EMU Begins 2008 at Longwood Lead-Off Classic

Complete Release (PDF)

DEFENDING OUR TURF: The 2008 Eastern Michigan University softball team looks to defend its Mid-American Conference West Division title and Tournament Championship this season. After capturing the first division title and tournament championship in school history, the team looks to a few familiar faces, as well as some newcomers to help "Defend our Turf."

EMU PICKED SECOND IN WEST: The Eagles were picked to finish second in the West Division by the MAC coaches in the annual preseason poll. Kent State was picked to repeat as East Division champion, as well as to win the 2008 Championship. On the West side, Central Michigan was picked to finish first, with WMU tabbed third, Ball State fourth, Northern Illinois fifth and Toledo sixth. Bowling Green was picked to finish runner-up again in the East Division and Miami was picked third. Ohio, Akron and Buffalo rounded out the East Division poll.

OFF TO VIRGINIA: The 2008 season begins for the Eagles in Farmville, Va., when they head out east for the Longwood Lead-off Classic, Feb. 15-17. EMU will face Bucknell in a neutral site game, Feb. 15, at noon, before beginning actual tournament play. The Eagles will face the host school following that game at 2 p.m. EMU will continue play Saturday at 10 a.m. against Bucknell. An afternoon tilt with Morehead State is set for 4 p.m. The Green and White conclude the tournament Sunday, Feb. 17, at 10 a.m. versus Big East opponent Pittsburgh.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS: The Eagles will face a couple of first-time opponents when they play in the Longwood Lead-off Classic, Feb. 15-17. EMU has never faced Bucknell or Longwood in softball. EMU and Pittsburgh have squared off once, back in 2004 at the Marshall Tournament. The Eagles defeated the Panthers by a score of 7-4. The final opponent, Morehead State, owns a 2-1 record against EMU. The Eagles faced off against each other in during the 1999 season at the Eastern Kentucky Invitational, March 27-28. MSU won the first game, 5-1, before the Eagles of EMU regrouped for a 3-0 victory later that day. The two teams squared off again the following day, with Morehead State escaping with a 3-2 win.

EMU and Longwood are the only teams in the tournament to boast a winning record from the 2007 season. The Eagles were 27-22 in 2007, with the Lancers finishing with a 21-18 record. Pitt was 23-35 a year ago, while Morehead State finished 21-32 and Bucknell was 15-33.

A SEASON OF FIRSTS: The 2007 season was one to remember for the EMU softball program. The team won its first West Division title in school history, as well as capturing its first MAC tournament championship. The Eagles also made the first post-season appearance in program history, traveling to Ann Arbor for the NCAA Regional. EMU’s season ended with losses to Michigan and Oregon State. On the individual level, Lauren Clark was named MAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, the first time an Eagle has accomplished that feat. Head coach Karen Baird was named Coach of the Year, becoming the first EMU coach to earn the honor. EMU also finished five games above .500 (27-22), the highest since the 1999 season when the team went 31-26. The .551 winning percentage was the highest since the 1994 Eagles went 37-26 (.587).

On the other side of the coin, the Eagles dropped 11 of their first 12 games before regrouping to finish 27-22. The Green and White never lost more than three in a row following the rough start. EMU also rattled off winning streaks of six and eight games during the season.

FAMILIAR FACES: Even though EMU lost some important players to graduation, there will be plenty of experience left. Seniors Ashley Strauss, Jessica Grant and Lindsay Ritz all return to keep most of the infield in tact. Strauss was a second-team All-MAC performer last year, while Ritz was named to the All-Tournament team. Grant is a three-year starter at second base who gives the Eagles a strong defensive presence. Jenny Scherer will now be a permanent fixture in right field after splitting time between designated player and the outfield. Scherer was named First Team All-MAC, as well as to the All-MAC Freshman team after she led the Eagles with 11 home runs. Seniors Stephanie Sabo and Heather Giroux are back to patrol the outfield. Sabo is a valuable bunter, while Giroux uses her speed to get on base. Junior Heather Han returns behind the plate to give the young pitchers a calming presence. Sophomore Michelle Hletko is the only returning pitcher with game experience for the Green and White.

