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WIAC Preseason Poll
MENOMONIE (March 5, 2013) – With eight players returning who made at least 30 starts last season and a wealth of talented youngsters, UW-Stout softball coach
Chris Stainer likes the versatility of her 2013 team.
“We have options,” said Stainer, who enters her 15th year as the Blue Devils' head coach.
Stout returns all three starting outfielders and only second base will have a new player occupying the infield positions. A two year starter returns in the pitching circle. All of the spots will be backed up by young talent.
#Laura Vanderhoof# (Jr, Mankato, Minn) leads a very young pitching corp. Vanderhoof last year split duties and posted a team-best 15-10 overall record, making 20 starts. Vanderhoof pitched 154 innings, recording 89 strikeouts and finished with an earned run average of 3.05.
Vanderhoof and
#Tori Workman# (Fr, Prior Lake, Minn) are expected to be the team's “work horses” this season, Stainer said.
“Laura and Tori are just more powerful and a bit more refined at this time,” Stainer said. “But we have four additional pitchers that all have their own specialty to the mix. It will all come down to who is more effective.”
For the first time in many years, the Blue Devils will have a full bullpen to choose from with a staff of four pitchers set to come in late in the game.
Denise Sawdey (So, Medford) saw action last season and picked up one of Stout's three saves. Making three appearances, Sawdey did not allow a run.
Joining Sawdey in the bullpen will be
#Emily Weigsheid# (Fr, St. Peter, Minn), who had a medical red-shirt season,
#Nicole Rogers# (Fr, Brooklyn Center, Minn) and
#Sara Mueller# (Fr, Faribault, Minn).
“The role of these four pitchers will be to close the door,” Stainer said. “They all have their strengths. We would feel confident to put all four in to close. This is a very solid staff.”
#Sam Hastings# (Jr, Waukesha) will hold down the catching position. Hastings last year threw out 14 runners attempting to steal and started as catcher in all 42 games last year.
“Sam has stepped up even more,” Stainer said. “She is so much stronger, even from last fall.”
Backing up Hastings will be freshman
#Gabby Gawerluk# (St. Paul, Minn) and
#Jessica Behnke# (Jr, Bruce), who has played around the infield and outfield.
With the move of all-region player
#Hannah Sweet# (Jr, Elk River, Minn) to first base, Behnke is expected to take over the third base spot on a permanent basis.
“Jess is quick on bunts and her throwing is strong and consistent,” Stainer said.
Moving the 5-foot, 11-inch, Sweet to the opposite side of the diamond will take advantage of her offensive and defensive skills.
“The move to first will accentuate Hannah's strengths,” Stainer said. “Offensively, we will utilize her great bat. She has stepped up in a leadership role and is aggressive defensively. She is also one of our better relay players.”
Sweet, predominately playing at third base, occasionally at first base and three times serving as designated player, hit .317 (38-of-120) with 22 RBI.
Backing up first base will be Vanderhoof and designated player
#Taylor Workman# (So, Prior Lake, Minn). Backing up third base will be freshmen
#Sara Griesbach# (Stratford), #Danielle Hoover# (Plover) and
#Kari Kolle# (Eau Claire).
Erin Moss (Sr, Munster, Ind) split her time equally between second base and shortstop last year, but is expected to hold down the shortstop spot.
“Erin has always had fast feet and fast hands,” Stainer said. “Now, she is owning that leadership role.”
#Courtney Smith# (Fr, Dassel, Minn), another very athletic player coming in, will backup Moss at shortstop.
#Lynzi Knudtson# (So, Melrose) has been impressing the coaching staff to make second base her position. Knudtson played three games at second last year.
“Lynzi has made a 180 degree turnaround, even from last fall,” Stainer said. “You can tell she has put in the hard work in the offseason. Everything has really come together for her.”
Predominately used as either a pinch runner or pinch hitter, Knudtson is expected to become a slap hitter.
Kolle, who Stainer calls a very athletic freshman, will back up second base, as well as third base.
Taylor Workman should get the nod at the designated hitter position. Workman held that spot down in 28 games last year, Workman hit .264 with 12 RBI.
#Jessica Nicol# (Sr, Eau Claire), #Alison Gray# (Sr, St. Cloud, Minn) and
#Sam Stout# (Jr, La Crosse) return to the outfield. Nicol will return to left field, Gray in center and Stout in right.
Stout is working through a leg injury and Stainer said she will be used cautiously early in the season. It is her hope that Stout will be 100 percent soon. Meanwhile, freshman
#Kaitlyn Stark# (Hastings, Minn) could get the right field nod.
Nicol, a team captain along with Moss and Hastings, made the switch from pitcher to left field, and did not surrender the spot, playing in 38 of the 42 games.
“I am so proud of her,” Stainer said. “She has worked so diligently to refine herself. Jess has shown that her work ethic has paid off.”
In her first full year at the plate, Nicol hit .287, and Stainer said Nicol has stepped up at the plate.
Gray, a 2012 Academic All-American, has been a starter for the Blue Devils since the first game of her freshman year. As a freshman, Gray started at catcher, then moved to shortstop as a sophomore. Gray made the move to center field and will stay put this year.
“Alison is highly competitive and aspires to win, which can be contagious,” Stainer said. “She has a gun of arm. No one has a shot at scoring at the plate when she has the ball.”
Gray led the team in hitting last season, stroking the ball at a .353 clip (47-of-133) with a team-high 32 RBI and matched Moss with a team-high three home runs.
Stainer expects Rogers, Mueller, Smith and
Tori Workman to see some time in the outfield.
Stainer is liking what she sees from her 2013 team, especially the depth the team is showing.
“If this team wants to be successful, they will have to work together,” Stainer said. “If they all truly embrace their roles on the team, it will be highly effective.”
The Blue Devils will open the season when they travel to Rochester, Minn., to face second ranked Luther College, Wednesday, March 6 at 5 p.m. The Blue Devils will take on St. Olaf College, Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m. in Rosemount, Minn.
