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New recruits, experience give Scots
high expectations
Release Date: February 27, 2006
MONMOUTH, Ill. – Don’t tell
Monmouth College softball coach Kari Shimmin that coaches generally
don’t look forward to a new season when they’re returning just three
juniors and no seniors, but that’s exactly how the second-year coach
feels about her team this spring.
“We’re really excited about the upcoming season,” said Shimmin,
whose first team at Monmouth went 7-24. “The women made significant
strides from the end of last season to the start of practice this
spring. We expect to be significantly better.”
Last year’s Fighting Scots made on-the-job-training a reality as
Monmouth fielded no juniors or seniors, and only one player had
significant playing time in 2004. While this year’s squad is again
void of any seniors, it does include a pair of all-conference
players in junior outfielder Drew Robinson (St. Charles, Ill./North)
and sophomore shortstop Emily Willems (Moline, Ill./Rockridge).
Shimmin looks to her trio of juniors and handful of sophomores from
last year’s team to play like seasoned veterans. A good recruiting
class doesn’t dampen her enthusiasm, either.
“We have more depth at every position,” she says. “The extra depth
is really pushing everyone and we’re seeing a lot of improvement
already.”
An excellent recruiter, Shimmin who also serves as the Scots
volleyball coach, has added four freshman pitchers to her staff and
a plethora of versatile athletes.
Sophomore Blayre Scott (White Hall, Ill./North Greene) emerged late
in the season as last year’s top pitcher, but with the addition of
freshmen Amanda Boonstra (Fulton, Ill./Fulton), Jessica Serritella
(St. Charles, Ill./North), Sarah Christensen (Galesburg,
Ill./Galesburg) and Ashley Tocha (Kewanee, Ill./Kewanee), the Scots
may use a rotation similar to a major league bullpen. Serritella,
the lone lefty of the group, and Boonstra figure to be the
early-season starters with Scott and Christensen on call in the
bullpen. Tocha, who is expected to see action as the designated
player, is also jockeying for a spot in the rotation.
A pair of sophomores, Kristin Bickett (Malden, Ill./Princeton) and
Jen Hass (Pittsfield, Ill./Pittsfield), are vying for the staring
job behind the plate. Both saw action last season and each bring
unique tools to the table, making Shimmin’s decision that much
tougher.
First base will be a revolving door with Serritella and Boonstra
expected to handle that position when they’re not pitching. Freshman
Brittany Smith (Morrison, Ill./Morrison) is also in the running for
the job. Last year’s first baseman, Mickenzie Jones (Beardstown,
Ill./Beardstown), takes her cannon of a right arm to right field.
Third baseman Jackie Hennenfent (Wataga, Ill./ROWVA) will also
switch positions this spring, moving across the diamond to second
where freshman transfer Megan Hansen (Crystal Lake, Ill./South) will
back her up. Veteran junior Katie Hamilton (Savanna, Ill./Savanna)
will serve as the backup for the middle infielders, including the
strong-armed Willems.
“Jackie and Emily are really beginning to jell,” said Shimmin of her
double play combo. “We can’t wait to see them in an actual game
setting.”
Jessica Travis (Washington, Ill./Washington), a sophomore who took
last season off to recuperate a shoulder injury, will fill the spot
at third, and Hennenfent could fill in there when Travis needs a
rest. Travis is described as a talented hitter who can also flash
the leather and has a strong arm.
If speed kills, then the Scots’ outfield will be deadly to
opponents’ bats. Joining the relocated Jones in the outfield will be
Robinson, sophomore Anna Coutts (Ladd, Ill./Hall) and freshman
Ashley Parer (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island).
Offensively, Monmouth could be explosive and will have the option of
a starting lineup that includes six left-handed bats. Robinson,
Parer, Boonstra, Smith, Serrritella and freshman Sara Nokes
(Westchester, Ill./Trinity) all possess good bats from the left
side, while Jones, Hennenfent, Travis, Willems and Bickett can
provide some pop. Throw in Hass, who Shimmin calls “a very good
stick,” and the offense could generate runs in droves.
“With the personnel and depth we have this year,” says Shimmin, “we
don’t expect to just do better. We expect to make the conference
playoffs at the end of the season.”
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