Southeast Missouri State softball team re-armed for 2014 season

~ Southeast's pitching staff will be led by a pair of freshmen

When Southeast Missouri State softball coach Lana Richmond talks about where her team finished a year ago and the expectations to improve, it boils down to one thing: pitching.

The Redhawks, who posted a record of 15-33 overall and 6-18 in Ohio Valley Conference games, finished 10th overall in the conference last season and failed to make the OVC tournament for the second consecutive year.

They were picked to finish sixth in the OVC West Division in this year's preseason poll voted on by OVC head coaches and sports information directors, but Richmond seemed confident in her team's ability as it prepares to play its first games of the season today.

"Heading into the season we've got a goal to prove a lot of teams and a lot of coaches wrong about our preseason pick," Richmond said. "The preseason picks are pretty much based on the year before, and unfortunately we lost our pitchers before our season started [last year] -- and as softball goes, pitching is the name of our game. A lot of it revolves around our pitching, and we have two very strong freshmen pitchers that we're going to throw out there. I usually don't like to throw freshmen out there immediately, but these guys are going to do the bulk of our pitching along with a sophomore that's returning."

Aubrey Denno works on her pitching skills with the Southeast Missouri State softball team Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014 at Houck Stadium. (Fred Lynch)

Freshman pitcher Aubrey Denno will start for Southeast in its season opener against Houston Baptist today at the Mardi Gras Classic in Monroe, La.

Keaira Schilling is the other freshman pitcher that will take the mound.

Richmond compared Denno to former MLB pitcher Tim Wakefield in that she pitches "a lot of junk and breaking pitches and knuckleballs."

Richmond noted that Schilling has the better velocity of the two.

"I'd hate to stand in and take a screwball from her because she can back you off the plate," Richmond said. "She really comes in and throws hard."

LEFT: Southeast Missouri State freshman pitcher Aubrey Denno performs a drill during practice Wednesday at Houck Stadium. RIGHT: Freshman pitcher Keaira Schilling throws at practice. (Fred Lynch)

Sophomore Hannah Durham, who had knee surgery in September, will also pitch for the Redhawks.

"We're going to rely heavily on them because pitching is in the forefront of our game, and if you don't have it in the circle, then it could be a long year -- you've got to score a lot of runs," Richmond said. "They've worked very hard during the offseason. I felt like for freshmen they had a good fall, and I think they're going to surprise some people. They're definitely going to be competitors, and this team's definitely going to play hard and be competitive and we want to go out and look for success each game."

The Redhawks return several position players, but only three that started full time.

One returner is center fielder Alexis Anderson, a senior who led the Redhawks with a .403 batting average, .632 slugging percentage, .434 on-base percentage and 58 hits in her first season at Southeast. She was named first-team All-OVC and was named to the 2013 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All-Mideast Region second team.

Richmond expects teams to pitch differently to her since they now know what does and doesn't work against her. Anderson transferred to Southeast last year from Tallahassee Community College.

"The key for her is to go after good pitches, and she might just have to go in and take a walk," Richmond said. "It's like Albert Pujols. But eventually at times they're going to have to pitch to her and she's just got to be disciplined enough to know what pitches she can go after and what pitches she can't. Hitting is such a mental game, and not be frustrated during this process because I guarantee you in the conference she's not going to see the same type of pitching she did last year. But she's a competitor and we look for a big season out of her."

Starting alongside Anderson in the outfield will be senior Kelsey Gass in left field and senior Renee Terry in right field.

The Redhawks also return junior Lindsey Patterson, who will start at first base and may pitch some. Patterson started all 48 games in 2013, batting .273 with 38 hits.

Sophomore catcher Chelsea Smith will start behind the plate in the season opener. Smith started 38 games and played in 45 while batting .265 last season. Junior Jamie Woodworth will also see time at catcher.

Notre Dame graduate Summer Burger returns at second base for her sophomore season.

Third baseman Savannah Carpenter returns after starting only 18 games last season due to injury. Transfer Kelsey Gass will start at third today and freshman Rachel Duncan will start at shortstop.

Other players expected to see time this season are mid-year transfer Leah Duffe in the middle infield as well as freshmen Nicole Deering and KC Saxe.

Sarah Lindsie Heifner, who redshirted last season due to a torn labrum, isn't recovered enough to play defense but could bat. Transfer Meaghan Touchette possibly has a torn labrum, but she might be able to pinch-run or pinch-hit.

"I plan on the talent that we have and the ability of the position players that we have, that we've got a good mix that will see time," Richmond said. "Either they're going to come in for pinch hits, pinch run ... we're going to try to include everybody's strengths."