Softball Lions hoping 2005 is breakout year

After compiling an overall record of 42-52 in her first two years as head coach of the Missouri Southern State University women’s softball team, Jennifer Jimerson believes this season could be a breakout year for the Lions.

Most of the players on the Southern roster are players Jimerson has recruited. Only two players remain from the 2002 club coached by Ron Faubion – Alese Woolard and Mary Barrow.

Missouri Southern returns seven letterwinners from last year’s squad that finished 19-27 overall and 4-14 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). Jimerson and assistant coach Crystal Turner have brought in two junior college transfers and five freshmen from outstanding high school programs.

Jimerson wants to return the program to the stature it enjoyed under long-time coach Pat Lipira. Jimerson was a key part of that program for four years (1995-98). A four-year starter, she was a four-time all-MIAA selection and an All-American. She still holds Southern’s career records for triples (31), walks (56) and total bases (353) and ranks among the career leaders in eight other categories. She was the MIAA’s most valuable player in 1998 after batting .415 and clubbing a school- and MIAA-record 15 triples. She also had 12 doubles, four home runs and drove in 36 runs.

The Southern coach believes she has the ingredients for an exciting team in 2005.

“Overall, this could be the fastest team we’ve had,” she points out. “But we also have some players who can hit with power. Also, we’ve recruited some players who can play anywhere on the field defensively. If we can find the right fit and make some things happen, I feel that we can finish in the top three in our conference, It won’t be easy because the conference will be extra competitive this year.”

Missouri Southern will challenge its conference and nonconference rivals with a squad of 14 players: two seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen.

Coach Jimerson discussed her players, starting with the newcomers.

Trish Masters, junior infielder-outfielder, Rowlett, Texas/Texarkana Community College: “Trish adds a new dimension to our offense. She’s a slapper who can also hit with power from the left side. She’s deceptively quick; she’s a tall player (5-9) with long legs and gets down to first base very quick. She’s very versatile on defense and will play either shortstop or in the outfield. She’s very talented and will be a great addition to our program. She actually played with (senior pitcher) Amy Schneider when they were younger. That’s how we heard about her. We anticipate her coming in and stepping into a key role.”

Katy Owsley, junior pitcher, Grandview, Mo./Highland Community College: “Katy was a walk-on for us last fall, but she stepped in and did a really good job. She throws hard and developed a really nice changeup. We expect her to give us some quality innings on the mound. She’s right around the plate and hits her spots. And she throws it hard enough that when she gets it inside and high, (hitters) will have a tough time getting around on it.”

Julie (J.T.) Taylor, freshman outfielder, Springfield, Mo./Glendale High School: “She’s the shortest (4 feet, 11 inches) player on the roster, but she’s probably also the fastest. People joked that I recruited her because she was shorter than me. But she’s extremely strong and finished third in the nation in Junior Olympic weight training and was invited to Colorado Springs to train at the Olympics Training Center. She can hit the ball with power (16 triples and 15 doubles during prep career) and most likely will play an outfield position for us.”

Ashton Turner, freshman catcher-third baseman, Kansas City, Mo./Raytown High School: “Ashton is the sister of my assistant coach Crystal Turner and is the youngest of five. She didn’t play her senior year in high school, but decided that she really loved the game and wanted to get back playing. She also expressed at interest in our dental hygiene program, which we have a very strong program here at Missouri Southern. She’s really going to step in and take on a very big role for us. She’s our No. 2 catcher and she’s a good third baseman. She’s a power hitter who has the potential to hit the ball out of the park consistently. She has a great attitude and has done a great job for us.”

Shae Wolfe, freshman outfielder, Tulsa, Okla. /Coweta High School: “She’s a player who was overlooked by a lot of schools but has done a great job for us. She’s one of our speedsters. We’re looking at her playing some outfield for us. She played some in center and some in right last fall. She can run down balls in the outfield and has some power at the plate.”

Megan Baker, freshman infielder, Belton, Mo./Belton High School: “One of the most versatile defensive players we have. She was a pitcher and shortstop in high school, but she’ll play second for us. She’s a quality kid and has great bat control. She’ll be a quiet leader on our team and could play anywhere in the infield or outfield.”

Jamie Blalock, freshman utility player, Broken Arrow, Okla. /Broken Arrow High School: “She had tremendous success at Broken Arrow High School and played on three Class 6A state championship teams. She can play anywhere on the field and started in left field for us in the fall. She did an outstanding job, threw runners out at the plate and made some diving catches. She has the potential to be a great player in college. She’s extremely fast and extremely aggressive. She has the potential to hit the ball out of the park and she has the ability to drop a bunt down and beat it out.”

