| Softball Falls Twice on Day Two at Charleston Southern Invite |
| Saturday, February 20 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| Charleston, S.C. -- The Youngstown State softball team fell to 0-4 after dropping a pair of games on day two of the Charleston Southern Softball Invitational. The Penguins fell to St. John's, 10-0, and to Louisville, 7-4, on Saturday. In the opener, the Guins were limited to just one hit by sophomore Kristen Philen while the Red Storm plated six runs in the first inning en route to the victory. Against Louisville, the Cardinals plated four runs in the first inning, two in the second and one more in the third inning to take a 7-1 lead after three innings. In the bottom of the first, Kristina Rendle was hit by a pitch and scored on Kim Klonowski's double to left field. In the bottom of the sixth inning, after walks to Klonowski and Vicky Rumph, senior Autumn Grove smashed her second home run of the season, a three-run shot, to get the Guins within three, 7-4. The Penguins take on South Carolina State in a doubleheader, March 5, at Noon. |
| Seven Errors Sink Softball in 10-4 Season-Opening Loss to St. John's |
| Friday, February 19 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| Charleston, S.C. -- Sophomores Jordan Ingalls and Haley Thomas each tallied two hits but the Youngstown State softball team committed seven errors in a 10-4 season-opening loss to St. John's Friday morning at the Charleston Southern Invitational. Thomas also drove in two runs while senior Autumn Grove scored twice and cranked her 10th career home run. Grove started the scoring with a solo home run in her first at-bat of the season in the bottom of the second inning to give the Guins a 1-0 lead. The Red Storm knotted the game at 1-1 in the top of the third, but the Guins answered with a run in the bottom half of the frame to regain a 2-1 edge. Freshman Sarah Gabel led off the frame with a walk, moved to second and third on wild pitches and scored a Thomas single to left field. The Red Storm capitalized on three Penguins errors in the fourth to score four times, another miscue in the fifth to plate two runs and two more errors and another run in sitxth to jump out to an 8-3 advantage. In the bottom of the sixth, Grove led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on Kristen Philen's infield single and scored on Thomas' single up the middle. The Red Storm, who totaled 14 hits, would add two more runs in the top of the seventh. |
| 2010 Softball Preview |
| Thursday, February 18 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| Entering the 2010 softball season, Youngstown State Head Coach Brian Campbell’s squad has two commodities his first team lacked - experience and depth. The Penguins return 11 letterwinners, 10 starters and seven position players that have appeared in at least 50 games. Conversely, the team is still relatively young with 10 of the 18 players listed as underclassmen. As a matter of fact, only three position players and two pitchers have started on a full-time basis for more than one season. However, the addition of seven newcomers gives Campbell more options, will build competition and create the depth he has desired. "I think we have a great combination of experience and depth on this year’s team," Campbell said. "We do have some young players, but they saw a lot of action last season and that will benefit us greatly this season." Campbell said he likes the fact that his players are going to have to compete for positions. "Our newcomers are talented and are going to push our veteran players for playing time," Campbell said. "Healthy competition makes for a better ballclub and provides you with some depth." Infield Last season, the infield was almost revamped completely with only one player - Kim Klonowski - having any Division I playing experience at their position. This year, the infield from a season ago remains mostly intact only having to replace Allyse Ledford at the hot corner and the Penguins have six players to fill four spots. "I think it’s exciting to have some depth in the infield," Campbell said. "They are really learning from one another just by going through so many drills together." Klonowski, a junior team captain and a Second-Team All-Horizon League pick, turned in a monster year at first base batting .329 with 10 doubles, eight home runs and 32 runs batted in. Over the last 58 games, dating back to her freshman season, Klonowski is batting .346 (63-for-182) with 15 doubles. Junior Kristina Rendle returns for her second season at second base. Rendle started in all 50 games at second, collected 33 hits and led the team with 13 sacrifice bunts and six stolen bases. Rendle’s middle infield counterpart at shortstop is sophomore Kristen Philen. Philen, like Rendle, started all 50 games at the position and displayed some power at the plate. Philen belted two home runs and ripped six doubles during her freshman season. Pushing Philen at shortstop is freshman Caroline Krombach. Krombach was a four-year letterwinner at Brookfield Central High School in Wauwatosa, Wis. The biggest battle will be replacing Ledford at third base. Krombach, freshmen Vicky Rumph and Rebecca Bonola are all in the mix. During the summer of 2009, Rumph batted .399 with six home runs, 12 doubles, seven triples and 56 runs batted in . Bonola finished her high school career with a .365 batting average and was a two-time all-district selection. Campbell also stated that Philen could see some time at third base. Catcher Vying for time behind the dish is a trio of players, including Rumph, sophomore Amanda Palmore and senior Kristina Davidson. Palmore started all 50 games behind the plate as a freshman and ranked second on the squad with 23 walks. Davidson may also see some time in the outfield. "We’ve been able to add some depth to the position and this gives us a chance to work kids out at other spots," Campbell said. Outfield Like the infield a year ago, the outfield was retooled completely with three fresh face. This season, all three starting outfielders from a season ago return and three newcomers joining the fray gives Campbell a lot of versatility. Senior Autumn Grove, who played 47 games in left field last season, and freshman Sarah Gabel are battling for the starting spot in left. Grove posted 35 hits and cranked three home runs in 2009 and was named to the 2007 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team. Gabel was a Division III Second-Team All-Ohio selection and led her prep squad in batting average as a junior (.416) and senior (.424). She also led the Central District in runs batted in (42) as a senior. Patrolling center field for the second straight season will be sophomore Haley Thomas. Thomas recorded an impressive rookie campaign batting .327 with seven doubles, two triples and a home run. Classmate Jordan Ingalls will flank Thomas in right field for the second straight season. Ingalls led the team with a .331 batting average and became the first freshman to lead the team in hitting since Tiffany Patteson in 2003. "We now have two possibly all three slots in the outfield with experience," Campbell said. "They produced both offensively and defensively as freshman and Autumn improved as the year went on. "With Sarah, you have a true outfielder who has an opportunity to learn more with the experienced players next to her." Krombach and newcomer junior Erin Hilty could also see some action in the outfield. Pitchers The Penguins have five arms to go to in circle this season led by senior Cheryl Cale, who picked up seven victories last season. Cale proved to be a workhorse in the circle tossing 193.1 innings - the second most in school history - and completing 23 games - which ties for the fifth most. After redshirting last season due to a knee injury, junior Danielle Chase, another team captain, returns to the circle for the Penguins. Chase has six career victories, 71 career strikeouts and two shutouts. Senior Erin Schindler has made 23 career appearances and 12 career starts. Joining this veteran group are freshmen Hana Somogyi and Kayla Vallery. Somogyi was a four-time all-conference performer at Resurrection High School and set the school record for most strikeouts. Vallery was a three-time all-state pick and pitched 106.3 innings with 227 strikeouts and a 0.65 earned-run average as a senior. "Our pitching staff is a great mixture," Campbell said. "Each one has their own niche. We are going to try to put them in successful situations because they complement each other well." Designated Player Depending on who earns the spot in left field will tell who is going to be insert into the designated player role. Besides Grove and Gable, Schindler may be assigned to be the DP. |