Women's Softball
Softball: 2008 Season Preview
Date: March 5, 2008
Location: GRANVILLE
After going 30-15 a year ago, including a 13-1 mark in conference play, the Big Red softball squad has undergone a facelift. First year head coach Tiffany Ozbun takes over a talented program that has appeared in three national tournaments in its first ten years as a varsity sport. Six experienced seniors lead a team looking for their third consecutive conference championship.
The recent success of the Big Red has lied largely within the pitching staff. With starters Jen Anthony and Rachel Thomas graduated, Coach Ozbun will look to a trio of talented returnees to handle the workload on the mound. Senior Bri Scrofano (Longs, S.C./McDowell) was 7-7 last season with a 1.90 ERA and 63 strikeouts. Fellow senior Stacey Ronk (Shiocton, Wisc./Shiocton) made six appearances, posting an impressive 0.51 ERA. She will handle a bulk of the relief duties. Sophomore Sam Rumschlag (Carmel, Ind./Cathedral) will be asked to shoulder a greater load as well after an impressive freshman campaign that featured a 2-1 record and 2.45 ERA.
Newcomers Mandy Krutzler (Geneva, Ill./Hudson) and sophomore transfer Leslie Brenner (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) will add their talents to the mix on the mound.
Seniors Ali Silver (Baltimore, Md./Kenwood) and Claire Kopko (Washington, Pa/Trinity) anchor the infield and lineup. Silver hit .403 last season while leading the team in batting average as well as stolen bases. Kopko hit .295 with two homeruns and 18 RBI after moving from the outfield to second base. Sophomore Alex Murray (Mayfield Hts., Ohio/NDCL) started 42 games at first base and maintained a .987 fielding percentage in 293 chances. Behind the plate, sophomores Brie Berkopec (Mars, Pa/Mars Senior) and Molly Sack (Sylvania, Ohio/Southview) will battle for time.
Freshman Erica Evans (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) will see action across the infield, mainly in the corners at first and third. Aly Clark (Blacklick, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) is battling preseason injuries, but will add some pop to the lineup with her power when she returns.
In the outfield, senior Rachel Cotterman (New Lexington, Ohio/Fisher Catholic) returns after hitting .325 during her junior season. Also returning is Mary Beth Krolikowski (Brunswick, Ohio/Holy Name). She hit .289 while driving in 21 RBI. Senior Ali Teopas (Sylvania, Ohio/Southview) makes the move back to the outfield after seeing action in 13 games across the infield as a top sub and pinch runner. Sophomore Emily Croll (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor) played in 17 games while hitting .250.
Freshman pitcher Katie Harley (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area Senior) is making the transition to the outfield while fellow newcomer the left-handed bat of Amy Eberlin (Toronto, Ont./Leaside) could see action in the outfield as well.
The Big Red will open the 2008 campaign at the Rebel Games in Kissimmee, Fla. where they will play ten games over their Spring Break.