Softball focuses on Coach B Classic in Carbondale
Matt Fischer
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Sports
Western Illinois softball enters its final test before beginning conference play this weekend at the Coach B Classic in Carbondale, Ill.
After achieving a 7-3 record in the first two tournaments, the Leathernecks will travel to Carbondale to face Southern Illinois, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Kansas and Illinois-Chicago at the tournament.
With four games in two days, the team's depth will be tested.
"We've played 10 games, and we've really only made a few minor changes to our lineup," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen. "We haven't really made any defensive changes because everyone is doing their job. Our pitchers have been pitching really well. So far we have been good with everything, so I hope we just continue on that same path."
Adding to the pitching aspect is freshman left-hander Kelsey Michelini, who threw a complete game shutout to lead the 'Necks to a 9-0 victory over Alabama State.
"It's a huge advantage," Van Vlymen said. "Laurie (Pankratz) and Kamren (Ferguson) are great pitchers, and then you've got Kelsey who's a freshman this year and she's a great pitcher too. She'll get some games in, but she'll be in relief a lot of times, which is great because she's a lefty."
Fortunately for Van Vlymen, she is faced with a situation a coach would enjoy being in. The 'Necks have featured a very balanced offense featuring 10 returning players and six players batting above .300.
"That's what we talk about; we like our team to be balanced," Van Vlymen said. "You can't just pitch around one or two people. There's somebody around every hitter."
Among those leading the team in batting average are senior infielder Julie DePolo and junior outfielder Beth Golitko.
"Julie and Beth are great hitters," Van Vlymen said. "Julie was our number two hitter for a while and she has been our leadoff for a couple games, and it's just nice to have her at the top of our order because she's just speed. And then Beth is kind of our second clean-up hitter. She's definitely come through in clutch situations."
The tournament should be a good test for the team after being off the field for almost two weeks. And with conference play approaching quickly, the ladies hope to fine-tune some of the smaller things.
"We enjoyed being in Georgia, playing on the grass and the dirt again," Van Vlymen said. "It'll be good to just get down there and play against some good competition."
Western's first game is Saturday at noon against Southern Illinois before facing SIU-E at 6 p.m. The following day has the 'Necks pitted against the Kansas Jayhawks at 9 a.m. before the finale against Illinois-Chicago at 1 p.m.
After achieving a 7-3 record in the first two tournaments, the Leathernecks will travel to Carbondale to face Southern Illinois, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Kansas and Illinois-Chicago at the tournament.
With four games in two days, the team's depth will be tested.
"We've played 10 games, and we've really only made a few minor changes to our lineup," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen. "We haven't really made any defensive changes because everyone is doing their job. Our pitchers have been pitching really well. So far we have been good with everything, so I hope we just continue on that same path."
Adding to the pitching aspect is freshman left-hander Kelsey Michelini, who threw a complete game shutout to lead the 'Necks to a 9-0 victory over Alabama State.
"It's a huge advantage," Van Vlymen said. "Laurie (Pankratz) and Kamren (Ferguson) are great pitchers, and then you've got Kelsey who's a freshman this year and she's a great pitcher too. She'll get some games in, but she'll be in relief a lot of times, which is great because she's a lefty."
Fortunately for Van Vlymen, she is faced with a situation a coach would enjoy being in. The 'Necks have featured a very balanced offense featuring 10 returning players and six players batting above .300.
"That's what we talk about; we like our team to be balanced," Van Vlymen said. "You can't just pitch around one or two people. There's somebody around every hitter."
Among those leading the team in batting average are senior infielder Julie DePolo and junior outfielder Beth Golitko.
"Julie and Beth are great hitters," Van Vlymen said. "Julie was our number two hitter for a while and she has been our leadoff for a couple games, and it's just nice to have her at the top of our order because she's just speed. And then Beth is kind of our second clean-up hitter. She's definitely come through in clutch situations."
The tournament should be a good test for the team after being off the field for almost two weeks. And with conference play approaching quickly, the ladies hope to fine-tune some of the smaller things.
"We enjoyed being in Georgia, playing on the grass and the dirt again," Van Vlymen said. "It'll be good to just get down there and play against some good competition."
Western's first game is Saturday at noon against Southern Illinois before facing SIU-E at 6 p.m. The following day has the 'Necks pitted against the Kansas Jayhawks at 9 a.m. before the finale against Illinois-Chicago at 1 p.m.
Be the first to comment on this story