University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Softball: 2011 Season Outlook
2/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
First-year coach Jessica Allister was named the sixth head softball coach in Gophers history on August 10, 2010 and immediately began working to instill the same work ethic and dedication in the Gophers squad that the former assistant helped cultivate at Oregon, Stanford and Georgia. The former All-American catcher at Stanford helped lead three different programs to Super Regional appearances in the past four years with five trips in a six-year stretch. A proven developer of talent, Allister has groomed numerous student-athletes into elite softball players, including 10 NFCA All-Americans and has consistently helped build nationally ranked programs throughout her career.
Allister's first move as head coach was to surround herself with some of the top assistants in the college game. The Gophers coach retained four-year assistant Piper Marten -- one of the most prolific student-athletes ever to play at Minnesota -- from the previous staff and brought two-time All-American Jessica Merchant - a captain on Michigan's 2005 NCAA Championship team and an assistant from UMass - in to round out the staff.
With the staff in place, Allister turned her attention to setting up the framework to rebuild the softball program at Minnesota. With 11 letter winners and five starters returning, the success of the 2011 season will depend on a team effort including five newcomers to the team. Minnesota will lean on its corner infielders to pace the squad with senior Malisa Barnes and sophomore Alex Davis - Minnesota's top producers last season - returning to first and third base, respectively.
With an equal mix of returning veterans and newcomers to the program this year, the game plan for the Gophers this season is continued growth. "Expectations are that we improve every day," Allister said. "We need to improve throughout the season, and we need to establish the groundwork for where we want the program to go throughout the next few years."
Pitchers/Catchers
The Gophers will lean on a pair of pitchers throughout the 2011 season including the team's top returning starter from a year ago. Junior Alissa Koch (Racine, Wis.) appeared in 30 games with 27 starts as a sophomore in 2010, pitching 168.1 innings with 133 strikeouts. "Alissa threw a lot of innings last season in a tough situation, and she did the best she could with it," Allister said of her returning pitcher, who struggled to find wins in 2010. "She has worked hard over the offseason, and we're looking for her to be a leader in the circle this season."
Koch will be joined on the pitching staff by incoming freshman Sara Moulton (Eagan, Minn.), who is expected to split time with Koch in the pitching circle. After an outstanding prep career at Eagan High School in which Moulton earned the 2009-10 Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year award, the 2010 Minnesota Ms. Softball award, four all-state honors and helped Eagan to the 2008 state title among other accolades, Moulton will now try to replicate that success with the Gophers. "Sara Moulton is going to do a good job for us in the circle," Allister said. "We're looking for her to take a lot of innings as a freshman and step into an important role right away." Fellow freshman Sara DuPaul (Blaine, Minn.) - a two-time all-state honoree -- will also be available to throw innings if called upon by the Gophers.
Sophomore Kari Dorle (North St. Paul, Minn.) is projected as Minnesota's starting catcher after starting all but one of the Gophers' 53 games in 2010 as a freshman. In her first campaign with the squad, Dorle held the second highest fielding percentage of regular starters at .975. "We're looking for Dorle to be solid behind the plate," Allister said. "She has a really strong arm and a lot of pop in her bat. She has the ability to be a threat behind the plate and at the plate." Davis is also listed as a potential option at catcher this year for the Gophers.
Infield
A major strength for the Gophers in 2011 will be an experienced infield led on the corners by Alex Davis at third and Malisa Barnes at first. Davis (Harbor City, Calif.) returns after a freshman campaign that earned her Third Team All-Big Ten honors. "Alex is coming off a great freshman season, and we'll be looking for more of the same this time around," Allister said. "She hits for average and power, and she'll be an integral part of the middle of our lineup." As a rookie last year, Davis finished the season as the Gophers' leader in total bases (83), slugging percentage (.535) and home runs (10). She also was among the team's leaders in fielding percentage (.924), runs batted in (23) and finished second on the team in batting average (.290) behind Barnes.
Meanwhile, Barnes (Phoenix, Ariz.) will look to close out her collegiate career with a successful season at first base. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, Barnes started in 52 games last year, leading the team with a .321 batting average. She also led the Gophers in hits (52) and fielding percentage (.981). "Malisa Barnes is one of the best student-athletes to ever play at the University of Minnesota," Allister said. "We are looking for her to have a great senior year. She's been working hard, and we're going to need her to be productive at the top of our lineup."
Junior Dannie Skrove (Zimmerman, Minn.) will fill the gap at second base, moving into the position full time after establishing herself as a durable player in 2010 as a sophomore. Skrove is one of two returners to start all 53 games for the Gophers last season, along with Alex Davis, and is one of Minnesota's top returners in nearly every offensive and defensive category. "Dannie Skrove comes to practice every day willing to do whatever we ask her to," Allister said. "She's made huge strides already in the transition, and we'll look for her to be a contributor in the field and at the plate this year."