EAGLE NEWCOMERS: With the loss of seven seniors, the 2008 freshman class has some big shoes to fill. Stacie Skodinski will step into the starting lineup at shortstop, a spot left vacant with the graduation of two-time MAC Player of the Year Lauren Clark. Also with the departure of Michelle Lloyd and Aimee Woodrum, the Eagle rotation will rely heavily on freshmen. Jaclyn Caro and Kari Chambers will compete for a spot in the rotation. Lauren Delapaz will compete for time at third base and the designated player, while Brooke Carpenter will look for playing time at DP. Senior walk-on Nicole Prescott will give the Green and White some speed off the bench.

ROAD WARRIORS: Trying to play an outdoor sport in the Michigan spring weather presents quite a problem for the EMU softball team. After playing only eight home games last season, the Eagles are scheduled for 12 this season. The Green and White open up their season on the road, playing in three tournaments. The Eagles play their first 21 games on the road, before returning to Varsity Field to host Cleveland State in a doubleheader, March 25.

TO SERVE MY TEAM...AND COUNTRY: Senior walk-on Nicole Prescott will give the Eagles a much needed boost on the base path or wherever her team needs her. During her time at Eastern Michigan, Prescott has been a prominent cadet in the ROTC program. She is ranked in the top four percent in the country in ROTC, as well as being a member of Phi Epsilon Kappa, a physical education professional fraternity.

MARCI KELLEY TO BE INDUCTED TO HALL OF FAME: Marci Kelley, the program’s career leader in wins, games, complete games, innings pitched and strikeouts will be inducted into the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame, Feb. 16. Kelley was an outstanding pitcher during her time on the mound at Eastern, compiling 58 wins in 129 games, 94 complete games, 780 innings of work and 484 strikeouts. Kelley is also second on the all-time list with 18 complete game shutouts and sixth in ERA (1.71). She also earned All-American second team honors in 1995. Kelley, along with five other EMU greats, will be inducted into the E-Club Hall of Fame, Feb. 16.

PLAYING THE BEST: The old adage goes "to be the best, you have to play the best." The Eagles will certainly have the opportunity to do that, as three of their non-conference foes are part of the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 pre-season poll. UCLA, Michigan and Ohio State are all part of the Top 25, with the Bruins coming in at No. 10, the Wolverines at No. 12 and the Buckeyes at No. 22. UCLA also received one first-place vote. Another opponent, Fresno State, is also receiving votes to be in the top 25. Five teams on the 2008 slate made it to postseason play last season (Ohio State, Michigan, UCLA, Fresno State and Notre Dame).

LEAVING A LEGACY: The Eagles have a big hole to fill with the loss of Lauren Clark. Clark was a two-time MAC Player of the Year (2006 and 2007), as well as being named a third team All-American by Easton Sports, Inc. Clark leaves her mark all over the Eagle record book, holding the career home run mark (24), as well as ranking in the top 10 in doubles (40), RBI (95), at-bats (596), runs (101), hits (184) and batting average (.309).

RECORDS IN SIGHT: A few Eagles are close to having their names etched forever in the record book. Senior Ashley Strauss has 24 doubles, which is only one away from being in the top 10 all-time. Strauss is also on pace to be in the career top-10 in fielding percentage, RBI and put-outs. Senior Stephanie Sabo has not committed an error since her freshman season, and is on pace to have the all-time greatest fielding percentage. Sophomore Jenny Scherer is well on her way to owning the all-time home run record after blasting 11 last season. After one season, she is already ranked eighth on the all-time list.

THE COACHING STAFF: Head Coach Karen Baird returns for her sixth season guiding the Eagles. Baird has a 195-234 career record over 11 seasons as a head coach, both at EMU and Abion. In her five years as the Eagles’ coach, Baird owns a 97-142 record, including a 50-58 MAC mark. Baird was the first coach at EMU to be named the MAC Coach of the Year, following the historic 2007 campaign. Assistant coach Jennifer Teague is back for her third year on the Eagle staff working with the pitchers and catchers. Assistant coach Eric Oakley was promoted from a volunteer assistant coach this past season. He will be working with the outfielders, as well as coaching base running and strength and conditioning.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Related Videos