Softball Preview, Part 2: Green Bay

Jan. 31, 2008

Although the Green Bay softball team was picked eighth in the 2008 Horizon League preseason softball poll, history suggests the Phoenix might not be too upset about the prognostication.

Last season, Green Bay was picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll, and wound up finishing third in the league with a 9-7 record. In 2005, the Phoenix was slated to finish last in the conference, but went on to an impressive 27-18 record and a berth in the NCAA tournament. Improving on expectations is becoming a trend the Green Bay coaching staff will gladly accept.

To help the cause, three second-team All-League performers return to this year's squad in senior pitcher Anna Bluemel, sophomore infielder Katie Cooney and junior utility player Mollie Kaebisch.

Bluemel, one of four seniors on the squad, boasted an impressive 2.22 earned run average and struck out 86 batters in 120 innings of work last season. Cooney, a freshman who started 39 out of 40 games for the Phoenix, led the team in batting average (.333) and hits (39). Kaebisch batted .303 and led the team in home runs (4), RBI's (22), and slugging percentage (.508).

Three of the four seniors have been with the Green Bay program since their freshman years. Helping out the infield will be senior first baseman Vanessa Lefan and shortstop Jenna Woepse. Lefan batted .250 on the season and boasted a fielding percentage of .981. Woepse led the Phoenix in walks (13) and stolen bases (11-11). Dana Brockman will be patrolling the outfield for her final season at Green Bay. Her impressive defensive play from a year ago (1.000 fielding percentage) should help led a strong defense for the Phoenix.

Green Bay returns its top two pitchers in Bluemel and Cooney. Cooney was 7-7 on the year with 65 strikeouts in 95 innings of work. A key component of their performance may hinder on the development behind the plate. Junior catcher Missy Schleicher started 15 games last season, and played solid defense. Also seeing time behind the plate this year will be sophomore Ashley Billerbeck.

The infield may be the strongest part of the Phoenix team. Woepse will anchor the team up the middle with her leadership skills, and sophomore Krissy Hanson will be back to start at second base. Hanson started 29 games as a freshman, and batted .256 while holding an impressive .991 fielding percentage making only one error on the season. At the corner infield positions will be Lefan at first base and Kaebisch at the hot corner. Also returning is sophomore Leah Korger, who should help provide depth for the infield.

Brockman will help lead a young outfield, as only one other player on the roster has made a start in the outfield. Melani Niederer started 36 games last year in right field as she compiled a .232 average with five stolen bases. The other outfield spot will be battled for by sophomore Jenna Nitti, and freshman Kendra Woepse. Kendra is the younger sister of Jenna Woepse.

An extended road trip will welcome the Phoenix this year, as they start the season with their first 20 games on the road. Green Bay will participate in the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Florida before traveling to Valparaiso, UIC, and Wright State. Of the final 18 games to the season, 11 will be played at Green Bay's Phoenix Field before the Horizon League tournament.

--Story provided by the Green Bay office of sports information.