Jan. 30, 2008

TULSA, Okla. - In real estate, the catch phrase is location, location, location. While the same can be said for softball, most coaches would prefer consistency, consistency, consistency.

Consistency certainly tops Head Coach John Bargfeldt's list of goals for the 2008 softball campaign. "We want to become more consistent and return to the ability to make the big play we had two years ago when we won the Conference USA title," said Bargfeldt. "With more competition at each position than we have had in the last three years, everyone on this team is pushing everyone else. Every player has to be at her highest level on a daily basis."

In 2007, the Golden Hurricane started four freshmen in almost every contest. The only other time TU has played as many rookies was in 2002. The freshmen of last season provided 37-percent of the team's hitting production. "We still have a young team, however, we also have a lot of experience now," Bargfeldt said. "We learned a lot last year, hopefully we have also been able to install the sense of urgency attitude we had two years ago."

Each year TU has become more athletic. More team speed has helped the Golden Hurricane just as much defensively as it has offensively.

"We have assembled a group with this team that could be as strong as we have had here at Tulsa," Bargfeldt said. "We really like the potential of this team to strike from any part of the lineup this season."

Pitching
Something new for the Golden Hurricane squad this season, will be a four-member pitching staff. Junior Katie Lee and sophomore Jackie Lawrence return after posting winning records in 2007. Freshmen Jordan Kinard and Lauren Menke will also work for time in the pitching circle.

"The biggest need for our pitching staff this season will be for someone to step in to be that "go-to" pitcher," said Bargfeldt. "We would like to have a three-person rotation working by the time league play starts, with another person that can come in for relief in case someone has an off day."

Lee led the squad with 12 wins in 2007, improving in almost every major category. The junior struck out nearly 60 more batters as a second-year hurler than she did as a rookie, in addition to doubling her win output. She also recorded four of TU's nine shutouts.

"Katie has improved each year she has been at TU," said Bargfeldt. She had an excellent conference year in 2007, when she went 7-1 in the conference. With her drive, she has the ability to improve even more."

Lawrence really made Hurricane fans go wild on several occasions in her first season at Tulsa. From posting her first collegiate no-hitter against an undefeated Oklahoma squad, becoming TU's first pitcher to record two no-no's in the same season and earning two National Player of the Week honors. Her 119 strikeouts were the second-most ever for a TU freshman.

"Lawrence has the `stuff' to beat anyone in the country," said Bargfeldt. "While she was bit a little by the injury bug last year, she has worked hard in the off-season to help prevent that this season."

Kinard set several state records while helping Mannford High School win a state championship. She broke the Oklahoma record for most strikeouts in a state tournament game with 31, in a state tournament with 63. She finished her high school career with 1,108 strikeouts. She also posted a 28-1 record as a senior, including a 0.067 ERA with 19 shutouts and 406 strikeouts for the Pirates.

"Jordan had a stellar high school career," Bargfeldt said. "She has the type of movement that can make her an ace of a staff, if she locates her pitches consistently."

Menke is the leading candidate for the relief pitcher spot this season. During her final two seasons at Midwest City High School, Menke won 45 games in the pitching circle for the Bombers, with 351 strikeouts and a sub-0.99 ERA.

"Lauren has a strong arm and movement in her pitches," said Bargfeldt. "She has the ability to change speeds that can really throw off a batter's timing, especially since she is a different type of pitcher from the rest of our staff."

Catcher
Sophomores Ashlee Lubniewski and Christian Timmons, platooned behind the plate in 2007, combining to throw out 15 runners for the Hurricane.

While both players have been pushing each other, Timmons emerged from the fall as the starter. Lubniewski spent much of the fall exhibition season rehabilitating an injury.

"We will try to use both catchers as much as we can, especially in the early part of the year," said Bargfeldt. "We want both players to be ready at a moment's notice as well as have the pitchers comfortable with either catcher behind the plate."

A strong defensive game during the fall helped Timmons, after the Oklahoma City native finished second on the 2007 squad with 210 putouts. "Christian has been working hard on improving her mental and physical approach to hitting. That hard work will go a long way to her becoming a more complete player."

Lubniewski's two solo home runs against OU at the Hardesty Complex helped propel the Hurricane past the previously unbeaten Sooners. For the year she posted five home runs and a .505 slugging percentage.

"After rehabilitating in the fall, Ashlee should be back to 100-percent for the start of the season," added Bargfeldt.

First Base
Senior Sara Dyer had big shoes to fill last season, her first as a full-time defensive player. Not only did she fill those big shoes, she filled a few more pairs as well. After leading the country in doubles last year, Dyer became TU's first three-time all-conference first team selection. Her 25 doubles, .379 batting average and 48 RBIs were all school records as well.

"We ask for a lot of leadership at first base in making defensive calls and Sara did a quality job in her first season at the position," said Bargfeldt. "Just as she told me it would, playing in the field definitely helped her hitting."

Freshman Jill Canete could be another option at the right corner of the infield. A versatile athlete, Canete was an all-state water polo player at Franklin High School.

"As a walk-on, Jill's attitude and toughness is what really impressed us," said Bargfeldt. "She then showed us good bat speed and power at the plate."

Second Base
Making the transition to the infield will be senior Lindsey Tower. Freshman Kelly Chapman will also compete with Tower for playing time at second base this season.

A three-year letterwinner, Tower will look to return to her team-leading form of her freshman campaign when she led the squad with a .313 batting average. In 2007, Tower recorded four multiple hit games, including a 3-for-3 performance against Eastern Illinois. She also had two doubles in the second game at UAB, while scoring a trio of runs in a 8-0 win.

"While Lindsey hasn't played second base since high school, she has worked very hard in relearning the position," said Bargfeldt. "We look forward to her being able to bookend her career with the same type of season she had in her first campaign."

