Softball Preview, Part 1: Detroit

Jan. 30, 2008

Detroit Titans head softball coach Bob Wilkerson enters the 2008 season with just one player remaining from the 2006 squad which set a school record with 13 wins in the Horizon League.

Junior outfielder Jacqueline Nortman is the lone holdover, as Wilkerson has seen players transfer, graduate, and in the case of two-time Horizon League Player of the Year Kaleigh Rafter, take a year off to play in the 2008 Summer Olympics as part of Team Canada.

The loss of Rafter is probably the most glaring. The catcher/third baseman led the Horizon League in home runs (14), slugging percentage (.810), finished second in RBIs (35) and third in batting average (.413) on her way to a second consecutive POY award.

"Obviously Rafter is not a player that we can just replace, she was the best player in the league, and good enough to play in the Olympics," commented Wilkerson. "With her absence though, it gives somebody a chance to step up and contribute, but she will definitely be missed and we wish her the best of luck," he added.

The Titans suffered another loss at a key infield spot with the graduation of Sarah Dickey. Dickey, a two-time All-League First Team selection led the league in batting last season with a .448 average, and was the catalyst of the offense as her 36 runs scored ranked her third in the Horizon League.

Adrienne Baran and Michelle Baggio were also lost to graduation. Baran, a 2007 All-League Second Team selection was a key component in the circle for lat year's Titans as well as at the dish. Her .387 average ranked her third on the team, and her six home runs and 28 RBIs were both good for second. Baggio, the Titans second baseman of late, hit .366 last year and tied Baran for second on the team with six big flys.

"Losing those three hurts as well. We had a pretty good scoring offense last season, and Dickey was one of the best hitters in the country. The three of them combined were a big chunk of our offense last season, and it will be interesting to see how we deal with that," stated Wilkerson.

Wilkerson compares last season with this coming season to a teeter-totter. "Last year we had an outstanding offense, and could score a lot of runs. The problem was we were inexperienced in the circle, and we gave up a lot of runs as well. This year we have more experience in the circle, but we don't have the offense that we had last year. We go up in one spot, and down in another. It should be interesting," noted Wilkerson.

While the loss of the four aforementioned players looms large, all is not lost as a key group of newcomers earned a great deal of playing time last season, and their experience gained will be key.

Senior Kelli Short, a transfer from Owens Community College in Toledo, OH enters her second season with the Titans as both a pitcher and a middle of the lineup hitter. Last season saw Short get adjusted to NCAA Division I hitting. Short finished the season ranked in the top-10 in the Horizon League in both strikeouts and hits allowed, with 66 and 114 respectively. Short finished the season at 6-11, and posted an ERA of 5.03.

In addition to her pitching, Wilkerson is looking to get a little more out of her at the plate. Short was not able to duplicate her juco success (she hit .479 as a freshman at Owens) last season and Wilkerson looks for her to make the adjustment this season.

Joining Short in the circle will be sophomore Jill Perry. Perry, from Ortonville, Mich., was regarded as the Titans' best pitcher late in 2007. More of a control pitcher than one with overpowering stuff, Perry led the Horizon League with only 17 walks allowed in over 95 innings of work. Perry was also seventh on the circuit with 26 appearances including 10 starts, and she led the Titans in innings pitched with 95.1. While her 2-8 record may not be indicative of the way that she pitched, Perry will be looked upon the to lead the Titans as she is their active leader in career innings pitched at the DI level, despite being only a sophomore.

"Jill was our `go-to' pitcher by the tournament last season. She doesn't walk a lot of batters and she gives teams a different look being a lefty. Kelli should be a lot more relaxed this season now that she has had a year to adjust to Detroit and Division I. I look for her to have a good year," added the Titans' coach.

Wilkerson will look to sophomore Courtney Gill to replace some of the void left by Rafter at third and catcher. Gill, who split time with Rafter last season at both third base and behind the dish, started all 39 games that she appeared in, and has the best power numbers of any returning players. Gill clubbed five home runs and drove in 19 while sporting a .243 BA. She will most likely be used as the starting catcher for the Titans, as well as a second third baseman.

Jessica Liebner is the only infield holdover, having made 32 starts at first base a season ago. A sophomore from Ortonville, Mich., and a high school teammate of Jill Perry while at Brandon High School, Liebner is a solid defender, who showed promise at the plate early in the spring. Liebner will look to build duplicate last season's fast start and carry it through the entire campaign.

