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Red Hawks Set Their Sights High In 2010
The Ripon College softball program had one of their most successful seasons during the 2009 season. They won 20 games for the second consecutive season, which included a school record 12-1 conference record. They also hosted the Midwest Conference Tournament for the first time in school history, thanks to finishing first in the MWC North Division. The only thing missing was an MWC Championship, which the Red Hawks had won the year before, as underdogs.
"The pressure wasn't on us when we won the Tournament at Lake Forest, but last year every team was coming to beat us," said head softball coach Jen Mueller. "We felt the pressure and the players have to get over that. It's just a matter of executing."
The Red Hawks needed to win one of the final two games in last year's MWC Tournament in order to win their second consecutive title and earn a berth to the NCAA Regional Playoffs, but lost both games to
St. Norbert College by a combined three runs.
"The players on our team know what it feels like to win a conference championship, so falling short last year was a very disappointing feeling," said Mueller. "We expected to win it, so ever since the loss in the MWC Championship game, the players have been talking about getting past that point and back to the NCAA Regionals."
In order to do that, the Red Hawks will have to fill leadership roles vacated by graduated seniors Natalie Geenen and Andrea Knorr, who rank among the top five in nearly every hitting and pitching statistical category, respectively. Among those who will be assuming that leadership role will be the trio of senior Jessica Goudreau (New London, Wis./Shiocton) and juniors Alli Jensen (Shawano, Wis./Shawano Community) and Ashley Kirst (West Bend, Wis./West Bend East).
"Ashley will bring a lot of leadership to the team. She leads by example and is able to help the team remain focused when they need to," said Mueller. "Alli and Jessica are our two catchers and will be the vocal leaders. Jessica was a captain last year, so she's used to that role."
Goudreau, who batted .228 with four RBI and six runs scored in 19 games last season, missed the second half of the year because of injury. Jensen then came in to start the final 15 games behind the plate, en route to an MWC North Second Team selection. She batted .286 with three home runs, 13 RBI and 13 runs scored.
"Jessica is in complete control of the game behind the plate, which was the biggest thing we missed when she wasn't playing last year. She may play some shortstop as well, which is when Alli will see some time behind the plate," Mueller said.
Pitching to Goudreau and Jensen will be junior Brittnee Peotter (Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna), who could be considered the most dominant pitcher in school history when her career is over. In just two years with the Red Hawks, Peotter ranks fourth in Ripon history for career strikeouts with 208, needing 64 more to surpass Knorr's school record, which was set last season. Peotter holds seven of the top 10 strikeout performances in school history, including a 14-strkeout outing, which is the most punchouts by a Red Hawk in a single game. She also ranks fourth in school history for career ERA.
Peotter is coming off a season that saw her earn MWC North First Team honors, going 10-6 with an ERA of 2.08 and seven complete games. She also set Ripon's single season strikeout record with 125.
"If Brittany has everything working on the mound, she's one of the most dominant pitchers in the Midwest Conference," said Mueller. "As long as she remains confident, she knows that she can pitch to anyone."
Senior Jackie Reichhart (Cedarburg, Wis./Cedarburg) joins Goudreau as a four-year starter, with this being her third year at first base. After being named to the MWC North First Team a year ago, Reichhart, who has earned an All-Conference nod in each of the past three seasons will once again bat in the heart of the Ripon lineup. She already ranks third in school history for doubles in a career, while ranking seventh in RBI and eighth in batting average. Last season, Reichhart started all 34 games, batting .299 with nine doubles, 11 runs scored and a team-high 23 RBI.
"Jackie is another person we can count on to be a vocal leader," said Mueller. "She is someone that will get a big hit when we need it. She has driven in some runs in key situations over the past few years."
At second base, Ripon will have to replace
Hayley Freimuth, who transferred to UW-Oshkosh after starting 29 games last year as a freshman. Sophomore Maeghen Boswell (Mason, Wis./Drummond) will likely see significant time there, after batting .228 last year with four doubles, one triple, seven RBI and seven runs scored.
