Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Optimistic Heading Into New Season
2/10/2016 12:23:00 PM | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – There was noticeable optimism around Indiana softball practice as the Hoosiers wrapped up their final preseason tune-ups before traveling to Tempe, Ariz., for the season-opening 2016 Kajikawa Classic.
Admittedly, part of it had to do with the weather. Heading out west to start a new season typically sparks excitement in Bloomington where snow continues to come and go throughout February.
But there's a not-so-subtle confidence surrounding an Indiana team that returns the majority of an offense that set five program records in 2015 under first-year hitting coach Mike Perniciaro. That, combined with a young pitching staff, has the Hoosiers looking to improve on a 2015 season where they finished 11th in the Big Ten.
"There's something about our team where everyone really clicks well together," junior utility player Erin Lehman said. "We have good chemistry and a lot coming back, so I have high expectations for us."
Indiana's already proven offense didn't lose much to graduation in the offseason.
The Hoosiers' lineup returns eight of its nine most-used batters from a year ago, including its top-five hitters in terms of batting average. Lehman, the leader in that category a year ago, returns along with reigning home run and RBI leader Kelsey Dotson, top base stealer Rebecca Blitz and a cast of others who all have another year of experience under their belts.
"We were so powerful, so potent on offense last year that we're just trying to build on," fifth-year senior outfielder Shannon Cawley said. "We have so much experience in the lineup that going into the season, it just gives you that much more confidence when you're in the box because you know everyone from the top to the bottom can produce."
Unlike the batting order, Indiana's pitching staff will have an entirely new look this season.
Sophomore Emily Kirk is the veteran of the group but has just five appearances to her credit before suffering a torn ACL early last season. She's joined by true freshmen Tara Trainer and Josie Wood in rounding out the Hoosiers' rotation.
Though unproven at the college level, Trainer and Wood are expected to jump into the rotation along with Kirk immediately after finishing impressive prep careers.
Trainer, a righty, was named the Ohio Gatorade Softball Player of the Year after compiling a .32 ERA in 22 starts as a senior. Wood, a southpaw, went 21-3 in her final prep season with a .140 ERA.
"It's a new group, but it's a talented group," head coach Michelle Gardner said. "We've got a lot of confidence in those three we'll be using."
The young pitching staff is a foil of sorts to a veteran lineup.
This year's six-player senior class that headlines Indiana's offense is particularly meaningful to Gardner because they were some of the first players she got to recruit from start to finish after taking over the program before the 2009 season.
"These are really some of my first kids since I got her because it just took some time to turn them over," Gardner said. "But this is the first core group that I brought in and expected great things from and they have really produced every year and they've gotten better emotionally, physically—all the things you can ask for.
"This is their year to really do some great things in the Big Ten."
But before worrying about the conference, the Hoosiers have to manage a busy non-conference schedule and the frequent tournament trips that come with it.
Indiana will play 18 games over the next four weekends before a midweek road matchup against Kentucky and the Hoosiers' home opener against Ohio in the IU Classic March 12.
Between now and then, Gardner said her team will figure out how prepared it is quickly against the competition lined up in front of them.
Building off last season will be a challenge, Gardner said, but one Indiana is trying to take in stride.
"It's an exciting time," Dotson, a senior, said. "We've got a bunch of new kids mixed in with a bunch of us who have been there before. Everything has been going smoothly so far. So we'll see how things go when we hit the Arizona."
Admittedly, part of it had to do with the weather. Heading out west to start a new season typically sparks excitement in Bloomington where snow continues to come and go throughout February.
But there's a not-so-subtle confidence surrounding an Indiana team that returns the majority of an offense that set five program records in 2015 under first-year hitting coach Mike Perniciaro. That, combined with a young pitching staff, has the Hoosiers looking to improve on a 2015 season where they finished 11th in the Big Ten.
"There's something about our team where everyone really clicks well together," junior utility player Erin Lehman said. "We have good chemistry and a lot coming back, so I have high expectations for us."
Indiana's already proven offense didn't lose much to graduation in the offseason.
The Hoosiers' lineup returns eight of its nine most-used batters from a year ago, including its top-five hitters in terms of batting average. Lehman, the leader in that category a year ago, returns along with reigning home run and RBI leader Kelsey Dotson, top base stealer Rebecca Blitz and a cast of others who all have another year of experience under their belts.
"We were so powerful, so potent on offense last year that we're just trying to build on," fifth-year senior outfielder Shannon Cawley said. "We have so much experience in the lineup that going into the season, it just gives you that much more confidence when you're in the box because you know everyone from the top to the bottom can produce."
Unlike the batting order, Indiana's pitching staff will have an entirely new look this season.
Sophomore Emily Kirk is the veteran of the group but has just five appearances to her credit before suffering a torn ACL early last season. She's joined by true freshmen Tara Trainer and Josie Wood in rounding out the Hoosiers' rotation.
Though unproven at the college level, Trainer and Wood are expected to jump into the rotation along with Kirk immediately after finishing impressive prep careers.
Trainer, a righty, was named the Ohio Gatorade Softball Player of the Year after compiling a .32 ERA in 22 starts as a senior. Wood, a southpaw, went 21-3 in her final prep season with a .140 ERA.
"It's a new group, but it's a talented group," head coach Michelle Gardner said. "We've got a lot of confidence in those three we'll be using."
The young pitching staff is a foil of sorts to a veteran lineup.
This year's six-player senior class that headlines Indiana's offense is particularly meaningful to Gardner because they were some of the first players she got to recruit from start to finish after taking over the program before the 2009 season.
"These are really some of my first kids since I got her because it just took some time to turn them over," Gardner said. "But this is the first core group that I brought in and expected great things from and they have really produced every year and they've gotten better emotionally, physically—all the things you can ask for.
"This is their year to really do some great things in the Big Ten."
But before worrying about the conference, the Hoosiers have to manage a busy non-conference schedule and the frequent tournament trips that come with it.
Indiana will play 18 games over the next four weekends before a midweek road matchup against Kentucky and the Hoosiers' home opener against Ohio in the IU Classic March 12.
Between now and then, Gardner said her team will figure out how prepared it is quickly against the competition lined up in front of them.
Building off last season will be a challenge, Gardner said, but one Indiana is trying to take in stride.
"It's an exciting time," Dotson, a senior, said. "We've got a bunch of new kids mixed in with a bunch of us who have been there before. Everything has been going smoothly so far. So we'll see how things go when we hit the Arizona."
Players Mentioned
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