Callie Stanford, junior pitcher, Webb City, Mo., Webb City High School: “Callie is really coming along with her pitching. She’s struggled some the last couple years, but she did a good job for us last fall. Callie is a special kid; she has a great outlook on life and on herself. I believe the challenges that she’s faced over the last couple years have made her into a stronger player as well as a stronger person. When you come through adversity, it makes you look at life a little differently. I believe Callie will come into her own this year. She has a revived confidence on the mound and we expect some good things out of her this year.”

Mary Barrow, senior catcher, Muskogee, Okla. /Hilldale High School: “We anticipate her leading us in offense this year. She has been a consistent hitter for us over the years. She has power but she can also execute the bunt. She brings a lot to the younger kids by helping lead them through her knowledge of the teams we’ll be playing. She’s been our catcher since her sophomore year and has done a great job back there. We’re going to look to Mary to lead the younger kids we’ll be playing. She played really well and was leading us in offense, defense, everything until she hurt her knee last year and had to miss all of our conference games. We’re excited to have her back behind the plate again.”

Alese Woolard, senior infielder, Claremore, Okla. /Oologah High School: “She’s played several different places for us the last three years. This year we’re looking at her playing short and in the outfield. She’s been an all-region player for us. She has tremendous stats, but struggled a little bit last year. But we anticipate her coming out of that slump she struggled through last year. She will be a key player for us offensively as well as defensively. And, like Mary, we’ll look to Alese for leadership.”

Racheal Bowen, sophomore first baseman, Lansing, Kan./Lansing High School: “She was a little bit of a surprise offensively last year. She ended the year and spent most of the conference season batting in the four hole for us. She was a kid who hadn’t been known for her offensive talents coming out of high school and summer ball, but she worked really hard on her swing and developed into a nice hitter. We anticipate her being in the middle of the lineup and playing a solid first base. It’s great having a left-handed first baseman. She has extremely soft hands and can dig out a lot of balls. I look for her to take off this year after kind of feeling her way as a freshman last year.”

Shari Gates, sophomore third baseman, Muskogee, Okla. /Hilldale High School: “She played third base for us last year and will get time there last year. She really surprised us, too, last year. She came out in the first couple tournaments, hit a home run and had some key hits. She’s a kid we’re going to look to to hit the ball out of the park or get the sacrifice fly to drive in the runner from third. She’s really come along on her defense and has gotten quicker and has more range. It takes a special person to play third. It takes a player who is fearless and has good reactions.”

Erin Gfeller, sophomore outfielder, Overland Park, Kan., Olathe East High School: “Erin, like Alese, just came off playing for our soccer team. She has a renewed energy this spring. Obviously, soccer got Erin, and Alese, in great shape for us. Erin worked a lot on her own last summer and during the Christmas break to get ready for this season. We can tell that she’s been working hard on her skills. She definitely has the mentality to play centerfield, a position she played for us last year. She wants the ball; she wants to make the plays. We look for her to lead our younger outfielders in doing what is expected of them.”

Amy Schneider, junior pitcher, Garland, Texas, Collin County Community College: “Amy did a good job for us last year, but she’s been struggling since November of 2003 with a bulging disc in her back. That’s something we have to be very conscious of. Our pitching staff is going to lead us to where we go this year. There’s not going to be one person that can do it all. Amy would love to be out there leading us every game but physically she can’t do that and last the whole season. We anticipate a lot out of Callie (Stanford) and Katy (Owsley) to help when Amy’s back is having problems. When Amy’s feeling well and she’s throwing well, she does a great job for us. Her best pitch is the screwball which you don’t see a lot in our league. She has a screwball that can break in our a batter’s hands really well.”

Missouri Southern’s schedule features four regular-season tournaments, including an annual tournament, newly-named the Teri (Mathis) Zenner Memorial Classic, and presented by Hampton Inn and Ott’s Foods, March 11-12. The tournament name has been changed this year to honor the late Southern softball player Teri Mathis who was murdered last summer.

The classic will feature two five-team pools. Missouri Southern is entered in the Green Pool with Northwest Missouri State, Southwestern Oklahoma State, University of Missouri-Rolla and Northern State (S.D.) University. White Pool entries are Pittsburg State University, Washburn University, Southwest Baptist University, Oklahoma City University and University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Other tournaments on the Southern schedule include the Central Arkansas Spring Clash at Conway Feb. 18-19, the Henderson State Classic on Feb. 25-26, the Missouri Western Classic in St. Joseph March 5-6 and the Pittsburg State Classic April 16-17.

The Lions make their debut at home on March 8 with an MIAA doubleheader against Southwest Baptist University.

“We have an attractive home schedule this year,” Jimerson said. “In addition to our classic, we’ll play five conference doubleheaders at home, plus home games with Bemidji (Minn.) State, Bacone (Okla.) University, and Northeastern State (Okla.) University.”