"Boswell stepped in at the end of last season and did a tremendous job," said Mueller. "Freshman Brianna Draeger (Manawa, Wis./Little Wolf) could also play some second base, with Kirst seeing some time there when she's not in the outfield."
The second half of the middle infield will be made up of freshman Stephanie Rieuwpassa (Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan), who will have to fill Geenen's shoes at shortstop. Rieuwpassa will also battle for the team's number two pitching spot.
"Stephanie has a great deal of speed and could steal a lot of bases because she gets a great jump on the basepaths and she's very good defensively," Mueller said.
When Stephanie takes the mound, Goudreau will likely be placed at the shortstop position, which won't be as big a transition as some people may think.
"Jessica played shortstop all through high school, but made the switch to catcher her freshman year at Ripon because she was the most athletic person on the team," said Mueller. "She'll have the opportunity to play there once again, during the games that Stephanie pitches."
Junior Abby Richeson (Appleton, Wis./Appleton West) will round out the infield in this, her third consecutive season as the starter at third base. In just two full seasons, Richeson is already tied for fifth on Ripon's career home run list, with four. Last season, she batted .244 with three doubles, one triple, two home runs, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored, while also swiping three bases.
"If Abby can be more consistent, she will hit well over .300. She'll need to drive in runners when they get on base in front of her," Mueller said. "Defensively, she's looking great, which is a huge advantage for our team."
Ripon's outfield will be one of the most experienced in the conference, as juniors Kirst and Megan Sockness (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) have been starting since their freshman seasons. Kirst, who batted .226 with three doubles, eight RBI and 16 runs scored last season, will roam centerfield, while Sockness will once again be in right after being named to the MWC North Second Team a year ago.
"Our outfield will be strong because of the communication and continuity that they have together," said Mueller. "Kirst is the hardest worker on the team and is a great communicator, which will help our entire outfield, and Sockness is coming off a great season where she started hitting really well at the crossover tournament and continued that great play for the rest of the season."
Sockness finished the season with a .293 batting average, three doubles, 14 RBI and 18 runs scored, but was most impressive during the final 10 games of the regular season. In that span, Sockness batted .462 (12-26) with 12 RBI and 12 runs scored. She was one of many players on the team that came on down the stretch, helping the Red Hawks win 11 consecutive games.
"Last year, we had a lot of younger players in the lineup, so it took them about half the season before their bats came alive and they kept that going for the rest of the season," said Mueller. "They gained more confidence because of last season and know they can beat any team and win any game."
The third outfield spot is up for grabs and could be split between a number of players. Vying for the leftfield position will be Boswell and Draeger, with the possibility of junior Kylie Ainslie (Decatur, Ga./Decatur) earning some playing time.
"Kylie will see some time in the outfield and will be Jackie's back-up at first base," said Mueller. "She is also the leading candidate for the Designated Player position."
Adding some depth to the team will be sophomore Alicia Miller (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac), who will battle for the number two spot in the pitching rotation and will earn some pinch hit at-bats off the bench.
Other than Rieuwpassa and Draeger, this year's Red Hawks features three other fresh faces in freshmen Amanda Virtue (Lake Mills, Wis./Lake Mills), Olivia Hallmark (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) and Mayna Muenchow (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam).
"This year's group of freshmen are very hard workers and they all push the upperclassmen to try even harder," Mueller said.
Ripon's season will begin with a nine-game stretch in Florida from March 13-20. Much like last year, the Red Hawks will have their work cut out for them, as they'll face four teams that are ranked in the Division-III top 25 poll, including the number one ranked and defending national champion Messiah College.
"We do schedule tough competition in Florida because it makes our team better in the long run. Our players can learn from any mistakes they may make and correct it, so they don't make the same mistake during the conference season."
When they arrive back to Wisconsin, Ripon will travel to Moline, Ill. to take part in the Augustana (Ill.) Invitational from March 27-28. The Red Hawks will open their home schedule on April 3 with their conference opening doubleheader against Carroll University.
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