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What Can The Red Hawks Do For An Encore?
Last year's Ripon softball team experienced the most successful season in the program's history, winning their first-ever Midwest Conference Championship and advancing to the NCAA Regional playoffs for the first time. Their dream season came to an end with a pair of losses in that double-elimination tournament, but that only gives the Red Hawks added motivation and determination to get back there this season.
"The team's goal is to make it to the NCAA Regionals again and we're not expecting anything less than that," head coach Jen Mueller said. "It will be a disappointment if we don't make it to Regionals."
The difference between last season and this season is a simple one. Last year, the Red Hawks were hoping to win the conference tournament and advance to the next stage on their quest for a Division III softball championship, whereas this season, Ripon expects to win the MWC Tournament.
"The players were kind of shocked when we won the conference tournament last year because they didn't know what to expect, but now that they know what it takes, they expect to be there," said Mueller.
Mueller herself gained valuable experience as an assistant coach on last year's team. This season, she takes over the head coaching reigns from Kelly Witte, who resigned after 11 outstanding seasons of roaming the Ripon dugout. Even with Witte gone, her presence is still felt, especially by Mueller, who soaked up a lot of her teachings both last year as an assistant coach and in her four years as a player under Witte.
"I'm taking over a great program at a great time and I wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for Coach Witte," Mueller said. "She's still helping the program by keeping in touch with the players and myself."
One thing that will continue to be the same under Mueller will be the Red Hawk's pitching and defense, which they have prided themselves on for years. Last year's team set a school record for team fielding percentage (.947) and were fourth in the record books for earned run average (2.35).
The pitching staff will once again be anchored by senior Andrea Knorr (Neenah, Wis./Neenah), who is entering her second season as the team's ace after being named the 2008 Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Year. She is coming off a season that saw her strikeout a school record 96 batters, giving her 186 for her career. Knorr enters the 2009 season needing just 40 strikeouts to break the career record, which is held by Coach Mueller. In addition to her strikeouts, Knorr also finished 2008 with 13 of the team's 20 wins and a team-best ERA of 2.14.
Ripon will also rely heavily on sophomore pitcher Brittnee Peotter (Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna), who had a breakout season a year ago. Peotter recorded the third-most strikeouts (83) in a single season by a Red Hawks pitcher. That included Ripon's top two single-game performances, striking out 14 batters against Carroll and 12 against Lake Forest in the clinching game of the Midwest Conference Tournament.
"Andrea and Brittnee complement each other very well. If one is struggling, we can put the other one in and vice versa," Mueller said. "It's basically like having two aces on our pitching staff."
Freshman Alicia Miller (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac) will give the pitching staff some added depth and could allow Andrea and Brittnee to get some rest when needed.
One key to the pitcher's success is catcher Jessica Goudreau (New London, Wis./Shiocton). The junior is entering her third year as a starter behind the plate, where she has been about as reliable as they come. Last season, Goudreau made just three errors for a fielding percentage of .987, which is the fourth best fielding percentage for a season in school history. She was also an asset at the plate, where she batted .301 with two doubles, two home runs and 13 RBI, en route to being named Second Team All-Conference. As good as she was in those areas, it is her relationship with the pitchers that is one of her greatest attributes.
"Jessica helps our pitchers tremendously. She'll slow the game down if she needs to and calls timeouts for the pitchers to talk to them on the mound if they're struggling," said Mueller.
Adding depth at catcher will be freshman Hayley Freimuth (Combined Locks, Wis./Kaukauna) and sophomore Alli Jensen (Shawano, Wis./Shawano Community), who made the most of her opportunities last season, tying school records for hits (4) and runs (4) in a single game, while adding four RBI in that contest against MSOE.
The infield is bolstered by senior shortstop Natalie Geenen (Appleton, Wis./East), who has become one of the most feared hitters in the MWC. Geenen has been named MWC Player of the Year in each of the past two seasons and has been named First Team All-Conference in all three of her seasons. Last year, Geenen led the team with a .411 batting average, to go along with team-highs of nine doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 82 total bases and a slugging percentage of .766. She also added 21 RBI, which was second on the team.
Geenen is on the verge of owning the Ripon career record book. Entering this season, she ranks in the top 10 in nine different offensive statistical categories. She is second in career home runs (14) and doubles (26), while ranking fourth in batting average (.372), hits (119), runs scored (70) and triples (6). Along with her outstanding production on the field, Geenen will also be looked upon as more of a leader this season after the graduation of Krista Shafer.
"Krista was last year's captain and the vocal leader of the team, so that will be a huge loss, but Natalie will take Krista's place as the team leader," Mueller said. "She's already assumed more of a leadership role in our practices and has a great work ethic that makes the other players try that much harder."
To replace Shafer at second base, the Red Hawks will look no further than behind the plate, where they will ask their catchers to split time in the middle infield. Goudreau may see some time at second, along with Freimuth and fellow freshman Meaghan Boswell (Mason, Wis./Drummond).
At first base, Ripon returns junior Jackie Reichhart (Cedarburg, Wis./Cedarburg), who has been named Second Team All-Conference in both of her seasons with the Red Hawks. Last season, Reichhart led the team with 24 RBI, to go along with a .391 batting average and eight doubles. She is sixth in school history in batting average (.346), while ranking seventh for doubles in a career (14).
"We're looking for Jackie to step up even more after having a great season last year," Mueller said. "She'll probably bat cleanup and will also be looked at to take more of a leadership role."
At the other corner infield spot, the Red Hawks will look to sophomore Abby Richeson (Appleton, Wis./West), who may also see some time at second. As a freshman, Richeson started 33 of Ripon's 34 games, hitting two home runs, while driving in 10 runs and stealing six bases. Another option at third could be Boswell.
In the outfield, Ripon returns two players, sophomores Megan Sockness (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) and Ashley Kirst (West Bend, Wis./East).
Sockness will likely take over for the graduated Mary Friend in center field after playing the majority of last season in right. She started all 34 games for the Red Hawks a year ago, scoring 12 runs and batting in seven more while also stealing four bases. Kirst will remain in leftfield and will add plenty of speed to the team after swiping six bases last year.
"Megan already has one year of experience and is the most vocal outfielder on our team, which makes her the perfect fit for center," Mueller said. "Ashley also got some good experience last season and is working hard to get better, which is beginning to show on the field."
Right field could be split among a few different players. Sophomore Kylie Ainslie (Decatur, Ga./Decatur) is one possibility after batting .211 with four RBI last year. Freimuth is another possibility for the corner outfield spot, along with fellow freshman Heather Vancuyk (Appleton, Wis./North).
In addition to the strong pitching and fielding, the Red Hawks also excel on the base paths where they led the conference with 39 stolen bases on 44 attempts last season. Adding to that speed will be freshman Dana Knorr (Neenah, Wis./Neenah), who will add some versatility to the team by playing several different positions, as well as pinch running. Jensen and Ainslie may also be called upon to pinch run.
Ripon's defense of their Midwest Conference title will begin in the second week of March with nine games in seven days in Clermont, Florida and could very well culminate on the Red Hawk's home field, as this year's MWC Tournament will be hosted by the MWC North Division Champion, with a return trip to the NCAA Regionals on the line.
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