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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon Season Outlook
February 20, 2006 | Softball
Feb. 20, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - As the spring of 2006 draws ever closer, optimism is high in the Bowling Green State University softball camp. The Falcons of head coach Leigh Ross return 14 letterwinners, including seven positional starters, from a year ago.
Last year's team was one of the most youthful in the nation, with nearly 71 percent of the players in their freshman or sophomore years. That tied the Falcons for 27th in the country.
This year, after losing just one senior, the 17-woman BGSU roster features 11 players who hold junior or senior status. Ross feels the five seniors have the potential and the determination to lead the Falcons to a second Mid-American Conference Tournament title in three years.
"We have some key seniors back," said Ross, who enters her eighth season as head coach. "Four of those players are fourth-year starters, with a MAC Player of the Year and MAC Pitcher of the Year in that mix. Obviously, that's a good base to start from.
"Our message to the girls this year is that we're not young any more. Sometimes in the past, we have played up and down, and we have made excuses for ourselves. I think everyone is aware of that. No one wants to make any excuses; they are working hard to get the job done."
Any discussion of the 2006 Falcons should begin with seniors Gina Rango and Liz Vrabel, each of whom took home a top league honor last spring. Rango was the MAC Player of the Year, while Vrabel was named the conference's pitcher of the year.
The Falcons are the first team in MAC history to return both the reigning league player and pitcher of the year.
Abby Habicht and Lindsay Heimrich, like Rango and Vrabel, have been in the starting lineup since their freshman season. Natalie Armintrout rounds out the group of fourth-year Falcons.
"Look at this senior class," said Ross. "What a special group. You've got a nice combination of kids, who are very close, and very determined. They don't want to stop playing softball, and every day, they are thinking about the fact that the end of their senior year is just a few months away. They are dedicated players and hard workers, and the most important thing to them is that the team do well. It's nice to have seniors with that attitude."
In addition to those five seniors, there are six juniors who were a part of the 2004 team that reeled off five-straight wins at the MAC Tournament to capture the title. The group experienced that high, then felt the frustration of falling short of the title last spring.
The 2005 club went 29-30 overall, finishing MAC play with a 12-10 league mark. The Brown and Orange got consistent pitching in virtually every one of the 59 games, but the offensive production was a bit more sporadic, as BGSU was shut out on 16 occasions. When scoring two or more runs last year, the Falcons had a record of 28-7.
"I never went into a game last year feeling like we couldn't win," said Ross. "We just didn't know which BG team to expect from game to game.
"We played against some tough teams, and we played very well against some tough teams. We have nearly every person back, and - combined with three highly-talented freshmen - I feel that, player for player, we can compete with anyone."
To follow is a positional analysis of the 2006 Falcons ...
PITCHER
Ross and assistant coach Kyle Jamieson welcome back three hurlers who combined to throw nearly 93 percent of the innings in 2005. Jamieson, who enters his third season handling the pitching staff, has helped the Falcons post an earned-run average of below 2.00 in each of his first two springs.
Vrabel is back after earning the MAC's top pitching honor in '05. She led the league in both ERA and strikeouts, setting a school record in the latter category with 237. Her 1.75 ERA on the season dropped to just 1.15 in MAC games and a microscopic 0.33 in the league tournament.
"Liz is arguably the most dominant pitcher in the MAC," said Jamieson. "Each year she has continued to put up better numbers. And, with her work ethic and ability, there is no reason that shouldn't continue.
"We know that, with this being her senior year, Liz just wants the ball. We will count on her to throw a bulk of the innings this year, and she will give all she has every time she steps into the circle.
"Liz has learned over her three-plus years here that it is not how hard you throw the ball, but where you throw it. She has continually improved her location, and when she combines her speed with her ability to hit spots, she is a very, very tough pitcher to hit."
While Vrabel may be the marquee name on the pitching staff, she is by no means the only talented returnee. Heimrich and sophomore Emily Gouge are back after combining for 11 wins in the circle a year ago. Heimrich had eight complete games among her 12 starts, and had a stellar weekend in Las Vegas, with three wins and a MAC Pitcher-of-the-Week honor. Her wins at that tournament included a two-hit shutout of Pacific and a three-hit blanking of Minnesota.
