Oklahoma City University enters the 2010 softball season looking to match last year's results and return to the NAIA Championships.
The Stars finished 53-9 last season and advanced to the semifinals of the national tournament. OCU has advanced to the national tournament 18 years in a row.
OCU has captured eight national championships in softball with its last coming in 2007.
OCU opens the season with an away doubleheader against Mid-America Christian at 2 p.m. Thursday. To see OCU coach Phil McSpadden preview the upcoming season on this week's OCU Athletics Update, go here.
“We will have more seniors in this class than we have ever had,” McSpadden said. “We think we can fill in the right pieces and come up with the right combination with the improvement of last year's sophomores and juniors.”
The Stars will be led by all-Americans Amanda Howard and Ashley Wilburn.
Howard, a senior from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, had a breakout season for OCU last year on her way to becoming NAIA and Sooner Athletic Conference player of the year. Howard hit .436 with 26 home runs, 58 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.
“She has improved so much over her career,” McSpadden said about Howard. “Last year we threw her into the leadoff spot, and I guess the confidence we were showing in her allowed her to have that much more confidence in herself.”
Wilburn, a senior from Gilmer, Texas, is a veteran pitcher for the Stars with good velocity. Wilburn earned second-team all-American honors with a 24-4 record and a 1.12 earned run average a year ago. She also hit .327 with four home runs and 20 RBIs.
“There is no question that we are expecting some bigger things out of her this year than last year,” McSpadden said of Wilburn. “Her velocity has always been her number one asset, but she is getting to where she has tighter spins on her pitches.”
A position-by-position look at the Stars:
Infield
With the loss of three senior infielders from last year's squad, the Stars will count on new faces to fill the void.
Jen Davis, a senior from Muscatine, Iowa, is the only full-time starter that returns on the infield. Davis had a .285 average with 11 home runs and 44 RBIs playing at first base a year ago. McSpadden expects that Davis will play either first base or third base for the Stars this season.
“She is a bat that we've got to have in our lineup, and she does so many things well,” McSpadden said. “We're hoping she's going to have a breakout year for us this year.”
Lily LaVelle, a sophomore from Bridge Creek, Okla., will spend time both at shortstop and in the circle. Lavelle hit .333 with seven homers and 41 RBIs and was named SAC freshman of the year last season.
“One of the biggest surprises that I have had as a coach is what Lily did for us last year,” McSpadden said. “She is valuable for us in two places.”
LeeAnn Lopez, a freshman from Grand Prairie, Texas, is expected to play on the right side of the infield after redshirting last year.
“We redshirted her a year ago, and I think it did her a lot of good,” McSpadden said. “I am impressed with her mental ability to deal with whatever. I think she will be a middle-of-the-order type of hitter.”
Alicia Clifton, a sophomore from Bethany, Okla., provides speed and will be counted on as a pinch runner. Clifton hit .364 with two RBIs and seven runs scored in limited time last season.
“She is a good athlete that we're hoping can become a good softball player,” McSpadden said. “I have a lot of confidence in her as a pinch runner, but there is more there. We are still trying to figure out where she can help us the most.”
Kelby Roberson, a freshman from Washington, Okla., is a talented newcomer that will see time in the middle infield this season.
“Kelby seems to handle adversity well. If she is able to do that, we might get great things out of her early in her career,” McSpadden said. “I would be shocked if she isn't playing second base for us this year. We are going to put a lot of pressure on her early, but maybe her personality will allow it.”
Nathalie Timmermans, a sophomore from Oldenzaal, Netherlands, joins the team this season with international experience with the Dutch national team.
“She is a big, strong girl that has a good arm,” McSpadden said. “Because of her size and athleticism, we think there is a lot there waiting to burst out. I hope I am not expecting too much from her, but I think she is going to be one of our better players.”
Melanie Mobley, a junior from Spokane, Wash., joins the Stars after spending two seasons at Wenatchee Valley (Wash.).
“She is a hard worker that seems to be very intelligent,” McSpadden said. “I think she is going to help us just from a good teammate standpoint. You always need those players who are willing to fill in wherever you need them to.”
Shari Misuraca, a freshman from Oklahoma City, was originally part of McSpadden's first recruiting class at OCU. She joins the Stars this year as an asset because of her maturity.
“During the course of the fall we are seeing more and more of what was there 20 years ago,” McSpadden said. “We couldn't sign anyone that is going to try any harder, and because of her maturity she is more beneficial in areas outside of the physical play of the game. I would be surprised if she is not a big-time asset for us by next year.”
Outfield
OCU returns two starters in the outfield in Howard and Laurin Hess.
Hess, a senior from Edmond, Okla., is a three-year starter that has provided timely hitting for the Stars in the past. Hess batted .326 with three home runs and 29 RBIs a year ago.
“Laurin is a pretty good athlete that has that bulldog mindset,” McSpadden said. “We're expecting a big year out of her now that she is older and a little bit more mature. She has always been clutch for us.”
Autumn Mayberry, a freshman from Mustang, Okla., is expected to fill the other starting outfield spot after redshirting a year ago.
“She has so many natural tools,” McSpadden said of Mayberry. “She is probably going to be our two-hole hitter this year.”
Katie Proffitt, a sophomore from Tulsa, Okla., is expected to see some time in the outfield this season. Proffitt hit .222 with an RBI and four runs scored in 18 plate appearances last season.
“This year I hope to get her more playing time just to see if we can use her in the outfield,” McSpadden said. “I am hoping this year will be a defining moment for her turnaround where we can count on her down the road.”
Kendall Hobens, a senior from Tulsa, Okla., is scheduled to redshirt.
Pitching
The Stars have three returners in the circle this season with Wilburn, LaVelle and Jenni Gaby all back from last year's team.
Gaby, a junior from Quitman, Texas, will look to return to the form that had her as the teams' ace two seasons ago.
“She has worked hard on getting her velocity up.” McSpadden said. “If we can get her back to where she was two years ago, there is no question that our pitching staff is going to be very much improved,”
Chelsey Eddy, a freshman from Rockwall, Texas, is expected to redshirt.
OCU will try for its ninth national title in 2010.
“We need to stabilize our infield and see where the offense goes,” McSpadden said. “We will be stronger in some areas and obviously weaker in some others. If Amanda just comes close to doing the same thing and everyone else picks up their game, I will feel good about our possibilities for duplicating last season's results.”