Minnesota will round out the infield with sophomore Jessie Hathaway (Honolulu, Hawaii) at shortstop. Hathaway appeared in five games as a freshman in 2010 including one start and developed over the offseason with the new staff to help fill the gap in the middle infield. "Jessie worked really hard this fall with Coach Merchant to be able to step in and play shortstop, and she has all the tools that she needs to be successful this year in the middle of our infield," Allister said.
Senior Mallory Mitchell (Forney, Texas) and junior Becca Barber (Savage, Minn.) will also compete for playing time in the infield. Mitchell will "give us depth at third base and second base and could also potentially step in at first base if need be," according to Allister. "Mallory comes to practice every day ready to work and pushes everyone around her to be better." Barber, meanwhile, can fill in all over the infield along with handling some of the catching responsibilities and adding speed on the base path. "Becca gives us versatility, she will be valuable to the depth of our team, and we feel comfortable with her in a number of positions and situations."
Outfield
The Gophers will have five viable options in the outfield this year, led by senior Aubrey Davis (Kennedale, Texas). Davis appeared in 41 games with 25 starts as a junior in 2010 and was tied with fellow outfielder Allie Siu for the fewest errors among returners (2). Davis' bat will also add versatility to her game this season. "Being a lefty hitter, Aubrey will give us some speed from that side of the plate while competing for time in the outfield," Allister said of the senior.
Meanwhile, Siu - also a left-handed hitter - is anticipated to play left field for the Gophers throughout the season. Siu (Maple Grove, Minn.) appeared in 30 games with 14 starts as a freshman. "Allie Siu gives us speed from the left side of the plate, and she's also working on swinging away this year to compliment her short game."
Freshmen Bree Blanchette (Eagan, Minn.) and Sara DuPaul (Blaine, Minn.) as well as sophomore Kelsey Klucas (Aitkin, Minn.) are also expected to compete for time in the outfield. Klucas appeared in 37 games as a freshman, utilizing her speed as a pinch runner to contribute throughout the season. "Kelsey is a very important part of our program. She comes to practice every day with a great attitude and a great work ethic," Allister said.
Blanchette batted .446 last season as a senior at Eagan High School and was a member of Eagan's 2008 state title team. "Bree's an outfielder with a strong arm and good speed. We're looking for her to step in at centerfield for us." DuPaul, meanwhile, is expected to contribute in the outfield as well as the pitching circle after closing out her prep career at nearby Blaine High School. A two-time all-state honoree, DuPaul was also a member of the 2009 NAFA National Championship team. "Sara is going to do a little bit of everything this year, but we primarily see her contributing in the outfield and in the batting order."
Designated Hitter/Pinch Runners
Minnesota will also utilize several of its players in specialty roles throughout the season including the Gophers' fourth and final senior. Natalie Neal (Frisco, Texas) will round out her collegiate career serving as Minnesota's designated hitter. "We're looking for Natalie to play a huge role in the middle of our lineup this year," Allister said. "We believe she'll have a strong presence there - she can hit for power, she can hit for average - and we're looking for Natalie to have a good senior year."
The Gophers will also employ a trio of speedsters to potentially come in as pinch runners in 2010. Klucas and Barber will join freshman Kristen Coonrod (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) to add speed for Minnesota on the base path. Coonrod was a late addition to the Gophers' roster, who has impressed the staff with her speed. "Kristen comes to practice every day ready to work, and she has shown us that she is willing to contribute any way she can this season."
Strong Strength of Schedule
Seven road trips await the Minnesota softball team to start the 2011 schedule before the Gophers open the Big Ten season at home in late March. While the team won't have the benefit of playing within the friendly confines of Jane Sage Cowles Stadium for the first month of the season, they will be taking on a pair of elite teams during nonconference action. The nonconference season is highlighted by the Wildcat Invitational in Tucson, Ariz. and the University of Missouri Tournament in Columbia. The Gophers will have a chance to play against two of the elite softball programs in the country at those events in Arizona and Missouri. Both teams competed in the Women's College World Series last season.
"We're excited to get going this season. We spend the first seven weeks on the road, and that's going to allow us to do two things. First, it's going to let us get a lot of games under our belts and help us learn a little bit about ourselves. Second, it will allow us to come together as a team. Both will be very important as we head into Big Ten play."
Minnesota opens the 2011 season on Feb. 12 at the Hotel Encanto Invitational in Las Cruces, N.M. A full schedule is available at Gophersports.com.
