Revamped Redhawks softball team set to open today

The Southeast Missouri State softball team, which is scheduled to open today at Jackson State weather permitting, hope to rebound with a retooled roster, better depth and considerably more speed after taking a step back last season.

"We're excited about the season," said longtime coach Lana Richmond, whose squad features seven returning players and 12 newcomers. "It's going to be a different look from probably any Southeast team mainly because of the speed. It's going to be an exciting new brand of softball.

"We've got more depth, more pitching. I expect us to be a contender in the top part of the conference."

Southeast's 2009 club recorded the program's most wins since 2000 while finishing second in the Ohio Valley Conference's regular season and tournament.

But ace pitcher Giana Zimmerman missed all of last season -- she later left the program -- and the Redhawks struggled on the mound. They went 17-31 overall and a last-place 6-17 in the 10-team OVC.

"It's tough when you have a 19-game winner go down," said Richmond, the OVC's all-time winningest coach who begins her 29th season at Southeast.

Added Richmond, a five-time OVC coach of the year who has a 802-583-2 record at Southeast, including five consecutive OVC regular-season titles and four straight tournament crowns in the late 1990s: "We not only had the injury on the mound but other injuries that left us with low position numbers."

Senior Whitney Dupuis and junior Stefanie Barnes handled all of the pitching last year. The Redhawks ranked ninth in the OVC with a 4.42 ERA.

Barnes went 11-17 with a 3.79 ERA. She hurled three shutouts and finished the season strong. Dupuis was 6-14 with a 5.26 ERA.

"They gave us everything they had, but they needed some help," Richmond said.

Richmond believes the Redhawks have gotten that help with the addition of freshmen Shea Cothren and Alora Marble, along with sophomore Taylor Cowan, a transfer from Boston University.

"They are two very good looking freshmen who had outstanding falls. We're really high on them," Richmond said. "All five will pitch. Each bring different styles. It wouldn't surprise me if we use three, four pitchers in a game. We have a lot of options."

Cowan, who saw limited mound action while starting all 57 games as a freshman last season for Boston University's NCAA tournament team, also will see plenty of time in the field, likely at first base.

"We look for her to be in the lineup every day," Richmond said.

The Redhawks ranked third in the OVC in batting (.267) last year, although they only scored the sixth-most runs in the league. They were fourth in fielding percentage (.955).

Southeast returns five position starters, led by senior first baseman Nicole Troncoso, who will serve as designated player when not at first, and senior center fielder Melissa Walker.

Troncoso was Southeast's top hitter for the second straight year, batting .345 to rank fifth in the OVC. She led the Redhawks in doubles with nine and was second in RBIs with 23. She also led in slugging percentage (.429).

Walker was the Redhawks' other .300 hitter. She batted .324, good enough for 13th in the conference, and paced the squad in on-base percentage (.419).

Other returning regulars are senior second baseman Carmen Fowler (.274), junior right fielder Shelby Stein (.271) and junior shortstop Renee Kertz (.237).

Fowler led Southeast in home runs with three and triples with two. She was third in RBIs with 22.

"Our middle infield, with Renee and Carmen, is one of our bright spots on defense," Richmond said.

Southeast will look for big contributions from most of the other newcomers, including junior Evan Sallis, a transfer from another Division I program.

Sallis played the past two seasons for national power Oklahoma. She appeared in 101 games, including 41 starts, batting .267 with 60 runs scored and 28 stolen bases.

Sallis, who will open the season in left field, is among several speedy new additions.

"We'll probably steal more bases in the first 10 games than all of last year," said Richmond, whose squad had just 20 steals in 28 attempts last season.

Several other newcomers will open the campaign as starters.

Kaitlin Wallace, a junior college transfer who is a sophomore in eligibility, will be at third base.

Freshmen catchers Shelby Kuryllo and Alene Bethel will share time behind the plate, with Kuryllo beginning as the regular while Bethel battles mononucleosis.

Speedy juco transfer Cheyenne Gipson will be in right field.

Freshmen Amber Ewert and Renee Terry bring more speed to the outfield, Richmond said, while juco transfer outfielder Ragan Dunn provides additional depth.

Another freshman, Jordan Learn, can play a variety of infield positions.

"With 12 new players, it gives us a lot of options that we didn't have last year," Richmond said.