Chapman posted a .449 batting average to go along with 14 doubles, five triples and four home runs as a senior at Rowlett High School. She also recorded 24 RBIs in her final year, while earning District Offensive Player of the Year honors.

"As a freshman, Kelly has the tools that might make it difficult to keep her off the field," Bargfeldt said. "She has a strong arm that can help the middle of the infield as well as some pop in her bat. With a good fall showing, she has earned the right to see playing time this season."

Shortstop
Junior Kailey Yarmer transferred to TU after helping Phoenix College win a pair of NJCAA national titles. She earned NFCA All-America honors in 2007, after posting a .447 batting average with 84 hits as a sophomore, including 18 doubles, two triples and 19 homeruns with 83 RBIs at PC. She was also 17-17 in stolen bases for the Bears while earning all-conference honors and earning back-to-back all-region honors. Yarmer helped Team USA to a 3-1 pool record at the World University Games this past summer.

"Yarmer will get first crack at shortstop this season," said Bargfeldt. "With two years of collegiate play as well as international experience, she will slide into the middle of the lineup. She has the ability to be a significant run producer for us this season, as well as continuing our tradition of having quality defensive shortstops."

Chapman may also see some time on the left side of the infield this year.

Third Base
Junior Stephanie Chomicki brings a spark to the infield that any coach would love to have on their team. A returning starter, Chomicki improved her batting average in 2007 by more than 200 points, finishing with a .311 average, ranking third on the squad in both average and hits with 47. She posted 12 multiple hit games last year, including a 4-for-4 performance against Eastern Illinois. In 2006, she recorded only three hits all year long.

"Chomicki returns after emerging as a starter in `07 with an outstanding year both offensively and defensively," said Bargfeldt. "She always has a great attitude to go along with a quickness and toughness we need in our third baseman. She is a player that has accepted many roles in her career, always doing what is best for the team."

Outfield
Junior Brooke Smart leads a group of outfielders that feature three returning starters. Sophomores Lauren Lindsay and Vanessa Vice combined to play in 109 games last season, with 105 starts. Freshmen Grace Young and Menke will also look for playing time in the outfield.

A patient hitter, Smart led the team with 29 walks in 2007 to go along with 38 hits and 17 runs batted in. Seeing the majority of action in leftfield, the Clovis, Calif. native recorded 81 putouts while roaming the outfield in 2007. She also recorded a trio of game-winning hits, all in the series finale during conference play.

"Brooke has the ability to play either left or center field," said Bargfeldt. "She is a great communicator in the outfield. Her ability to make quick adjustments has helped her make so many great plays."

An injury slowed her start to the 2007 season, however, Vice came on to finish second on the squad with a .326 batting average. After starting the season by going 2-for-8 in her first seven games, she posted an eight-game hitting streak, going 13-for-23 in the next eight contests to post the second-best batting average by a TU freshman in the program's history.

"Vanessa had an outstanding offensive year and made a nice transition from a high school first baseman to a collegiate center fielder last year," said Bargfeldt. "She has made even more progress in tracking hits in the fall. Her production last season is even more impressive considering she played despite needing corrective elbow surgery."

Lindsay was the first TU freshman hitter to post over 30 runs, hits and RBIs in the same season. She also led the team with eight home runs last season. She was also the leading hitter for the Golden Hurricane at the C-USA Championship. Her leadoff home run in the first round gave TU an early lead, while her seventh inning double gave TU hope of a comeback in its second game.

"Lauren has become very comfortable in right field," Bargfeldt said. "Her strong arm and emergence as an offensive weapon made up some for the loss of outstanding hitters from 2006."

When not pitching, Menke may also see time in the outfield. In addition to her exploits in the circle for the Bombers, Menke also hit .378 and .400, respectively, in her final two seasons in high school.

"Menke may have one of the two strongest arms on the team," said Bargfeldt. She is strong, fast and athletic and has worked hard on her hitting fundamentals to make her more successful offensively at the collegiate level. She could earn a starting role at a variety of positions."

Young was an all-state selection for Belleville West High School. She hit .426 as a senior with 43 hits, 34 runs and 35 RBIs for the Maroons. She also recorded six home runs and nine doubles for a .713 slugging percentage, while helping lead BWHS to its ninth consecutive regional championship.

"Grace is a lefty that may have as much power as any one on the team," said Bargfeldt. She can play first base or the outfield and has a strong arm. Her playing time will depend on how quickly she can adjust to the Division I level of pitching."

Designated Player
There are a number of players that can fill the designated player slot in the lineup this season. The DP slot will be another position where players may have to assume a new role on the team.

"At this time, we don't really have a full-time DP," Bargfeldt said. "Any one of four players could end up as the DP depending on how we're defended by the opposition. Our team's versatility allows us to treat this as a situational position. This allows us to create the best match-up, play a hot hitter or rest a position player while keeping their bat in the line-up."

Schedule
The Golden Hurricane will face eight teams that qualified for an NCAA Regional last season, while 22 teams had a winning record for a total of 39 games.

"We have improved the schedule this season," Bargfeldt said. "Only hosting one tournament this year will hopefully help make us road tougher, especially since we were able to add a road trip to perennial power LSU."

In addition to the Tigers, the Golden Hurricane will face other perinnel powers Oklahoma and Fresno State. Regional qualifiers UC Santa Barbara and Stetson, along with former MVC rival Creighton dot TU's schedule. Tulsa will also face a tough league schedule, as eight of the nine C-USA teams finished with winning records.

"We have to keep getting better if we want to keep taking the next step," said Bargfeldt. "Last season taught us an important lesson in that you have to play consistently. There is a lot of parity in C-USA. It is very tough to win on the road in this conference."