters and works with baserunners.
            Wares said Central is fortunate to have Anderson to work with the pitching staff.
            “It’s a difficult job because we have so many young pitchers this year,” he said. “But Steph is tremendous.”