Jan. 14, 2000
LEXINGTON, Kty. – The time has come for the University of Kentucky softball team. The timeis now and coach Beth Kirchner is ready to see four years of building aprogram from its infancy rise to the top of the Southeastern Conference in2000.
Since 1997 when the UK softball program began, the team has improved andwon more games each year, including last season’s 23-44 record and fifthplace finish in the SEC at 6-22. Four seniors and four recruiting classeslater, this could be the breakthrough year the Wildcats have waited forwith all the pieces in place.
“The difference I see between the team this season and the differencebetween teams I have seen in the past is that we are now in a positionwhere we have some depth,” Kirchner said. “We have increased the depth ofour pitching staff. We have become better hitters. We have more footspeedon the base paths and we are stronger defensively. I would say that we haveupgraded all phases of our game. We’re very optimistic and ready to go outand compete.”
For the first time, the Cats will have four seniors to look to in ColleenBoddy, Michelle Bucci, Keary Camunas, and Sarah Snider. Bucci, Camunas, andSnider have been with the program since it began, while Boddy joined theCats last season after transferring from Connecticut. Never before has afourth-year senior dotted the UK roster, but Kirchner said the number ofseniors allows the coaching staff to work more specific things.
“It makes teaching a lot simpler because they have played for us,”Kirchner said. “Not only do we not have to teach them as much, but they arestarting to take over the roles as far as teaching some of the youngerplayers what it takes to play at this level. Originally, we had 13 freshmenthe first year and not having seniors was hard, but also not having seniorslast year has really helped us this year.”
On last season’s record-breaking squad, freshmen played key roles. Fivefreshmen started over half of the teams games with up to as many as seven.The youth movement in the Cats lineup included key roles by shortstop AngieDal Pozzo, outfielder Beth Fogle, second baseman/pitcher Jen Howland,infielder Andi Eilertson, and catcher Sandi Dengler.
In 1999, UK’s freshmen started a combined 321 games. The Cats’ infield wasprimarily all freshmen last season and the experience they gained will beinvaluable this year as sophomores.
“They played some pivotal roles for us last year,” Kirchner said.”Hopefully, they can relate their experience from last year and help ourfreshmen get through their first season with less of a significant transition.
“They saw so much playing time that they really matured a great deal. Ourexpectations of them have also increased and I think they are up to thechallenge.”
Four talented freshmen could see significant playing time this season.Lyndsey Angus, Jamie Dardis, Nikki Jones, and Morgan Marr all arrive inLexington with a shot at being major contributors for the Cats. Accordingto Kirchner, the mental approach of the freshmen will be as important asthe play on the field.
“All four have the potential to start for us, but I would also say allfour have the potential not to start for us,” Kirchner said. “Their rolesare really going to be determined by what they decide to do.
“If they come in here, work hard and not assume the role of just afreshman, then they could be key contributors for us. We need them to getover the idea that they are only freshmen.”
The Infield
Talented freshman Lyndsey Angus leads the list of candidates at catcherfor the Cats. Angus brings a big bat to the lineup and is a versatileplayer in the field. At St. Bernard’s High School in Massachusetts, she hitover .500 plus all four years and also has a strong arm.
“Lyndsey is a great natural athlete and could play any position on thefield with the exception of pitcher, and she has actually done some pitching.”
Kirchner said senior Sarah Snider and sophomore Sandi Dengler will bepushing her as backups.
Kircher calls first base “a dogfight” between sophomore Traci Potts andfreshman Jamie Dardis.
Last season, Potts started 39 games and recorded 271 putouts,second-highest on the team and has the edge in experience. Dardis, a nativeof Sioux City Iowa, brings a solid bat to the lineup as a lefty and shouldbe able to contribute offensively.
“Both of them are working hard, and it is really going to go down to thewire. We might just end up splitting time at the beginning and see whoemerges. Traci is probably the more consistent player, while Jamie is moreof a player with potential.”
Freshman Nikki Jones has been given the early nod at second base, butdon’t count out gritty-sophomore Jen Howland.
The speedy Jones, a native of Fairfield, Calif., brings an impressiveresume to UK and is a great all-around athlete. Her speed gives the Cats anextra threat on the base paths along with outfielder Beth Fogle, making thetwo a lethal combination.
Howland played a key role as a freshman and has an excellent knowledge ofthe game. The Glendale, Ariz., native tied the school record for sacrificebunts in a season with 11. Howland went to bat 201 times and was third onthe team in hits with 50.
“Nikki probably has the nod with Jen nipping at her heels,” Kirchner said.”Nikki has a little more footspeed, which allows us to do a little bit morewith her offensively. Defensively, they are pretty even. Jen also haspitching responsibilities, so that is kind of a challenge for her to do both.”
