1999 Season Outlook

Lincoln -- With the reaching of one goal another one always emerges. The Nebraska softball team, which for more than a decade had been out of the title hunt, was suddenly back in it in 1998. The goal of making it to the College World Series had been fulfilled, and in 1999 a new goal has emerged - continuing the dominance.

"A sense of expectation is going to be one of our strengths," Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "Now that we've been to a level, that sense of staying there. We're not going to surrender that easily."

Standing in the Huskers' way in 1999 is the daunting task of replacing the most dominant offensive class in school history. Nebraska's first three-time All-American, Ali Viola, along with Christie McCoy and Jenny Smith helped lead the Huskers to one of their most successful four-year stretches.

"The three of them have set the standard for leadership," Revelle said. "They wouldn't allow anything else. They wouldn't settle for less than the best."

Even with the loss of the three standouts the cupboard does not appear to be bare. Revelle has simply restocked the cupboard. The fall season was dominated by underclassmen and a pair of transfers, each of whom will help give the Huskers a quick look on the base paths.

"We are going to run more," Revelle said. "In order to run more we've got to get on base of course. You are going to see us do more things on the run, whether it's bunt and run, slap and run, run and hit.

"We'll probably try to manufacture a few more runs instead of waiting for the big bomb."

The Huskers will have a new defensive look as well. Three pitchers, including a first-team All-American and one of the top pitching prospects in the nation, will share time fairly evenly early in 1999.

"Defensively I think we'll have more depth and strength in the circle," Revelle said.

The Infield
No part of the Huskers' defensive setting will look more different than the infield in 1999. Gone are two four-year mainstays of the infield in Viola at shortstop and Smith at catcher.

Exactly how the infield will shake out will remain unclear until the season opener. One player who does have a spot locked up is junior second baseman Jennifer Lizama. Lizama, who won second-team All-America honors as a freshman, saw her numbers decline slightly in 1998. But with the weight of the offensive load shifted onto her shoulders, as it was during Viola's injury in 1997, Lizama could produce big numbers again in 1999. The only question mark concerning Lizama is her health. Lizama underwent surgery to repair a small tear in her rotator cuff following last season, but according to Revelle she will be ready to go by the start of the season.

"In her freshman year when Ali went down, she just kind of assumed the leadership job," Revelle said. "I think as soon as Ali graduated she took on some of the same kind of feelings.

"You are going to see a very focused and driven Jennifer Lizama in 1999."

Another definite in the young infield is sophomore Jamie Fuente at first base. Fuente had a stellar freshman campaign earning second-team All-Big 12 honors. As the second-leading long ball returner behind Lizama, her offensive output will be key for the Huskers this season.

"Jamie understands that she's going to be part of filling some shoes," Revelle said. "I think she's challenged and energized by that. She really believes that she can help close the gap offensively from what we did graduate."

The left side of the infield lacks a considerable amount of experience -- though not talent -- compared to that of the right.

True freshman Leigh Suhr is poised to take over the shortstop position from Viola this spring. Suhr, the honorary captain of the 1997 Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star All-State teams, is a very athletic prospect who possesses an excellent glove.

"Leigh has come in with a mentality that's not typical of a freshman," Revelle said. "She knows that she has been recruited to fill a position and I think she's taking that very seriously."

Suhr took it serious enough during the fall, leading all hitters with nine extra-base hits and ranking second with a .412 batting average. She also performed well in the field, committing just one error in 42 opportunities.

Returning to the hot corner in 1999 will be sophomore Cindy Roethemeyer, who started every game at third base a year ago. Roethemeyer was challenged by true freshman Clare Burnum in the fall, but Burnum will sit out the spring, leaving the starting job solely to Roethemeyer. According to Revelle, offensive and defensive improvement was seen from Roethemeyer during the fall, which will be necessary to maintain the starting job.

"Cindy's a lot more confident this year, a lot more at ease, a lot more sure of herself," Revelle said. "That shows up on the field in that she's playing with a better rhythm."

One of the most contested spots of the early spring will be catcher after losing four-year starter Smith. Junior transfer Ellen Middleton and redshirt freshman Heather Martin will likely share time behind the plate.

