Huskers Feature Talent, Experience in 2006

Hopes run high for the 2006 Nebraska softball team, as the Huskers return seven starters - including four All-Big 12 picks - and enjoy the deepest pitching staff since the 2002 squad that advanced to the Women’s College World Series. Driven by their own internal expectations and hard work, this year’s Huskers are determined to be the best they can be and are excited for the possibilities that come with reaching their potential.

"The goals are high for this season," Revelle said. "They've really been internal and really our focus this year is to be our best team. What comes from that, if it is Big 12 championships, regional championships and the Women's College World Series, then so be it. We feel like if we focus on being our best team, the other things will fall into place."

NU boasts proven production in all phases of the game and adds a mix of mature freshmen poised to contribute immediately. Despite the returning talent and promising newcomers, many outside the Husker program are unsure of what to expect from this year’s squad, even though Nebraska finished the 2005 season among the nation’s top 25 for the 11th straight year.

Although others may not be talking much about NU softball, Revelle is excited about her squad and what they can accomplish this season.

"What's interesting about this year is I don't think a lot of people are talking about Nebraska softball outside of here," she said. "I always kind of like that because it makes you sort of want to sneak up on people."

Part of the tempered expectations outside of the Huskers’ clubhouse revolve around Nebraska's lost offensive production of departed seniors Anne Steffan and Sheena Lawrick, who combined to lead NU in 10 offensive categories in 2005. Another pressing matter is the Huskers' desire to ease the load on returning All-Big 12 pitcher Ashley DeBuhr, who tossed more than 288 innings last year. Both are valid questions and the Huskers’ ability to answer them may define their success this season.

One thing Nebraska does return in 2006 that it did not in 2005 is an experienced pitcher. Prior to last season, the Huskers' three-pitcher staff of underclassmen had thrown a combined 36.2 innings. This season the NU staff returns all 402.1 innings thrown in 2005. The Huskers also add heralded in-state freshman Molly Hill, who enters her first season as a Husker after one of the most dominant high school careers in state history. The Wayne, Neb., native follows in the footsteps of recent Nebraska prep standouts DeBuhr and Peaches James, a former Husker who was a Big 12 Player of the Year and second-team All-American.

Even though she enjoyed an outstanding sophomore campaign, the workload wore on DeBuhr, who threw 252 more innings in her second year than she did in her first. DeBuhr started every Big 12 Conference game in 2006 and started every postseason game for the Big Red, which included four games at the Big 12 Tournament and three contests in the program’s 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament.

With the majority of the Big 12 schedule consisting of two games on consecutive days, DeBuhr often posted back-to-back complete games. On the first day of the Big 12 series and day one of the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments (three total games), DeBuhr posted a 10-2 record with a 1.35 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 83.0 innings.

On day two of the series and postseason tournaments, however, the Beatrice native showed natural fatigue, posting a 2-11 record with a 3.20 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 83.0 innings.

The addition of Hill, along with the return of junior Jaime Borg give Revelle and Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach Lori Sippel more options to manage the staff. With more experience and another talented arm, pitching should be an even bigger strength for the Huskers in 2006.

"Everyone knows that Ashley is a pitcher that can beat you on any given day," Revelle said. "Nobody knows who Molly is, but I really feel like they could be quite a 1-2 punch. I feel like it's wide open how we can use them. I think it could be a dynamic duo, and I think they both could achieve recognition and honors this year. They certainly have that kind of potential."

With the stability in the circle, Nebraska’s offense may not need to be as potent as it has been in years past, but that doesn’t mean the Husker hitters are content to let the pitchers do all of the work. NU returns 62 percent of its run production, 67 percent of its RBI production and 47 percent of its stolen base production this season. The loss of Steffan (.388, 41 R, 32 SB), a third-team All-American and first-team NFCA All-Midwest region selection Sheena Lawrick (.324, 48 RBIs, .435 OB%) present the biggest holes in the Husker lineup. While the impact of Steffan and Lawrick on NU’s offense cannot be diminished, the Huskers boast a balanced lineup. During Big 12 play, Nebraska faced some of the top pitchers in the nation on some of the country’s best teams and the rest of the lineup rose to the challenge. NU returns 78 percent of its run production and 79 percent of its RBI total from Big 12 play. In addition, the Huskers return their leading hitter in every offensive category from league games only.

The 2006 lineup will look much the same as it did in 2005, with the exception of Steffan and Lawrick. Senior Lizzy Aumua (formerly Rock) is expected to replace Steffan as the leadoff hitter. Aumua was outstanding as a junior college transfer last year, hitting .378 with 17 RBIs and a school-record 27 sacrifices. Senior Jessica Yoachim is expected to hit second after earning first-team All-Big 12 honors for the second straight season in 2005. Yoachim hit .324 with 27 stolen bases a season ago and led NU with a .321 average in Big 12 play.

The middle of the order will be without Lawrick, but will have a pair of familiar faces in senior Trisha Tannahill and junior Jamie Waldecker. Between the two, they have hit either third, fourth or fifth in the order for five combined seasons and have earned three combined All-Big 12 awards. Tannahill drove in 10 runs in 18 league games to lead the team, while Waldecker continued to improve her power numbers, as her seven home runs led the Huskers.

Juniors Devin Porter and Carmen Kier also return as experienced hitters. Porter showed marked improvement in her sophomore campaign providing several clutch hits while slugging nine doubles and producing 23 RBIs. Kier, who is known for her patience at the plate, produced an on-base percentage of .348 and is poised to have a breakthrough season after a full year of health following a pair of knee surgeries in her first two years.

Seniors Katie Linke and KoKo Tacha also return to the lineup. Both will be competing for starting positions and the two have combined to produce 40 RBIs in a combined 47 career starts.

Newcomers will also impact the lineup. Freshman Crystal Carwile is expected to hit in the middle of the order and replace Lawrick as the Huskers’ starting first baseman. Fellow freshmen Brittany Pascale and Meghan Mullin will also be competing for starting positions, with Pasacle possessing more of a power-hitting, middle-of-the-order bat, while Mullin utilizes bat control and speed that make her an ideal candidate to hit at the bottom of the order and set the table for the top of the lineup.