Otahkians, Richmond tired of losing seasons

Southeast Missouri State University softball coach Lana Richmond hopes this is the year the Otahkians again approach the kind of success they had for so long.

She'd feel a lot better about the situation if several key injuries hadn't hit her squad during preseason workouts. The Otahkians begin the 2004 campaign Friday at the Western Kentucky Tournament. The home opener is next Friday, when Southeast holds its annual tournament.

The Otahkians went 18-29 last season, including a fourth-place 11-9 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Southeast was 14-27 in 2002 and 25-25 in 2001.

Richmond's previous 18 seasons featured nothing but winning records -- most of them by a wide margin. Richmond is 643-386-2 entering her 22nd year, including five OVC regular-season titles and four OVC tournament crowns.

"Before the injuries, I was really optimistic," Richmond said. "I still am optimistic, but the injuries have hit us hard.

"I think we've got solid defense and good hitting. Pitching is the question mark."

Richmond thought she had solved the pitching woes of the past several seasons that she believed led to the Otahkians' reversal of fortunes.

"As softball goes, so goes pitching," Richmond said. "The last few years, we didn't have the one-two standout punch. We made every effort to really improve our pitching."

But the player counted on to improve the pitching the most -- hard-throwing junior college transfer Amy Fahnestock from Ste. Genevieve -- is a major question mark for the season because of a wrist injury.

"She's a potential OVC pitcher of the year," Richmond said. "The question is, how much pain can she pitch through? She's a bulldog, so she'll really try. If we can have her at 75 percent, that would be good. She can play five games before we have to decide on a medical redshirt."

A returning hurler, Rachel Van Fleet (1-1, 3.31 earned-run average), is also questionable for the season with a foot injury, although Richmond is hopeful she can return by April.

The Otahkians return their entire pitching staff from last season, including senior Jessica Hunter (7-10, 2.44), sophomore Melissa Van Velkinburgh (4-8, 3.35) and junior Kelly Birk (6-10, 4.75). Richmond believes all have improved considerably.

Southeast was also hit by an injury among the position players when Marie Coode, the starter at third base last year, was lost for the season with a bad back.

The Otahkians graduated their top hitter from last season in first-team all-OVC Brooke Nett (.333), but they return several other regulars, led by second-team all-OVC Birk (.304), who had the team's second-highest batting average.

"I think we're really improved this year," Birk said. "I think we'll be good."

Among others back are senior Alana Bagby-Leonard (.281), whose six homers and 24 RBI led the squad; sophomore Lyndsey Webb (.266); and senior Amy Murphy (.241).

Richmond said the lineup for Friday's opener will feature Webb at catcher, Bagby-Leonard at first base, returning senior Suzi Lair at second, Murphy at shortstop, junior college transfer Victoria Torrez at third, freshman Stephanie Mata in left field, freshman Lindsay Pickering in center, returning senior Stacey DeClue in right and Van Velkinburgh as the designated player. Birk will pitch.

DeClue, from Jackson High School, saw very limited action last year, but Richmond said "she's a great defensive player and she's really worked hard."

Richmond said returning senior Jamie Birk will platoon with Torrez at third and junior college transfer Charlene Ramirez will platoon with Lair at second.

Other returning players are senior Amy Thompson, sophomore Katy Hacker and freshman Leigh Anne Lunsford, who redshirted last year. Freshman Florence Davidson rounds out the squad.

New to the program is assistant coach Jeannine Soncini, who will work with the pitchers. Soncini is a former standout hurler at Northern Iowa.

"She's a great asset to the pitching staff," Richmond said.