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Tiger softball has no problem with Newman
4/22/2009
By CONOR NICHOLL cnicholl@dailynews.net
When Julie LeMaire took over the Fort Hays State University softball program last year, she inherited a team that lost six of its top seven hitters and returned just two starting position players. The team lost junior pitcher Jessica Hamilton to a season-ending injury and has seen its schedule constantly change because of weather.
Fort Hays, though, could post the most victories in the program since a record 35-win season in 2003. The Tigers swept a home doubleheader against Newman University on Tuesday afternoon at Tiger Stadium, 8-0, 8-0 and moved to 28-25.
"They have definitely come above and beyond my expectation as far as where we are going to go with the year," LeMaire said. "The girls have really made me so happy in terms of where we are at. If we can get a 30-win year, I am beyond ecstatic with all of that we have done as a team."
Fort Hays has had five head coaches since the Tiger softball program resuned in 1999. LeMaire's 28 wins are more than the three previous coaches in their first seasons and trail only Shane Steinkamp's 33 victories in 1999. LeMaire, in her first year as a head collegiate coach, could join Steinkamp as the only Tiger coaches to finish with a winning record in their first years.
"A lot of positions and then you had the travel on top of it," she said. "It's been a really trying year for the girls and has really tested some of them. ... I look back on these kids that didn't play or didn't play very much last year and they have just completely turned their game around and they are really being key players. It's really amazing to see how those kids have stepped up."
Against Newman, Fort Hays received help from senior Hallie McMillen and sophomore ace left-hander Kayla Rupa, the Tigers' only players that saw consistent time in 2008 and performed at a high level. McMillen had three hits and drove in four runs, while Rupa continued her record-setting year with a Game 2 shutout.
But the Tigers had contributions from a host of players that either struggled, were injured, or played little in 2008. Sophomore Sara Tani, a .199 hitter last season, went 3-for-8 with two runs scored and a big catch in center field.
"Last year we could rely on (Anna and Emily Herl) and (Jessika) Anastos to come through with big hits and multiple base hits," Tani said. "This year, I feel like it is more of a team effort. We can't hit the home run every game. We can't get that home run. We have to stay together, string some hits together and I feel like that has brought us a lot closer as a team, too."
Junior Adrian Mohr, hurt for most of last spring, tossed a Game 1 shutout and tripled. Senior Alex Eaton and junior Chelsea Luther, reserves last season, combined for four hits and two runs scored for a closer team than last year's squad under former coach Tonja Hadley.
"It's 360," Rupa said. "We get along on the field and off the field and last year we had a lot of drama. We all get along so well this year. It's a tremendous amount of help."
Fort Hays picked up its third and fourth victories of the season against Newman (2-39) with a big inning in each of the contests. The Tigers have now won four straight non-conference games headed into today's Senior Day doubleheader against Missouri Southern State University.
In Game 1, the Tigers tallied five runs in the first inning, including a two-run double from McMillen, an RBI single from freshman Erin Kinsey and a double from freshman catcher Cortney Brown. Mohr, who hit her MIAA-leading sixth triple, pitched a shutout and threw out a runner. Mohr, who saw 83 at-bats and 36 innings in 2008, moved to 12-8 in 1442รขÑ3 innings. She carries a .308 average in 182 at-bats.
In the second game, Rupa tossed a shutout and improved to 15-15, the third-most wins in program history. Rupa pitched her 23rd complete game of the season and broke the school mark. She also holds single-season school records for innings pitched (188) and strikeouts (170).
Rupa has benefited from a screwball that tails away from right-handers and a changeup that kept Newman hitters off balance. LeMaire made a recent change and the coaching staff started to call pitches from the dugout. The difference has yielded more changeups and a 4-1 record in Rupa's last five decisions.
"I feel like I have gotten better as the season has gone on," Rupa said. "I felt like I started off a little shaky, but have really picked up come conference time. I have really stepped up for my team."
Offensively, Tani, a slap hitter, batted .199 in 2008, carries a .347 mark and leads the Tigers in several categories.
In Game 2, Tani started a six-run rally when she singled to center. Tani also made a critical running, over-the-shoulder catch in the third inning to preserve the shutout.
"Staying inside the ball, especially on an outside pitch and staying straight to the pitcher," Tani said of her changes. "It's real easy, especially for a slapper to be moving towards the ball, a ball moving 60-some miles per hour, and then also staying straight to the pitcher. That is one of the hardest things that I struggle with."
Eaton, a reserve in 2008, saw little playing time and batted .189 in 53 at-bats. This spring, she has played a strong shortstop, batting .349, second-highest on the club, with five homers. Eaton singled twice in Game 2 and scored in the fifth. Luther, who has boosted her average 109 points in one season, contributed an RBI double and run scored in the fifth and continued a strong and surprising year for Fort Hays.
"Those two (McMillen and Eaton) are seniors, are the heart and soul of this team," LeMaire said. "They are the driving factor behind our girls. Alex wants it so bad and that is something that certianly makes her shine this year, the fact that she is definitely out to prove something. I just have been playing the last two years."
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |