University of Minnesota Athletics
2003 Golden Gopher Softball - Something to Prove
2/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
With 13 letterwinners returning, including seven starters and the entire 2002 pitching staff, the pieces are in place for Minnesota to make a run at conference and national glory.
"We are a veteran ball club that has a great deal of experience," Bernstein said. "The youth on our team have been asked to step their game up a notch and we expect them to do just that. Together as a team, this group of women has what it takes to put together a great season."
Gold Country is prepared to build off a 2002 season that saw the Maroon and Gold compile a 24-10 record before the start of the Big Ten season. Against conference foes, Minnesota went 7-8, losing an opportunity to contend for a Big Ten title. However, the Golden Gophers' non- conference record proved worthy of a berth in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. In fact, Minnesota was chosen to host the Region No. 2 Tournament, proving again the strength of the Golden Gophers' schedule.
Minnesota finished third at the NCAA Regional, but the foundation was laid for the 2003 season. Now, the Golden Gophers are looking to use the national tournament appearance as a springboard to the upcoming campaign.
"Ninety percent of our starters have regional experience and have tasted what it is like to be a game or two away from the College World Series," Standering said. "This group is ready to prove that they can contend in post-season play."
Minnesota boasts two of the most dominant pitchers in school history in aces senior Angie Recknor and junior Piper Marten. The two stand atop nearly every single-season school record, including games pitched, innings pitched, complete games and strikeouts. The two hurlers will also near the top of several Minnesota career pitching records when their time is up at the U. The coaching staff expects Recknor, Marten and sophomore Lyn Peyer to provide the Maroon and Gold with unrivaled stability in the circle for the entire 2003 season.
"Our pitching staff is solid," Standering said. "We have the ability to throw the ball where we want it with speed, accuracy and precision. We will count on key strikeouts, but also know that we can rely on our defense to back us."
The lone senior pitcher on the staff, Recknor will again be among the Big Ten Conference's elite. A left-handed fireballer, she is third on Minnesota's career lists for wins (50) and strikeouts (459). Last season, Recknor finished the year with a superb 1.02 ERA and was second on the team with 14 wins. She has now posted double-digit win totals for all three seasons.
At her current pace, Recknor will finish second on Minnesota's career wins list with Brenda Bixby (1988-92), with 67 victories. Recknor could also reach the top of the school games pitched chart. She currently has appeared in 120 games. Steph Klaviter (1996-99) holds the U of M mark with 161 games.
Marten has emerged as one of the Big Ten's and NCAA's top pitchers in her two seasons in the Maroon and Gold. After a stellar 2001 season with a 0.80 ERA, Marten earned first team NFCA All-Region and third team All- Big Ten honors in 2003. She set a single-season school record with 301 strikeouts, surpassing her old record of 249 Ks, set in 2001. With that outstanding strikeout total, Marten moved into first place on Minnesota's career list with 550 Ks.
In addition to her remarkable season and career marks, the 2002 campaign provided Marten with several game bests. Twice last year, Marten posted 15-strikeout games and four times, the righthanded hurler registered no-hitters. Two of those no-hitters were also perfect games. Undoubtedly, Minnesota will look to Marten for continued dominance in the circle in 2003. Rounding out the pitching staff for the Golden Gophers is sophomore Lyn Peyer. The righthander appeared in 15 games last season and picked up her first collegiate win against Oklahoma State.
Together, Recknor, Marten and Peyer combined for an ERA of 1.20 and accumulated 442 strikeouts. Minnesota will once again look to the pitching staff for consistency and dominance in the upcoming season.
Pitching is extremely important, of course, but the Golden Gophers won't win any contests without the continued strength of their hitting game. Experience will play a factor in 2003 for Minnesota as the Golden Gophers look to three outstanding senior hitters to help in the barrage - Jordanne Nygren, Anne Thul and Shelly Nichols.
"We are going to be a powerful hitting team this year with the ability to hit for extra bases in seven of the nine spots in the line-up," Bernstein said. "We expect to hit a few home runs, but will focus on putting together an offensive strategy that best utilizes our talents."
Nygren, a second team All-Region pick at third base last season, returns as one of the most prolific home run hitters in Big Ten history. The power-hitting Nygren is second on the school career list with 36 round-trippers. Nygren has the opportunity to land in the top five in several school hitting lists.
Thul, a leader on the field at catcher, had a breakout season in 2002 with a .265 batting average and 25 RBI. She had an auspicious start to 2002 with a home run in her first at bat and a grand slam in her third.
Nichols is the confident, consistent force in the Minnesota lineup. She has started in 177 consecutive games, every contest in her three seasons, for the Golden Gophers. Primarily at second base, Nichols is a solid leader on the field and at the plate.