Middleton comes to Nebraska from Texas Tech where she was a two-year starter and ranked third on the team with 30 runs batted in. More importantly, Middleton was errorless behind the plate.

"She's very bright, very intelligent and she's a very competitive hitter," Revelle said. "I think Ellen has settled in and our pitchers feel comfortable with her."

Martin is slightly more familiar than Middleton with the Nebraska softball system after redshirting in 1998 following shoulder surgery. But since Martin is an excellent hitter, Revelle will also use her as a designated player.

Another player that could factor into the infield mix is true freshman, walk-on Lisa Baker from Hastings. Baker is the fastest player on the team according to Revelle.

"Once she gets her quickness and her instincts together, she could cause a lot of defenses problems," Revelle said. "She could score some really big runs for us."

The Outfield
The Husker outfield is perhaps one of the most deeply stocked, speedy and experienced outfields Nebraska has ever had. Nebraska has five players that will legitimately challenge for the three starting jobs in 1998.

One definite in the outfield, assuming she remains healthy, is junior Jenifer Williams. A two-year starter in center field, Williams was just beginning to find her offensive niche in 1998, when a broken foot sidelined her for the remainder of the season.

"Jenifer's really hungry to have a healthy season," Revelle said.

If Williams is consistent at the plate, she could be on her way to Big 12 honors in 1999. Revelle said the key to finding her offense is letting instincts carry her.

"On defense she just reacts and plays the game," Revelle said. "On offense she tries to plan it too much rather than let her instincts work."

Williams will most likely see a familiar face to her right as Kelly Pinkepank returns to left field. Pinkepank, the lone senior on the team, could have a breakout season in 1999 with her increased leadership role.

"Kelly is going to play more relaxed this year," Revelle said. "She's very talented, in fact she has as good of swing as anyone on the team. But the key is to get her to literally just play the game."

The right side of the outfield was a big question mark before the start of fall camp. But junior transfer Ginger Taylor won the starting job by virtue of a team-leading .429 batting average in the fall. Taylor has been indoctrinated into the Husker system for more than a year as she was forced to sit and watch the successes of last season's team after transferring from Alabama.

"Ginger has such a love for the game and she's had to sit out and watch," Revelle said. "She's a real spark. Her personality is a spark, her energy is a spark, her hustle is a spark and this fall she just made things happen."

Plenty of other talent could challenge Williams, Pinkepank and Taylor for quality playing time, however.

Junior Alice Brewer, who is one of the best clutch players in Nebraska history, will continue to adapt as she sees her role change once again. A utility player in the truest sense of the word, Brewer could play any of the outfield positions and could step into the infield as she did in 1997, if needed.

"I've called Alice our most valuable player in a lot of ways because she plays so many positions," Revelle said. "What makes Alice so good is how competitive she is. She's kind of one of those no fear types of players."

Another Husker who will see significant playing time in one role or another is sophomore Jessica Draemel, who showed her ability to start a year ago when she filled in for the injured Williams.

"You're going to see some real improvements in Draemel this year," Revelle said. "She's another one that puts a lot of pressure on herself and sometimes when you put a lot of pressure on yourself you slow your progress down a little bit. She's worked very hard in letting herself relax."

Two others who will see playing time are junior Jessica Robbins and freshman Jill Baker. The largest role for this duo will likely take place on the base paths, which becomes increasingly important in Nebraska's new run-orientated offense.

Robbins, a third-year player, will primarily see pinch-running duties.

"She's such a team player and so much wants to be a contributing member of this team that she will do whatever it takes to insure that she's helping," Revelle said.

Jill Baker, the third player on the squad from North Platte, might be used sparingly in outfield roles in addition to pinch running.

"That provides depth that we need," Revelle said. "I think she has a very bright future in Nebraska softball."

The Pitchers
For the first time in Nebraska softball history, the Husker pitching staff is anchored by a first-team All-American. Add to that a sophomore who pitched in 13 games a year ago and one of the finest recruits to come out of the state of Arizona in many years and you have what Revelle calls her deepest pitching staff yet.

