'Hawks look to resume winning ways

~ Southeast coach Lana Richmond hopes a talented group of youngsters can help the program post its first winning record in five seasons.

Ask Southeast Missouri State softball coach Lana Richmond about her team's offense and she doesn't seem to have a care in the world.

"We will definitely score some runs," Richmond said.

Now, if the Redhawks can just receive solid pitching -- which Richmond believes they will -- then she thinks they could be primed for a strong season.

"If our pitching can be consistent ... I feel confident about it," Richmond said. "I'm optimistic. I think we can win a lot of ballgames. We're looking for a great year."

The Redhawks, after having last weekend's Tennessee-Martin Classic canceled due to inclement weather, open the season Friday with two games in the Mississippi State Invitational. They'll play six games in the three-day event.

"We really need to get some games in," said Richmond, whose squad opens its home schedule March 11 and 12 with the Southeast Spring Classic.

A young Southeast squad in 2005 went 27-28, including 13-14 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Redhawks, who surged late, finished third in the OVC tournament.

Last year marked the Redhawks' fourth straight losing season, but it was their best record since 2001 and a major improvement from their 16-36 mark in 2004.

Richmond hopes the return of many of last year's top players -- along with an infusion of new, young talent -- will help her program more resemble what it was last decade, when Southeast captured five straight OVC titles from 1995 to 1999.

Entering her 24th season, Richmond is the winningest softball coach in OVC history with a 684-450-2 record, which also makes her among the nation's winningest coaches.

"The kids are hungry," said Richmond, who produced winning records in her first 18 years at Southeast, including 14 seasons of more than 30 victories. "They want to prove they're one of the upper echelon programs in the conference."

Young but experienced

Southeast -- which is still a young squad, with 10 freshmen and sophomores among its 16 players, and only four seniors -- returns five full-time starters around the field, including its top three hitters.

Junior center fielder Lindsay Pickering, a regular since her freshman season, led the Redhawks last season with a .343 batting average, along with two home runs and 22 runs batted in. She was also an all-OVC goalkeeper for the Southeast soccer team in the fall.

"I don't think there is a better center fielder in the conference," Richmond said.

The Redhawks' dynamic freshman duo from 2005 is also back.

Michelle Summers was first-team all-OVC as she batted .330 with team highs of 10 homers and 16 doubles, along with 25 RBIs. She played the outfield last year but has been moved to third base.

"She had a great freshman year, and she's a natural third baseman. We just had a need in the outfield last year," Richmond said.

Shortstop Megan McDonald, a Central High School product, was the 2005 OVC freshman of the year and also made first-team all-OVC as she hit .327 with eight homers, 12 doubles and 26 RBIs, while providing impressive defense.

"What a year she had," Richmond said.

Other returning full-time regulars are senior first baseman Stephanie Huffman (.194, 2 HR, 13 RBI) and senior catcher Lyndsey Webb (.233, 10 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBIs), a starter since her freshman season.

Senior Charlene Ramirez (.177, 2 HR, 8 RBIs), who moved into the starting lineup for the second half of last season, returns at second base.

Richmond said three returning players will battle for the remaining two outfield spots.

Junior Stephanie Mata (.213, 1 HR, 3 3B, 14 RBIs) and senior Callie Brittan (.146) both received close to 30 starts last year, while sophomore Katie Otterness (.154) received just 13 at-bats, but Richmond said she had a strong fall.

The designated hitter role will be filled by freshman Jenn Monaghan, who Richmond said has impressive power.

Richmond will lean heavily on two more freshmen. Lauren Bradley will play first base when Huffman pitches and could see action at second. Amber Peterson will split time with Webb at catcher.

"Those are three very good freshmen. We'll get them in the lineup," Richmond said.

As for the pitching, Southeast lost workhorse Amy Fahnestock, who hurled 191 innings and went 14-14.

But the Redhawks return their other two primary starters in sophomore Elaine Fisher, who went 8-6 with a 1.69 earned-run average and was particularly strong over the second half of the season, along with Huffman (4-7, 3.47).

"Elaine started out slow and then really came on. Stephanie was a junior college transfer, and it usually takes a year to transition to Division I," Richmond said. "Those two will have the lion's share of the pitching duties, and I feel really good. Both did very well in the fall."

Richmond will also count on mound work from freshman Jessica Rosencrants.

"She's very promising, and she'll pitch a lot of innings," Richmond said.

Southeast was picked sixth out of 10 teams in the OVC's preseason poll -- but Richmond is confident the Redhawks will do better than that.

"Like I told the players, it's not where you're picked in the preseason, it's where you finish in the postseason," she said. "We want to be in the top three. I feel our program is in the top three."