LADY BLUES SOFTBALL
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season preview
Washburn ready for 2011
Talented group of newcomers mixed with veterans show promise for upcoming season The Washburn Lady Blues enter the 2011 season with optimism after a solid fall campaign with wins over a pair of NCAA Division I schools while mixing in a group of eight freshman and transfers for the upcoming season. The Lady Blues return two all-MIAA performers in senior catcher Jacque Horejsi and junior outfielder Lindsey Himpel. Both earned honorable mention all-MIAA honors last season. While ninth-year head coach Lisa Carey will look to replace the MIAA’s all-time leader in home runs in Tish Williams who finished her career third in NCAA Division
II history with 61 home runs and pitcher Kayla Long who led the Lady Blues with 11 wins wih a 3.21 ERA last season en route to all-MIAA honors. The Lady Blues outfield returns all three starters from last season in juniors Marissa Martin with Lindsey and Lauren Himpel. Newcomers Kacy Covert, who was a junior college all-American as well as freshman Jessie McGown will also compete for time in the outfield. Washburn returns three starters on the infield in all-MIAA pick Jacque Horejsi at catcher along with junior shortstop Lindsey Moore and sophomore Alex Zordel at first
base. Freshmen Shelby Erickson at shortstop will compete for time along with Katie Schroeder and Marisa Tetuan at second base. Freshman Hilary Weatherford will also look for time at catcher along with fellow freshman Paige Hightower, who also could see time play first base. Junior utility player Britny Cushing will also see time at multiple positions on the infield at third, first and catcher. In the circle sophomore Kelsie Novotny is the lone returning hurler for the Lady Blues. Last season she was 6-2 in six starts with 21 appearances recording almost a 3-to-1 strkeout to walk ratio.
The Washburn Lady Blues softball team was tabbed sixth in the MIAA preseason coaches poll which was released prior to the start of the season. Washburn picked up 64 points in the coaches poll. Nebraska-Omaha was tabbed as the team to beat by the coaches with 118 points and eight first-place votes. Emporia State had four first-place votes and 114 total points. Fort Hays State was third with 95 points and Central Missouri was fifth with 86 points followed by Washburn, Northwest Missouri, Truman, Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State tied for ninth with Southwest Baptist and Lincoln rounding out the poll.
2011 MEDIA GUIDE
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