Heimrich, however, was slowed by injuries for most of the remainder of the season, but still finished among the MAC's top-20 pitchers in ERA. She is looking to return to full health and the form of her first two seasons at BG.
"Lindsay's injuries reduced her innings last year," said Jamieson. "But, when she did get the ball, she showed that she is a very tough lefty who can be very successful. Lindsay often gets overlooked on our staff, but she is very good at keeping the ball down and hitting her spots.
"I have full confidence in throwing Lindsay against any opponent, because no matter who we are playing she always has the same presence - calming, yet determined - on the mound."
Gouge is back after a freshman season which saw her post six wins and finish sixth in the league with a 2.11 ERA. After splitting time with several other hurlers early on, she took the number-two slot after Heimrich's injury, and showed good composure for a freshman. Gouge allowed opponents to hit just .184 against her in conference play.
"Gouge got some valuable innings and experience as a freshman," said Jamieson. "And, she became more and more confident each time out. She has four great pitches, and when she has them working, she has the ability to make hitters look silly.
"Now, as with any pitcher, we just want to work on her getting ahead of the hitters early in the count, because she can be even more effective in such situations. With a year under her belt, we know Gouge will be able to help us a great deal."
The lone newcomer to the pitching staff is Hayley Wiemer, a native of Sylvania, Ohio, with the potential to make an immediate impact. Wiemer helped her St. Ursula Academy teams to great success in multiple sports, and her college coaches feel that she has the attitude, talent and demeanor to become a key cog in the Falcon softball machine.
"We are very excited about Hayley's potential," said Jamieson. "She is a big, strong pitcher who is very intimidating on the mound. She has worked very hard on her spins and her drop ball throughout the fall, and the addition of a change-up will make every other pitch she throws seem that much faster. Hayley's addition to our program makes an already-strong pitching staff even stronger."
CATCHER
Habicht returns for her fourth year as the starter behind the plate. She struggled offensively for much of her junior season, but has taken runs away from opponent offenses with her defensive skills and her handling of the pitching staff. Ross and Jamieson have let Habicht call more and more games as the years have gone by, and Habicht's presence gives the Falcons, in essence, a coach on the field.
"Abby has really taken charge for us," said Ross. "She is a good all-around player with a great knowledge of the game, and she does a lot of things that you just can't teach. She has worked hard on her offense during the off-season, and we are looking for improvement there. But, her defense is just so valuable for us, and she has the ability to make our pitchers better."
Freshmen Desiree Miller and Wendy Sheehan will have the chance to work some innings at catcher during their initial season in Northwest Ohio. Miller is a product of Marlington H.S. in the Alliance area, while Sheehan hails from Orange, Calif., and attended El Modena H.S. Sheehan has the potential to swing a big bat, and could also see time at first base or in the outfield.
"Desiree Miller is exciting to watch," said Ross. "She's a leader, and she has this spunk, this attitude behind the plate. She's got all the tools to be a successful catcher, and will really benefit with a year to work with Abby. Desiree is open to learning, and wants to do whatever it takes to earn a spot. She and Wiemer are a great combination, and I'm looking forward to seeing what those two can become during their time at BG.
"Wendy Sheehan is a catcher-utility type of player, and had a very good fall. She has great offensive potential, because she usually makes good contact, and has power. Wendy is capable of hitting the ball well and driving in some runs for us, and that could be key to her finding a spot on the field."
INFIELD
Heimrich, when not pitching, will have the opportunity to return to the first-base position she has held down since her freshman year. Junior Allison Vallas also spent time at first last year, but likely will see the bulk of her 2006 time in the outfield.
Heimrich, despite being slowed by her injuries, still ranked fourth on the team in hitting. As a sophomore, a healthy Heimrich hit .293 with 29 runs batted in. Also an asset defensively, she has a career fielding percentage of .981, with just 15 errors in over 800 total chances.
"What more can I say about Lindsay?" asked Ross, rhetorically. "She has always been a very solid first baseman, and she has always helped us offensively. We know she will be in the lineup, as she is the type of kid that always works hard, does everything right and makes the kids around her better. It's just a matter of her staying healthy, but she is a dream player for any coach to have."
