The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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F BY KEVIN MINOR and won the national championship in 2005. Yet the Wolverines, ousted by Kentucky in a regional final, were dealt a serious reminder in 2011 that the road to Oklahoma City is not an easy one. rom 2001-10, Michigan won an NCAA regional nine times, qualified for the Women's Col- lege World Series five times PREVIEW SOFTBALL College World Series, and there are about 30 teams that are quality enough to get there — it's extremely difficult," said head coach Carol Hutchins, now in her 28th season. "Only eight teams get to go to the we will lose talented players," said ju- nior right hander Stephanie Speierman, who finished her sophomore campaign with a dominant 18-1 record and 1.88 ERA. "As a pitching staff, none of us are going out there and trying to replace Jordan. "She was a big part of Michigan soft- "At a program like this, every year ball while she was here, but we all get four years — now it's our turn, as a staff, to do what have to do to help this team win." That staff includes two high-potential, said. "We have a pretty strong freshman class coming in, and I think they are hard workers with a lot of potential, and the same thing goes for the sopho- mores. But everyone coming in must be focused on striving in their role if it's all going to come together and, hopefully, be great." While it may become imperative for A Young And Talented U-M Team Must Play Together To Be Successful COMMITTEE APPROACH yet inexperienced, freshmen in righty Sara Driesenga and southpaw Haylie Wagner for whom the sky is the limit, but the path to reach their ceiling may take time. Americans in senior third baseman Amanda Chidester, senior outfielder Bree Evans and junior infielder Ashley Lane, the absence of three-time first- team All-Big Ten pitcher Jordan Tay- lor, who compiled a 31-5 record on the strength of 30 complete games and a 1.51 ERA last season, largely overshad- ows what Michigan brings back. However, for U-M's three pitchers, each a prep standout, stepping up to the challenge against the top talent in the nation is more of a rite of passage than a knee-trembling experience. Although the Wolverines return All- growing experience, and that means there may be some growing pains — both Sarah and Haley, they're going to need to know how to pitch at this level, as all freshman that make an impact learn to do so," Hutchins said. Similar sentiments necessary for suc- "Our first month will really be a cess can be shared for a lineup infused with experienced hitters that have al- ready made their mark on the program, and a group of youthful youngsters yearning to walk the same road. "It is going to be important for our freshmen to step up this year," Chidester in her career, the Columbia, Md., native enters this season finding the tag that she's an ideal No. 2 and not a staff ace. Speierman is ready for the challenge, but must improve her strikeout rate of 6.4 per seven innings. Senior shortstop Stephanie Kirkpatrick: The Plainfield, Ill., native has missed Players To Watch Junior pitcher Stephanie Speierman: Even though she is 20-1 with a 1.90 ERA parts of each of the last two seasons due to injury, but when healthy she was a .273 hitter in 2010-11 with 26 runs scored in 163 plate appearances. Freshman pitchers Sara Driesenga and Haylie Wagner: Hopes are high that these two rookie hurlers will be able to step in and help fill the void left by the departure of Jordan Taylor, and while growing pains are expected, early signs point to a good chance of solid production for a pitching staff desperately in need of effective pieces. 106 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2012 and better throughout her career, went down with an ACL injury last year, and we really missed her during a big stretch towards the end of the season," Hutchins said. "But, coming back, I don't think she has ever looked better — especially offensively. Her offense has gone, hope- fully, to the next level." Hutchins noted Michigan maybe had it a little too easy in 2011, and the Wol- verines weren't ready to overcome ob- stacles when they arose. "Last year we started out 25-0 and the Michigan softball squad to latch on to the experience, and success, of their returning All-Americans — who ac- counted for 41 home runs and 172 RBI last season — less heralded members of the team can fill just as important lead- ership, and production, roles. "[Senior] Stephanie Kirkpatrick, our shortstop who always does a fantastic job for us and continues to get better didn't go through much adversity early in the season," Hutchins said. "Losing some games, you get a little bit tougher around the edges. "Sometime winning can make you a little soft, and, when it came down to it, we just weren't tough enough." For a senior class yearning to return to the College World Series for the first time since their first year on campus, rekindling that toughness is not a bad place to start. ❑ Senior third baseman Amanda Chidester earned All-America honors last season after leading U-M with a .423 batting average and 75 RBI. PHOTO COURTESY U-M SPORTS INFORMATION