Junior Jenny Voss, who led the nation in wins a year ago and broke nearly every single-season pitching record, returns with a chance to become Nebraska's second two-time first-team All-American.

"Jenny's going to be better this year, because in her own words, 'she's getting smarter,'" Revelle said. "From her freshman year until now she's really graduated from being a thrower to a real savvy pitcher.

"She's always been good, it's never been whether she could get the job done. It's just now she's really honed in on her mental game."

Voss will benefit the most from having a deep pitching staff. Over the past two years, Voss has pitched more innings than anyone in Husker history, which may have led to an impingement in her shoulder that was discovered over the summer. Although the injury hampered Voss in the fall, the coaching staff feels comfortable she will be ready to go by the spring.

Providing depth in 1999 will be the job of sophomore Lori Tschannen. Tschannen should see her workload increase as Voss receives more rest.

"I think she came in as a freshman a little bit wide-eyed and kind of went along for the ride and gained the experience, but now she's wanting to be a contributor."

Rounding out the three-person pitching staff and providing an entirely new defensive look will be true freshman Leigh Ann Walker. Walker, Arizona's prep leader in career strikeouts, gives the Huskers their first true rise-ball pitcher in more than a decade.

"It's a great complement to the other pitchers we have on the staff," Revelle said. "If we get all cylinders firing on every one of our pitchers then I think we'll be in every ballgame, and that's exciting."

Revelle anticipates all three pitchers seeing action at the start of the spring season.

"Early in the season you'll see more of an equal split," Revelle said. "But as it gets down to crunch time and we're playing Big 12, you go with who's hot."

Tough Schedule
Nebraska certainly didn't shy away from top-notch competition a year ago, as 23 of NU's games were played against teams in the final NFCA Top 25 poll. The Huskers have taken on the same attitude toward schedule strength in 1999.

"I believe a strong schedule is an essential ingredient in playing tough at the end of the season," Revelle said. "It prepares you for the pressure of postseason."

The Big 12 race will be extremely heated after sending three league teams to the College World Series a year ago with a fourth getting narrowly beat in the regional finals.

"We stack up in the Big 12 like we did last year," Revelle said. "If we play well we could win it. If we don't we could finish fourth or fifth. There's that much parity in the Big 12. It's going to be the team that's most ready to play day in and day out come that's going to win this thing."

Tops In The Classroom
Besides being great athletes, Nebraska softball players are great students. Coach Revelle consistently places players on academic all-conference teams.

Last season, six Husker softball players earned Academic All-Big 12 honors. In fact, the Nebraska softball program has produced at least one first-team academic all-conference player for seven consecutive years.

In addition, senior Jenny Smith earned Nebraska's 20th GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American, garnering third-team honors in 1998. Smith was also honored as the top female student-athlete at the University of Nebraska and was Nebraska's nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year.

Nebraska leads the nation with 162 Academic All-Americans in all sports and on all teams, 55 more than second-place Notre Dame's 107.

NU also leads the nation with 13 Top Eight Awards, which is the top award given to a student-athlete.

Home Sweet Home
One of the top facilities in the Big 12, the Nebraska Softball Complex gives the Huskers a definite advantage. The Huskers have won 16 straight games at home, dating back to the first home game of the 1998 season.

But the dominance didn't just begin last year. Nebraska has a 26-8 record against conference foes at home during the last four years.

In addition, the Huskers will be playing their first full season in the newly renovated Husker Softball Complex in 1999. More than a half million dollars was put into a new press box, entryway, lights and batting cages, which was unveiled for the 1998 NCAA Regional Tournament.

In the history of the Husker Softball Complex, Nebraska has won more than 75 percent of its games played at the complex.

The Youth Factor
With only one senior on the team and nine underclassmen, leadership could be a concern in 1999.

"We do lack experience in key positions in key games," Revelle said. "But I'd call it an opportunity rather than a weakness."

The Huskers will most likely start new players at shortstop, catcher, right field and designated player come spring. This factor combined with the new run-orientated offensive style, should give the Huskers a new look in 1999.