LOUISVILLE, Ky. ---A year after making the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Bellarmine softball team now prepares to embark on their 2013 campaign, with the hope of making it back to postseason play.
Coach Renee Hicks and the Knights return 13 players from last year's team that went 32-29 including power hitting seniors Megan Murdoch and Madi Ratliff. Murdoch heads into her final season as a Knight as the program's career leader in homes runs with 31 while Ratliff complimented Murdoch with 11 bombs of her own.
With the hard hitting duo leading the offensive charge, Hicks will look towards a young but talented pitching staff to cool opposing bats. The group is headlined by sophomore Alicia Miller, a 2nd team All-GLVC selection last year. The lefty from Alexandria, Ky. posted a 2.06 ERA in 231.1 innings while leading the nation in fewest walks per seven innings.
Hicks will have the benefit of the return of talented sophomore Tanner Tevis to the circle who was relegated to one pinch running appearance last season due to injury. Tevis was one of the top pitchers in the state of Kentucky two years ago for Scott County High School, being named a finalist for the Miss Softball award.
Behind Miller and Tevis, there will also be a quartet of freshmen looking to break into the pitching rotation for Bellarmine with Ally Foster, Amy Feie, Lindsey Wiles and Tabby Shewmaker all vying for spots. Foster is the most heralded of the group, coming off a standout prep career at Christian Academy in Louisville, which included being named 1st team All-State as well Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky.
Even if any of the four freshmen are not pitching, they are all versatile enough to push for playing time elsewhere on the field. Versatility is something that Coach Hicks will have throughout the lineup, as the majority of players will see time at various positions and spots in the batting order.
Sophomore Scarlett Powers has a stranglehold on the catching duties heading into the season after starting every game last season behind the dish. Offensively, the 6-foot Powers has as much pop in her bat as Murdoch and Ratliff, hitting nine homers during her first year in a BU uniform. Freshman Maddie Phillips will back up Powers with junior Lindsay Perry also figuring into the mix.
Ratliff and Murdoch will continue to hold down the left side of the infield as Coach Hicks is slated to keep Kelsey Hicks at second. Hicks is another player who can play multiple positions, with Shewmaker and sophomore Kayla Padgett also likely to see time.
Heading into the season, Coach Hicks will have to replace the void at first left by the departed Lauren Summe, with junior Abby Lenhart getting the first crack at it. Powers or Feie, who graduated from the same high school as Summe and will wear her No. 16 jersey, are other possibilities.
The outfield will be littered with options with Hannah Daunhauer and Casey Cleary starting on the outsides with Foster holding down centerfield when not pitching. Erin Sireno will also figure into the rotation as the junior has started 104 games through her first two seasons along with Meg Garl, who had an impressive fall season.
Bellarmine will open the 2013 campaign by playing six games in three days as part of the Charger Chillout hosted by Alabama-Huntsville. The Knights will face stiff competition in Decatur, taking on several premiere programs such as West Alabama and Barry University, both of whom made the NCAA Tournament last year.