Senior leadership will also come from outfielder Veronica Roberts, a three-year starter. Third on UM's career list in triples, Roberts is a threat on the basepaths and a strong No. 2 hitter.
A two-year starter at first base, junior Hailee Nanchy is a strong infielder who has compiled a .985 fielding percentage in her career. She is ranked fourth on Minnesota's career putouts list with 826 through two seasons.
Joining Roberts in the outfield will be a corps of talented young athletes. Sophomore Stephanie Sward is a returning starter who led the Golden Gophers in 2002 with 25 stolen bases. Her quickness in the outfield is an invaluable commodity. Competition for starting time in the outfield will be a battle between sophomores Erin Wallace and Christina Zimmerman, and freshmen Lindsey Erickson and Stefanie Watt.
Gold Country will employ the services of sophomore Rachel Keeney and freshman Melissa Murnane at the shortstop position. Allie Fisk will be relied upon again to fill several roles for the Maroon and Gold in 2003. An outstanding baserunner and pinch hitter, Fisk provides the glue of team chemistry on and off the field. Transfer Andrea Smith, a junior, and true freshman Valerie Alston round out the roster for Minnesota as talented catchers.
"We will utilize a few different line-ups and combinations during the preseason and expect our team to gel at the start of the Big Ten season," Bernstein said.
Minnesota will open its season with the Metrodome Softball Classic for the sixth consecutive year after claiming the title in 2001 and 2002. The Golden Gophers will host Bradley, Drake, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Tulsa, Western Illinois and Wisconsin-Green Bay from Feb. 6-9.
The Gophers will then travel to Tucson, Ariz. for the Pepsi Classic, followed by the Worth Classic in Fullerton, Calif., and the NIT Invitational in San Jose, Calif. Minnesota will spend its spring break in Texas, playing in the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Tournament, along with match-ups versus Texas-San Antonio and Southwest Texas before returning home for Big Ten action.
The Golden Gophers will host 14 games at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium, including 10 league match-ups.
"This team will be an exciting group to watch," Bernstein said. "We are solid on the mound, instinctive on defense, aggressive on offense and mentally tough. The 2003 season will be an excellent year for Golden Gopher Softball."
Written by Assistant Director of Media Relations Kevin Kurtt The University of Minnesota softball team has something to prove in the 2003 campaign. The Golden Gophers are out to further establish their program as one deserving of national attention. Minnesota is primed and ready to show the college softball world that schools from the North can contend with the Sun Belt for elite program status. With co-head coaches Lisa Bernstein and Julie Standering at the helm, the outlook is bright for the 2003 Golden Gophers.
With 13 letterwinners returning, including seven starters and the entire 2002 pitching staff, the pieces are in place for Minnesota to make a run at conference and national glory.
"We are a veteran ball club that has a great deal of experience," Bernstein said. "The youth on our team have been asked to step their game up a notch and we expect them to do just that. Together as a team, this group of women has what it takes to put together a great season."
Gold Country is prepared to build off a 2002 season that saw the Maroon and Gold compile a 24-10 record before the start of the Big Ten season. Against conference foes, Minnesota went 7-8, losing an opportunity to contend for a Big Ten title. However, the Golden Gophers' non- conference record proved worthy of a berth in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. In fact, Minnesota was chosen to host the Region No. 2 Tournament, proving again the strength of the Golden Gophers' schedule.
Minnesota finished third at the NCAA Regional, but the foundation was laid for the 2003 season. Now, the Golden Gophers are looking to use the national tournament appearance as a springboard to the upcoming campaign.
"Ninety percent of our starters have regional experience and have tasted what it is like to be a game or two away from the College World Series," Standering said. "This group is ready to prove that they can contend in post-season play."
Minnesota boasts two of the most dominant pitchers in school history in aces senior Angie Recknor and junior Piper Marten. The two stand atop nearly every single-season school record, including games pitched, innings pitched, complete games and strikeouts. The two hurlers will also near the top of several Minnesota career pitching records when their time is up at the U. The coaching staff expects Recknor, Marten and sophomore Lyn Peyer to provide the Maroon and Gold with unrivaled stability in the circle for the entire 2003 season.
"Our pitching staff is solid," Standering said. "We have the ability to throw the ball where we want it with speed, accuracy and precision. We will count on key strikeouts, but also know that we can rely on our defense to back us."
The lone senior pitcher on the staff, Recknor will again be among the Big Ten Conference's elite. A left-handed fireballer, she is third on Minnesota's career lists for wins (50) and strikeouts (459). Last season, Recknor finished the year with a superb 1.02 ERA and was second on the team with 14 wins. She has now posted double-digit win totals for all three seasons.