At second base, Megan McPherson is back for her junior year, having earned All-MAC Second-Team honors a year ago. McPherson showed glimpses of greatness as a freshman, but blossomed as a sophomore, hitting nearly .300 while displaying solid leadership qualities as well.
"Megan has really developed into the player I hoped she would," said Ross. "I knew that, defensively, she would come in and make an impact right away. But, she really made positive strides as our leadoff hitter last year. She is a field general; she is loud out there, and she has matured to the point that her teammates look to her as a positive leader. She is a good communicator, and a fun player to watch. Megan is always diving, scrapping and hustling, and pushing her teammates to do the same."
Sophomore Dawnjene DeLong, after splitting time at shortstop last year, looks to hold down that spot in `06. A slick fielder, DeLong hopes to increase her offensive production, but her coach is not overly concerned about that area of her game.
"D.J. knows that we would like to see a little bit of offensive improvement," said Ross. "But, she is so important, defensively, that we don't want her to worry too much about the offensive part. I think she will do well, and will give us what we need. She platooned at short last year, and the additional time this year - seeing more pitches, taking more reps in practice - should help her confidence and her game in all areas."
At third base, Rango is back after three of the most successful offensive seasons in school history. The first player in school history to earn all-region first-team honors three times, Rango was named to the Easton All-American Third Team last year after hitting .366 and leading the Falcons in five other offensive categories.
Rango enters her senior year already holding the BGSU career records for batting average, homers, RBI and slugging percentage, and she is ranked on a total of 11 career lists. She and her coaches are looking to make her final season her most memorable.
"Gina Rango was the league player of the year last season, and it might not even have been her best year here," said Ross. "If there is one kid that lives to play softball, it's Gina.
"Sometimes, in the past, Gina has felt this pressure to do everything on offense. But, as she has matured, she has understood how successful she, and we, can be when she doesn't try to do it all herself. She has done a great job of making her teammates better, and when she helps them, they can help her.
"Gina is a player that is not worried about herself and her numbers. She cares more about her teammates and the team's success. She is never satisfied, though, and she wants to make this season the best that she, and BG, have ever had."
OUTFIELD/DESIGNATED PLAYER
Ross, Jamieson and volunteer coach Susan Sargent return nearly all of last year's outfielders, and the return of a healthy Heimrich at first base could bolster both the infield and the outfield. The Falcons lose one starter in the outfield, as last year's lone senior, Kristen Anderson, patrolled rightfield for most of last season, but a veritable plethora of candidates will be vying for spots in the lineup.
Junior Jeanine Baca was the only Falcon to start every game last season, and is the incumbent in centerfield. Baca hit .242 and was among the league leaders in at-bats, doubles, triples and runs scored. The team's leadoff hitter as a freshman, she spent the stretch run of last season in the lineup's power positions, hitting third or fifth. Obviously, Ross and company value Baca's combination of speed, power and defense, and see good things ahead for her.
"Jeanine Baca has proven that she is our centerfielder," said Ross. "She had a down year, for her, last year, but is committed to improving upon the numbers she put up as a freshman. She has continued to work hard and has made some improvements. Baca is a good centerfielder, and a good leader for our outfield."
Vallas, a Second-Team All-MAC pick as a freshman, will likely hold down the rightfield spot as a soph. She burst onto the BG scene last spring, leading the Falcons in homers and RBI, and hit .284 with an on-base percentage of .362. Vallas also demonstrated the ability to come through with clutch hits, as evidenced by her walk-off hits in both games of a late-April doubleheader sweep of Buffalo.
"Vallas is just a player," said her head coach. "She is naturally athletic, and she just wants to win. I love her competitiveness. She does not want a single ball to drop, she does not want anything to get past her, and she will do whatever is necessary to make the play."
The player who controls leftfield could be a veteran or a newcomer, a power hitter or a `slapper.' There are numerous candidates, and the opportunity is there for a player to step up and make the position her own, say the coaches.
Among the outfield candidates are juniors Emmy Ramsey, Kari Steigerwald, Ashley Zirkle and Lauren Hoffman, as well as freshmen Sheehan and Wiemer.
