Redhawks ready to make some noise

While it won't go down as one of the best seasons in Southeast Missouri State's impressive softball history, what the Redhawks accomplished last year still was noteworthy.

The 2006 Redhawks snapped a string of four consecutive losing records and posted the program's best Ohio Valley Conference mark since 2001, going 28-24 overall and a fifth-place 14-13 in the OVC.

With many of the key players from a year ago returning, longtime coach Lana Richmond believes things are looking up for the Redhawks.

"Definitely," said Richmond, whose squad opens the season Saturday -- weather permitting -- with three games in the Tennessee-Martin tournament. "I really feel like Southeast is ready to step up into contention in the OVC."

Entering her 25th season at Southeast, Richmond is the winningest softball coach in league history with a 712-474-2 record, which also makes her among the nation's winningest coaches.

Richmond led Southeast to five straight OVC titles from 1995 to 1999. She produced winning records in her first 18 years at Southeast, including 14 seasons of more than 30 victories.

The program dipped with those four straight losing seasons, bottoming out at 16-36 in 2004.

But Southeast improved to 27-28 in 2005 and bettered that last year with a young squad.

Richmond believes a change in recruiting philosophy -- during a time when most of the athletic programs at Southeast experienced budget cuts -- has helped get the Redhawks pointed back in the right direction.

"With our budget cuts, it made a difference in recruiting," Richmond said. "We're allowed 12 scholarships by the NCAA, but we only have about nine or 10.

"Three years ago, we decided to give out bigger scholarships but to carry less players. We were carrying about 22 players, so we had to split up our scholarships a lot.

"Now we have 16 players. We've tried to find elite players and make them a more attractive [scholarship] offer. That means they have to come in and contribute immediately, which is what this group has done."

Added Richmond: "We had a couple of rebuilding seasons, but we've won over 25 games the last two years. We feel this is the year to make our move in the OVC."

Southeast returns its top three hitters, led by junior shortstop Megan McDonald from Cape Girardeau Central High School.

Already a two-time first-team all-OVC pick, McDonald ranked second in the league last year with a .364 batting average. She had six home runs, 12 doubles and 28 runs batted in.

Junior third baseman Michelle Summers, already the school career home-run leader with 21, hit .324 with 11 homers, 11 doubles and 33 RBIs in 2006.

Summers, who last year tied Southeast's single-season homer record, made the all-OVC second team after being on the first team as a freshman.

Senior center fielder Lindsay Pickering, also a soccer star at Southeast, was a second-team all-OVC pick last year, when she batted .314 with four homers, two triples, 10 doubles and 22 RBIs.

"Those are three great players to build around," Richmond said.

Sophomore first baseman Lauren Bradley had a solid rookie season with a .271 average, five homers and 25 RBIs. She made the OVC all-newcomer team.

Stephanie Mata -- she and Pickering are the only seniors -- is a returning outfield starter; junior outfielder Katie Otterness and sophomore catcher Amber Peterson both started at least 18 games; and junior utility Lindsey Woodworth saw limited action.

Richmond expects several freshmen to either start or play key roles, including Jennifer Vasquez at second base; Alex Ramirez at catcher; Elise Sperakos and Samantha Espiriciueta in the outfield; and Sarah Estopare on the infield.

Sophomore Erika Thomas, a former Southeast gymnast, adds outfield depth.

Southeast has just one returning pitcher, but she is among the OVC's better hurlers.

Junior Elaine Fisher was only 13-17 last year, but she had a 1.88 earned-run average while working 197 2/3 innings.

Although Fisher will carry the bulk of the load on the mound, Richmond will look for Bradley and freshman Stacia Dopudja to provide some innings.

"Elaine will be our workhorse. She'll pitch a lot," Richmond said.

Which is fine with her.

"I've always pitched a lot of innings in summer ball," Fisher said. "I'm ready for it."