Tigers Hope to Improve on Last Years Preformance

Ashley Lands

The 2005 Wittenberg softball team hopes to keep the ball rolling and take back the North Coast Athletic Conference. The Tigers are coming off two solid seasons in which they were in the NCAC regular season and tournament title chases throughout, but they are looking to take home the championship this year. Ten returning players are back in the fold and, combined with a solid recruiting class, Head Coach Becky Hall hopes she has another contender in 2005.

The Tigers will miss 2004 NCAC Player of the Year Carmen Montgomery and two other seniors. However, the 2005 edition of the Tiger softball team hopes to overcome those losses, led by three seniors and a super sophomore. That group starts with pitcher/utility player Norah Gillam (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield), a three-time All-NCAC selection and the only active player on last year's NCAC 20th Anniversary All-Decade Team. Versatile senior Jen Meyer (Solon, Ohio/Hathaway Brown) returns to the top of the lineup and the infield this year. Senior outfielder Ashley Lands (Dover, Ohio/Dover), who hit .356 a year ago, and sophomore shortstop Stephanie Zorn (Grapevine, Texas/Colleyville), who ranked among the team leaders in almost every offensive category last year en route to second-team All-NCAC honors, are the other top returning players.

Gillam, who led Wittenberg with 11 wins and a 2.00 earned run average in 2004, is the team's unquestioned ace on the mound, and she will be backed by sophomoreGrace Wigton (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Christian), who appeared in five games while posting a record of 1-1 a year ago. The Tigers will also receive pitching support from freshman Taryn Hensel (Marion, Ohio/Ridgedale) and sophomore Meghan Campbell (Marion, Ohio/Ridgedale), who did not take the mound last year in her role as a reserve outfielder.

Sophomores Jamie Bockelman (Enon, Ohio/Greenon) and Erin Collinsworth (Springfield, Ohio/Central Catholic) will split time at catcher in 2005. Among those battling for time alongside Meyer and Zorn on the infield are freshmen Amy Myser (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Sarah Fetters (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee)and sophomore Courtney Dancer (Swanton, Ohio/Swanton). Fetters will get looks in the outfield as well, as will freshmen Nicole Ottavi (Columbus, Ohio/Whetstone)and Kristin Sprecklemeier (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) and sophomore Lucy Huelsman (Wellington, Ohio/Wellington).

With nine of the first 11 games away from home, including eight on a Spring Break trip to Orange County, Calif., the Tigers will be tested early. The season opens with a Monday morning game against Lake Erie.