2011 Stetson Fastpitch the Hatters in both categories. Primarily known for her speed and precision bunting ability so far in her career, Knipp has reportedly shown off extra-base and home run power in preseason practice.
Jill Semento
Although Coach Griffin was prepared for the worst after senior Jill Semento (Umatilla, Fla.), a 2010 A-Sun AllTournament Team selection, suffered a preseason knee injury that threatened to keep her out all of 2011, all indications are that she has healed far ahead of schedule and is on track to start on Opening Day. A steady defensive infielder, Semento will surely be a key force in Stetson’s lineup as well after clubbing seven doubles, three home runs, driving in 16 runs and walking 25 times in her first season with the Hatters after transferring from South Carolina. Her home run against Jacksonville in the A-Sun tournament broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning and vaulted the Hatters to a 2-0 win over the Dolphins in their tourney opener. Cleghorn and Boyd will likely be Stetson’s secondary options at third base in 2011.
OUTFIELD The returning starter in left field is junior Brittany Knipp (Land O’Lakes, Fla.), a part-time starter as a freshman who seized the job on Opening Day 2010 and never looked back, batting .288 with 10 stolen bases, good for third on
The second half of the 2010 season saw now-sophomore Chelsea Whalley (Calgary, Alta.) claim the starting right field nod as she finished with a .230 batting average, five doubles, a home run, two stolen bases and five RBI. A left-handed hitter and right-handed thrower, the Canadian shocked visiting Jacksonville on Senior Day with a gametying home run to dead center field in the bottom of the seventh inning as Stetson rallied to win 2-1. Whalley will likely return to right field early in 2011 but will probably begin the season at designated player due to a minor injury. Candidates to spell Whalley or the other starting outfielders include Lowe, junior Grace Turner (Fort Myers, Fla.) and sophomore Lindsey Guenther (Deltona, Fla.). Guenther appeared in 35 games as a pinch runner and just one as a pinch hitter in her rookie year, scoring nine runs, while Turner scored 12 runs and stole four bases in 2010. She generally came off the bench to pinch run but also started two games in right field.
DESIGNATED PLAYER The DP slot will probably go to Whalley until she is healthy enough to return to the outfield; thereafter Griffin expects to use the hottest hitter not needed in the field that day at designated player. Six players started at DP for the Hatters
Chelsey Trotto last season, a scenario that could well repeat itself in 2011. Boyd, Owen, Perna and others could find themselves in such a purely offensive role.
SCHEDULE Stetson will start the year with 30 consecutive home games, mostly as part of the six tournaments (Stetson Leadoff Classic, Hatter Invitational, Hatter Classic, Stetson Invitational, Stetson Classic and Stetson Hatter Roundup) at Patricia Wilson Field. In addition to BC, MSU and 2010 Women’s College World Series semifinalist Tennessee (at #4, the highest-ranked team ever to play at Stetson), BCS conference programs Iowa and Kansas plus conference champions Bethune-Cookman (MEAC), Elon (Southern) and Lipscomb (Atlantic Sun) are among the 19 other schools that will step onto Patricia Wilson Field in 2011. The Hatters play 40 of their 52 regular season games at home this season, only leaving to visit A-Sun rivals Campbell (March 28), Mercer (April 2), Kennesaw State (April 3), FGCU (April 22), Jacksonville (May 6) and North Florida (May 8). For the first time since 2006, the A-Sun Tournament will not be in town; USC Upstate will host the six-team event May 12-14 in Spartanburg, S.C. The Hatters will try to qualify for the 12th consecutive season and ultimately win their second conference championship. Stetson last claimed the title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007.
2011 Season Preview
position as a junior. Already known around the league for her excellent range and tremendous throwing arm, Trotto came into her own as a hitter last year as well with a .307 batting average, 17 RBI, team-high 10 doubles, 13 stolen bases and 17 sacrifice hits, good for ninth in the nation in that category. If Trotto is unavailable, Perna or Oddo could conceivably play this position as well.
Freshman Chrissy Morello (Ormond Beach, Fla.) has more to fill than just the metaphorical shoes and position of Amy Joyce ‘10, but her #21 jersey as well. Joyce finished her Stetson career with top five totals in base hits (210), stolen bases (96) and walks (91) as well as a school record 141 runs scored. Like Joyce, Morello grew up within 30 minutes of Stetson’s campus, twice earning Daytona Beach News-Journal All-Area honors at Spruce Creek High School, a strong program that has also recently produced Alabama All-American pitcher Kelsi Dunne. Morello stole 62 bases in her four seasons and batted .567 and .452 in her final two seasons.
2011 Atlantic Sun Preseason Polls and Team
Brittany Knipp
Atlantic Sun Coaches Poll (1st Place Votes) 1. Lipscomb (8) - 118 points 2. USC Upstate (2) - 102 points 3. Kennesaw State (1) - 94 points 4. Florida Gulf Coast - 89 points 5. Jacksonville - 70 points 6. Stetson - 68 points 7. Campbell - 59 points 8. Mercer - 49 points 9. North Florida - 39 points 10. ETSU - 23 points 11. Belmont - 17 points
Preseason Team P - Morgan Childers, USC Upstate P - Whitney Kiihnl, Lipscomb C - Mollie Mitchell, Lipscomb IF - Courtney Billington, Lipscomb IF - Ashlee Burkett, Kennesaw State IF - Katie Kelly, Jacksonville IF - Chelsey Trotto, Stetson OF - Sarah Forgacs, Campbell OF - Kayla Ouellet, Jacksonville OF - Courtney Platt, FGCU DP - Jessica Cross, Kennesaw State
Preseason Player of the Year
Jessica Cross, Kennesaw State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Whitney Kiihnl, Lipscomb
A-Sun Tournament Champion
Lipscomb
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