At her current pace, Recknor will finish second on Minnesota's career wins list with Brenda Bixby (1988-92), with 67 victories. Recknor could also reach the top of the school games pitched chart. She currently has appeared in 120 games. Steph Klaviter (1996-99) holds the U of M mark with 161 games.
Marten has emerged as one of the Big Ten's and NCAA's top pitchers in her two seasons in the Maroon and Gold. After a stellar 2001 season with a 0.80 ERA, Marten earned first team NFCA All-Region and third team All- Big Ten honors in 2003. She set a single-season school record with 301 strikeouts, surpassing her old record of 249 Ks, set in 2001. With that outstanding strikeout total, Marten moved into first place on Minnesota's career list with 550 Ks.
In addition to her remarkable season and career marks, the 2002 campaign provided Marten with several game bests. Twice last year, Marten posted 15-strikeout games and four times, the righthanded hurler registered no-hitters. Two of those no-hitters were also perfect games. Undoubtedly, Minnesota will look to Marten for continued dominance in the circle in 2003. Rounding out the pitching staff for the Golden Gophers is sophomore Lyn Peyer. The righthander appeared in 15 games last season and picked up her first collegiate win against Oklahoma State.
Together, Recknor, Marten and Peyer combined for an ERA of 1.20 and accumulated 442 strikeouts. Minnesota will once again look to the pitching staff for consistency and dominance in the upcoming season.
Pitching is extremely important, of course, but the Golden Gophers won't win any contests without the continued strength of their hitting game. Experience will play a factor in 2003 for Minnesota as the Golden Gophers look to three outstanding senior hitters to help in the barrage - Jordanne Nygren, Anne Thul and Shelly Nichols.
"We are going to be a powerful hitting team this year with the ability to hit for extra bases in seven of the nine spots in the line-up," Bernstein said. "We expect to hit a few home runs, but will focus on putting together an offensive strategy that best utilizes our talents."
Nygren, a second team All-Region pick at third base last season, returns as one of the most prolific home run hitters in Big Ten history. The power-hitting Nygren is second on the school career list with 36 round-trippers. Nygren has the opportunity to land in the top five in several school hitting lists.
Thul, a leader on the field at catcher, had a breakout season in 2002 with a .265 batting average and 25 RBI. She had an auspicious start to 2002 with a home run in her first at bat and a grand slam in her third.
Nichols is the confident, consistent force in the Minnesota lineup. She has started in 177 consecutive games, every contest in her three seasons, for the Golden Gophers. Primarily at second base, Nichols is a solid leader on the field and at the plate.
Senior leadership will also come from outfielder Veronica Roberts, a three-year starter. Third on UM's career list in triples, Roberts is a threat on the basepaths and a strong No. 2 hitter.
A two-year starter at first base, junior Hailee Nanchy is a strong infielder who has compiled a .985 fielding percentage in her career. She is ranked fourth on Minnesota's career putouts list with 826 through two seasons.
Joining Roberts in the outfield will be a corps of talented young athletes. Sophomore Stephanie Sward is a returning starter who led the Golden Gophers in 2002 with 25 stolen bases. Her quickness in the outfield is an invaluable commodity. Competition for starting time in the outfield will be a battle between sophomores Erin Wallace and Christina Zimmerman, and freshmen Lindsey Erickson and Stefanie Watt.
Gold Country will employ the services of sophomore Rachel Keeney and freshman Melissa Murnane at the shortstop position. Allie Fisk will be relied upon again to fill several roles for the Maroon and Gold in 2003. An outstanding baserunner and pinch hitter, Fisk provides the glue of team chemistry on and off the field. Transfer Andrea Smith, a junior, and true freshman Valerie Alston round out the roster for Minnesota as talented catchers.
"We will utilize a few different line-ups and combinations during the preseason and expect our team to gel at the start of the Big Ten season," Bernstein said.
Minnesota will open its season with the Metrodome Softball Classic for the sixth consecutive year after claiming the title in 2001 and 2002. The Golden Gophers will host Bradley, Drake, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Tulsa, Western Illinois and Wisconsin-Green Bay from Feb. 6-9.
The Gophers will then travel to Tucson, Ariz. for the Pepsi Classic, followed by the Worth Classic in Fullerton, Calif., and the NIT Invitational in San Jose, Calif. Minnesota will spend its spring break in Texas, playing in the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Tournament, along with match-ups versus Texas-San Antonio and Southwest Texas before returning home for Big Ten action.
The Golden Gophers will host 14 games at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium, including 10 league match-ups.
"This team will be an exciting group to watch," Bernstein said. "We are solid on the mound, instinctive on defense, aggressive on offense and mentally tough. The 2003 season will be an excellent year for Golden Gopher Softball."
Written by Assistant Director of Media Relations Kevin Kurtt
