2009 Softball Season Preview

Head coach Kate Barrick begins her second season at the helm for the Hood College softball program and hopes that this year will breed better results and strengthen the Blazers’ competitive presence in the Capital Athletic Conference in 2009.

With one full season of participation in the CAC behind her, Barrick believes her core of seven key returning veterans, coupled with top freshman recruits, will help lead the team to a winning record in the upcoming season.

“We can’t take anyone for granted in this conference,” said Barrick. “We need to maintain aggressiveness and confidence against the CAC powerhouses like Salisbury, York, and Mary Washington. As long as we keep the desire, everything will fall into place.”

Returning seniors Jamie Gardner, Katherine Law, Ashley Lenhart, Sara Wastler, and Jen Lacy made a huge impact for the Blazers last year statistically and hope to make an even better impression in their final collegiate season. It is the experience of the returning players and the eagerness of the freshmen to contribute that Barrick believes will round out the team and show off their different strengths and great flexibility.

Gardner, the team’s go-to pitcher, will finally get some relief this season with the Blazers’ top recruit, Bridgette Ringley, assisting on the mound. Gardner owns virtually every career pitching record and has been the team’s workhouse on the mound since her arrival in 2005-06. Also handy with the bat, she hit .354, led the team with 26 RBI and tied for second on the team with 28 basehits last year.

Ringley, from Boonsboro, Md., showed promise in the preseason as a dominant force on the mound and at the commanding shortstop position. Another key element to the depth of the Blazers’ bullpen is freshman Devon Markowitz from Woodbine, Md.

Gardner’s younger sister, junior Stephanie Gardner, will help control the other end of the battery, along with sophomore Krista Zerby and senior Jess Krietz. Zerby battled an ankle injury that sidelined her for most of last season and is hopeful to come out strong this year behind the plate.

Krietz took the season off last year and is adamant about making a presence for herself on the team in her final year of competition. Krietz has been a strong catcher for the Blazers in previous years and finishes her softball career with two other Catoctin High School alums, seniors Lenhart and Wastler.

Lenhart will continue to command the outfield for the Blazers in center and intends to remain successful at the plate this year. A switch-hitter, she hit .322, registered 28 basehits and led the team with 10 stolen bases last year. Supporting Lenhart in the outfield will be newcomers Jacquie LeMar and Emalie Stroup, along with returning sophomore Sam Smith and junior Jen Willison. Willison led the Blazers at the plate with a .417 batting average in 2008.

Wastler has been the quiet force for the Blazers at the shortstop position ever since beginning her career at Hood and has drastically impacted the record books. Hood’s career leader in at-bats (329), runs (91), hits (130) and doubles (36), she had the team’s second-highest batting average at .416.

Law will be on the other side of the middle infield and made an easy transition from the outfield last year, immediately impacting the diamond defensively and as a lead-off hitter. Lacy, a senior transfer in her second season with the Blazers, is a solid utility player that will contribute at first base and the outfield.

Barrick’s goals for the upcoming season are to increase the team’s batting average, maintain more consistency at the plate, maintain confidence and team chemistry and obtain a winning record in the conference. “If we play to our potential,” said Barrick, “we can do great things.”