JUST PITCHING IN: ENGELHARDT, SCHMELZ LEAD OTAHK DOMINATION

There are plenty of reasons why Southeast Missouri State University's softball team has been so dominant over the past several seasons.

But Otahkian coach Lana Richmond is sure of one thing: her two senior pitchers, Christine Engelhardt and Debbie Schmelz, have been major factors in all the success.

Engelhardt and Schmelz came to Cape Girardeau four years ago as wide-eyed freshmen just hoping to see some action.

Instead, they were almost immediately thrust into the regular rotation -- where they have remained throughout exceptional careers that are fast winding to a close.

"For the last four years, those two have basically been our pitching staff," said Richmond, whose squad recently won its fifth straight Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title and will be favored to capture a fourth consecutive OVC Tournament crown this weekend. "They did a lot of our pitching as freshmen and as sophomores it was pretty much those two. The last two years, they've done all our pitching.

"We have called their number so many times and they have come through so many times."

The numbers Engelhardt and Schmelz -- both right-handers -- have put up over the past four years are nothing short of mind-boggling.

First, for Engelhardt. She went 11-0 as a freshman with an 0.91 earned-run average, the best single-season ERA in school history. She followed with records of 11-4 and 16-6, and she is 14-5 this year to go with a 1.54 ERA.

All told, the Pinckneyville (Ill.) High School product has a 52-15 record and a 1.69 ERA for her Southeast career to go along with 347 strikeouts, which are a school record. She is a two-time all-OVC selection.

As for Schmelz, she started out as a freshman with a 14-4 record and a 1.25 ERA. She `slumped' somewhat as a sophomore, going 14-12, although her ERA was a sparkling 1.96. Then came a 19-6 mark as a junior that netted her OVC Pitcher of the Year honors. She is `only' 12-10 this year, but again, her ERA is a strong 1.86.

For her career, the Pacific High School graduate is 59-32 with a 1.62 ERA, the best in school history -- just ahead of Engelhardt, although that could change before the year is over. Schmelz also holds Southeast career records for appearances (112), games started (85), complete games (56) and shutouts (24). Like Engelhardt, she is a two-time all-OVC pick.

"They've been unbelievably consistent for us," said Richmond. "They've got different styles, but what has really helped them excel is they can throw a strike at any time and they both can throw hard."

Schmelz and Engelhardt, who are as personable as they are talented, both said they have been somewhat surprised by the sheer numbers they have been able to put up during their careers. Neither expected to have such an impact right away.

"When I came in as a freshman, I never really expected to play," said Schmelz. "But it was a big thrill."

Said Engelhardt, "I didn't expect to play much at all my first year. But it was very exciting to get thrown into it."

Both hurlers admitted that there is pressure knowing they are THE Otahkian pitching staff.

"It's a little pressure, knowing we're the only two," said Engelhardt -- who was quickly corrected by Schmelz as she added with a laugh, "It's a lot of pressure. If you're worn out, you know you still have to go out there."

Engelhardt and Schmelz have not only excelled on the field, they have also been brilliant in the classroom.

"Their ERA's put together aren't even as high as their GPA's," quipped Richmond. "They're both about 3.8 (grade-point averages). That's about the only thing high about them."

Engelhardt was a first-team GTE Academic All-American in 1997 and she earned second-team honors last year. She is a four-time Southeast Scholar-Athlete who is a member of the dean's list.

Schmelz made the GTE Academic All-District team last year. She is also a four-team Southeast Scholar-Athlete and a member of the dean's list.

Both pitchers, who are majoring in education and want to have teaching careers, said it's taken some juggling in order to attain such athletic and academic success.

"It gets pretty stressful at times," said Schmelz.

Said Engelhardt, "There are a lot of late nights."

Humility is also something the star hurlers share. Both chose to talk about all the team success they've enjoyed over the past four years rather than focus on their individual accomplishments.

Said Engelhardt, "Winning an OVC title every year has been really great. That's probably the most satisfying thing."

Asked to name her biggest career highlight so far, Schmelz, mindful that the winner of this weekend's OVC Tournament gains an automatic NCAA tourney berth for the first time ever, didn't hesitate.

"The biggest is yet to come. It's going to be when we win the conference tournament and go to the NCAAs for the first time. That's what we've been shooting for," she said, as Engelhardt nodded in agreement.