Another sophomore, Erica Houthoofd from Unionville, Mich., will look to garner a majority of playing time at second base in the absence of Baggio. Houthoofd made 17 starts a season ago and hit .231 in just 52 at-bats. With consistent playing time looming in 2008, Wilkerson will look for some production out of his new second baseman.

Houthoofd's double play partner will most likely be freshman Kristin Sclater. Hailing from Taylor, MI, and having played her prep ball at Kennedy High School, Sclater was a four-time All-District selection as well as a two-time All-Region nominee. Her team won a school record 34 games in 2005, and in 2007 she set a conference record for doubles in a season.

"The sophomores are going to have to step up and pay big for us this year; they have to play like seniors. Almost all of them got some starting experience last season, so they have a good base from which to build."

The hot corner will more than likely be occupied by freshman Ellen Sinclair. Sinclair a native of Chatham, Ont. (one of two Canadians on the team) possesses great glove and a good bat. "Sinclair is going to be a good player for us," commented Wilkerson.

The Titans' most experienced player will more than likely be patrolling left field. Junior Jacqueline Nortman, the only player left from the 2006 team, sports the highest batting average of any returning player, with a .287 average. Nortman was also second on last year's team with seven doubles. Nortman has appeared in 83 games in her first two seasons as a Titan, and Wilkerson will look to her a great deal in 2008.

"Tex (as she is called by her teammates) is a real leader for this team both on and off the field," stated Wilkerson. "The girls really look to her."

Look for Chelsea Lathrop to roam around in center for the Titans. Another one of Wilkerson's seven new faces this season, Lathrop a four-year letterwinner at Grapevine High School in Colleyville, Texas, has all of the tools to succeed for Detroit. A First Team All-District selection in 2007, and an honorable mention selection in 2006, Lathrop will be counted on to step into center field and make an impact.

Wilkerson's newcomer with the highest pedigree is perhaps Lauren Memmer. A freshman from Davisburg, MI (Lakeland High School), Memmer is the reigning Miss Softball (Pitcher) for the state of Michigan. A three time All-State selection who never posted and ERA over 1.00, including a mark of .195 her senior season, Memmer broke the state record for pitching victories in a career with 149, and was a four-time MVP in high school. She helped guide her team to the state finals in both 2006 and 2007, only to fall short both seasons. Memmer's 2007 squad posted an impressive record of 44-1 breaking the state record for team wins along the way. A dual threat, Memmer also batted .425 as a senior and Wilkerson looks to use her as his leadoff hitter this spring while she splits time both on the mound and in the outfield.

While Memmer was successful in high school, Wilkerson is quick to point out that she is just like any other freshmen. "She has not achieved anything yet, we would like to draw on her experience, but she has to prove that she is willing to work as hard, if not harder than everybody else." Wilkerson also pointed out that she will be treated like any other member of the team, and that it will be interesting to see how she does adjusting to the DI level. "There is no guarantee that her skills will translate to the next level, and her work ethic will be key in determining her success," he added.

Freshman Breana Sesoko from Anaheim Hills, CA looks to eat up some innings behind the plate. A four-year letterwinner from Canyon High School, Sesoko has been set back by some injuries this preseason but will look to make an impact when the season begins.

Kristen Gulock, yet another new face for the Titans this spring will more than likely miss much of the season due to a shoulder injury sustained in the fall. Twice a state champion while at Regina High School in Warren, MI, Gulock would have more than likely provided some infield depth for the Titans.

Sophomores Caitlin McPartlin and Katelyn McCutcheon will look to provide some depth, both in the infield and the outfield. McPartlin saw action in 12 games as a freshman and will look to back up Liebner at first base. McCutcheon, a walk on last fall, received just seven at-bats in her debut campaign, and will look to challenge some of the newcomers for playing time in the outfield.

Not only does Wilkerson have a lot of new faces in his lineup, but his coaching staff has received a complete makeover as he welcomes former Bowling Green standout Colleen Cardillo (formerly Bates), as well as former UDM great Dayna Peterson (formerly Rodrigues).

"I am really excited to have coaches with the playing experience of these two; the girls have really taken to them and their experience is something that the girls can learn from."

The Titans season starts early in 2008 with the first of two trips to Florida on Feb. 8, to take part in the Stetson Lead-Off Classic. A return trip to Florida at the beginning of March for the Rebel Games leads right into conference play. With non-conference opponents including Big Ten members Ohio State and Michigan State, as well as Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, and Central Michigan, the young Titans will have their mettle tested early and often.

Wilkerson concluded that "this is my smallest squad ever, so everybody is going to get some playing time, and it is going to be a fun and interesting season."

--Story provided by the Detroit office of sports information