"We have no shortage of possibilities in the outfield," said Ross. "Kari, Emmy and Zirkle all are upperclassmen now, and they have been working out there. Plus, we've got Wiemer, Wendy, Hoffman ... there are any number of players who could be in our lineup on a given day.
"The juniors have experience, and they know what it takes to earn a spot. But, we have been conveying the message to the newcomers as well: if you work hard and do what we ask of you, there is a spot for you. There are plenty of kids available with the capability to play the position. I'm just looking for someone who can help us offensively."
The designated player spot is similar, in that any one of many players could find herself in the lineup on a given day. The one addition to that group is Armintrout, who is limited defensively due to a series of recurring injuries over the years.
"I don't like wondering, before a game, who I should pencil into the lineup," said Ross. "We have really juggled the lineup over the last two years, trying to see who wants a spot. This year, I am looking for people to take charge in practice and nail down a spot in that lineup, to play so well that I am forced to leave them in there, game after game."
THE SCHEDULE / FINAL THOUGHTS
In 2006, the MAC schedule has undergone a change. With the departure of Marshall from the conference, BGSU moves back to the East Division. But, the league has gone to a balanced schedule in which each team plays two games against each of the other 11 league institutions.
Also, the conference schedule has shifted to a Friday-Saturday-Sunday format, with teams generally playing Friday doubleheaders against one school, then playing a different opponent for back-to-back single games on Saturday and Sunday. For example, the Falcons open the MAC season with a Friday (March 31) twinbill at Buffalo, followed by single contests at Kent State over each of the next two days.
In addition to the Bulls and the Golden Flashes, BGSU will travel to face Ball State, Miami, Western Michigan and Northern Illinois. The Falcons will welcome MAC foes Akron, Ohio, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Toledo to the BGSU Softball Field.
"I like that we will play everyone in the league again," said Ross. "The dynamic of the MAC has changed, too, with a strong team like Marshall leaving, and with us changing divisions.
"Also, playing a Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule frees up the middle of our week, so now we can go play Big Ten teams and other teams of that caliber. And, we can go at those teams with all we've got, without worrying about saving a pitcher because of a MAC game the next day. We get a chance to throw our best at them."
Indeed, the Falcons' non-conference schedule, both prior to and sprinkled among the MAC slate, is arduous, to say the least. BGSU plays in tournaments hosted by Chattanooga, Baylor, Florida Atlantic and South Florida over the season's first month, with the Baylor tourney also including Washington and Mississippi State. The home schedule begins on March 25 with a doubleheader vs. Detroit, and the Falcons also host Oakland in non-league play.
BGSU will travel to face Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan State, DePaul and defending national champion Michigan as well, with the goal - as always - being to prepare the Falcons for any challenges the MAC can throw their way. BGSU hopes to be playing the best softball of the spring when the MAC Tournament rolls around in Midland, Mich., from May 10-13. For the second-straight season, the top-eight teams in the regular-season standings will qualify for the double-elimination tourney, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.
"We have a very competitive schedule again this year, and I want to be known as a team that is willing to take on anyone in the country," said Ross. "It can be overwhelming when you look at the schedule as a whole, but I want to keep exposing us to those types of teams. I want our program to get to that level one day, and obviously, games against the best teams in the nation certainly help to prepare us for whatever the MAC throws at us."
As is often the case, however, Ross feels that the most important thing is not the team in the opposing dugout, but rather the Falcon team that shows up from day to day.
"We have the potential to be very good," said Ross. "Every player in our program is talented enough to succeed; we just need to go out and play. Attitude is so important, and you can feel the positive attitude in this team this year.
"We have a stellar senior class, and, all the way down to the freshmen, these kids are ready to do whatever it takes. Where freshmen are sometimes passive, these three are take-charge kids who are ready to go, and it fires everyone else up.
"You can feel it in practices and meetings, there is a good vibe about this team. Our kids have a respect and loyalty for one another, and there is a real chemistry there. When you can sense that a teammate is out there, trying to do whatever it takes to get your team a win, you want to do the same thing.
"That sense of loyalty pervades our team, and we have all the ingredients to be successful. It's just a matter of going out there and doing it, and I can't wait for the season to begin."