The shortstop position belongs to sophomore Angie Dal Pozzo who started 62games last season. Dal Pozzo, who is coming off shoulder surgery in theoffseason, has all the tools to be one of the top shortstops in the SEC. In1999, she came on midway through the season and finished with nine doubles,three triples while driving in 20 runs.
“Angie is a kid that I really see taking off this year,” Kirchner said.”She just has all the skills that we need at that position. She’s quick,has good footwork, and a nice arm. I think she is going to have anexceptional year for us.”
Andi Eilertson opens the season at third base and is capable of playingany of the four infield spots. Last season, Eilertson spent the majority ofthe season at first and second base.
“Originally, Andi was a shortstop in high school, so getting her back tothe left side of the infield has been good and she looks comfortable overthere,” Kirchner said. “We have given some time to Sandi when she isn’tbehind the plate. Sandi has been doing a good job, but Andi is out targetat third.”
The Outfield
Juniors Leslie Kwiatkowski and Tiffany Kruse, senior Michelle Bucci, andsophomore Beth Fogle return in the outfield for the Cats and gives UK ajolt of experience. However, Kirchner said all four have seen time at thethree outfield spots during the fall and the coaching staff has not decidedon specific positions yet.
Kwiatkowski led the Cats in virtually every offensive category last seasonand broke several school records including batting average (.372), hits(77), home runs (8), and RBIs (43). In UK’s 9-7 season ending win overTennessee, the South Bend, Ind., native hit two home runs and drove in fiveruns. Kwiatkowski, who stole 22 bases last season, fifth best in the SEC,spent most of the season playing centerfield. She has started every gamethe Cats have played since coming to UK.
Kruse had an outstanding year in 1999, hitting .346 at the plate with 72hits, eight doubles and five triples. Alternating between left and rightfield, Kruse is a two-year starter and has good speed and patrols theoutfield with confidence. She tied the SEC record for hits in consecutiveat-bats, spanning two games against Georgia last season and recorded 24multiple-hit games.
Bucci is one of the best defensive outfielders on the squad and tied forthe SEC lead in fielding percentage last season (1.000). She had her finestseason as a Wildcat last year after filling in at shortstop in 1998.
Fogle, one of the premier base stealers in the SEC, swiped a school-record34 bases in 38 attempts in her rookie year. The native of Bogart, Ga.,spent most of the season playing as the designated player but saw time inleft field as well. Fogle laid down 10 sacrifice bunts, while scoring 28 runs.
“All four of them have made significant progress after working a greatdeal in the fall on reading the ball off the bat and on their angles,”Kirchner said. “It is really a tossup, and it’s going to come down to whocan make the play defensively. If we are still tied at that point, then itwill come to offense. It will be interesting to see what shakes out in theoutfield because they are all battling.”
Pitching
Senior Keary Camunas returns as UK’s top hurler after a solid juniorcampaign. She struck out a career-high 164 batters, including 13 strikeoutsin a game against Florida last year. Camunas, one of the most experiencedpitchers in the league, has logged 672 innings for the Cats in three seasonand has struck out 405 batters during that span. After a summer playing for the Puerto Rican National Team, the Lake Forest,Calif., native, worked hard in the offseason and had an outstanding fall.Camunas also recorded four saves last season, tied for sixth nationally.
“Keary will be our gun this year and has gotten even stronger,” Kirchnersaid. “She looked good this fall and her movement has been good.”
Senior Colleen Boddy, sophomore Jen Howland, and freshman Morgan Marr willbattle for the other starting role and gives the Cats quality depth on themound. Boddy appeared in 21 games last year and started nine, picking up fourwins. She pitched 64.2 innings and recorded a save.
“Colleen has picked up some speed and is a good competitor out there,”Kirchner said.
Howland was primarily used as UK’s second starter and saw 134.1 innings ofwork for the Cats, pitching three shutouts.
“Jen has really improved,” Kirchner said. “She has been working on somespecific pitches and has really sharpened up.”Marr comes to UK after a successful high school career at James Madison inVienna, Va., where she pitched a perfect game and once struck out 18consecutive batters. The freshman impressed the UK coaching staff in thefall and adds quality depth to the Cats’ pitching staff.
“Until we see Morgan in a college game, it is difficult for us toanticipate how she is going to pitch in an actual competition,” Kirchneradded.
“I think the three of them will be in a battle, particularly at thebeginning of the year to see who starts in games. Whoever doesn’t emerge asa second starter, will probably come in as a reliever.”
