The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/111015
our lineup is very solid this year. I think it will be hard for defenses to pitch to us.��� ���It���s hard to find a weakness in the lineup,��� Driesenga added. As the lineup continues to take shape, it appears that freshman shortstop Sierra Romero, Driesenga and Lane will grab hold of the third, fourth and fifth spots in the lineup, respectively. Driesenga (.429 batting average) and Romero (.364 batting average) have started strong, but Lane started slowly. In the first weekend, Lane had just two hits in 12 at-bats. ���I didn���t think her first weekend out was particularly great, and as I told her, for us to have success, we need certain things to happen,��� Hutchins said. ���One of them is for Ashley and Amy to have good years for us.��� But the Wolverines have confidence ��� in Lane and the lineup in general. When Michigan is on deck, it���s only a matter of time before the runs start flowing. ���If one person gets a hit, everyone else is going to follow,��� Driesenga said. ���We have contagious hitting. And we have to continue to work on that.��� Finding A Lineup By and large, the Wolverines have settled on a lineup. Romero is one of two freshmen ��� along with outfielder Sierra Lawrence ��� that have found their way into solid playing time. Knapp, who started 47 games at shortstop last season, moved over to third base to accommodate for the talented rookie. ���If you saw Romero play this fall, you���d know why she���s out there,��� Hutchins said. ���We recruit them here, and I tell them, I want kids to come in as freshmen with the mentality of, ���I���m here to compete and play and help Michigan win.��� ���They���re not here to take a year off as a freshman. You only get four years, so don���t waste one of them. I don���t care how old they are. Sierra Romero is very capable of helping us win, and that���s what her job is out here.��� The players also quickly noticed Romero���s skill. ���The minute she came in here, she seemed special,��� Lane said. ���When she steps on the field, she���s a gamer. Even though she���s a freshman, you wouldn���t know it. The minute she got here, she was diving for ball and making plays.��� The Wolverines are still looking to solidify other spots on the field. First base is still a wide-open race with three players already starting at least one game there: junior Taylor Hasselbach, freshman Kelsey Susalla and junior Caitlin Blanchard. Doyle and Sappingfield have earned spots in the outfield. Doyle is a reliable center field, and Sappingfield can play right or left, depending on who is playing alongside her. Lawrence is a likely starter, in which case she would take left, while Sappingfield plays right. ���