Huskers Have High Hopes for 2012 Season

The Nebraska softball team has high expectations for the 2012 season. The Huskers have their sights set on a championship season in their first year in the Big Ten Conference, and the squad looks to advance further in the NCAA Tournament than last year's regional final appearance.

The basis of these expectations? Eight returning starters from last year's 41-14 team that finished the season ranked 21st. Six returning all-conference selections, the highest total to begin a season in Husker history. The addition of three talented new players, including an Arkansas transfer who earned a spot on the SEC all-freshman team in 2010 and a pair of first-team high school All-Americans.

Nebraska made great strides in 2011, fueling the expectations for this spring. Last year, the Huskers returned to the national rankings for the first time in four seasons and advanced to an NCAA Regional final for the first time in six years. Along the way, the Huskers climbed as high as No. 11 in the national rankings, defeated eight ranked teams - including five top-10 squads - and posted a 5-4 record against the eight teams that made up the field at the 2011 Women's College World Series.

While last year's success certainly does not guarantee a successful spring for this year's group of Huskers, it provides a glimpse of Nebraska's potential this season. Nebraska must replace only two significant contributors from last season, and the Huskers' trio of talented newcomers is expected to help ease those losses.

"I am extremely excited for this season to begin," 20th-year head coach Rhonda Revelle said. "This team has so much talent and so much potential. I really believe the sky is the limit for this group.

"As coaches, we are going to hold this team to a very high standard in everything they do because we know how good they can be. We won't settle for anything less than seeing them live up to their potential. It's up to each and every one of us to work hard and stay focused on the process. If we do that and continue to support each other, this could be a season that really leaves a mark on this program."

As is normally the case in the sport of softball, Nebraska's hopes for a successful 2012 season begin in the circle. The Huskers boast one of the nation's top returning batteries in senior right-hander Ashley Hagemann and sophomore catcher Taylor Edwards. Edwards was a third-team All-American and a finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year last season, while Hagemann was a second-team all-region selection and a first-team all-league pick in a Big 12 Conference that featured five first- or second-team All-America pitchers.

"We have the utmost confidence in Hoggie and Taylor," Revelle said, referring to her potential All-America battery. "Ashley really took her game to another level last season, and she experienced tremendous success against some of the best teams in the country. She is a confident pitcher who has continued to dedicate herself to improving her game, and we look for her to be even more successful this season.

"And Taylor, what can you say about her? We expected her to make a tremendous impact as a freshman and she did just that. It's very difficult for a freshman catcher to come in and continue to produce throughout a long season and for her to not only do that, but to be an All-American and one of the top two or three catchers in the nation was phenomenal. As good as she was last year, we think Taylor has identified some areas of her game where she can improve, and we look for her to have another outstanding season.

"I really believe we have one of the best batteries in the nation. I expect both players will contend for All-America honors again this season and if that's the case, then our team will be in a great position to accomplish its goals."

Nebraska also boasts tremendous talent in its outfield, as every outfielder returns from the 2011 season. Senior Nikki Haget and junior Brooke Thomason have started nearly every game in center and right field, respectively, over the past two seasons. Together, the all-conference performers boast a combined .332 career batting average. Thomason is one of Nebraska's top power threats, as she leads all current Huskers with 19 career home runs. Haget is arguably NU's fastest player, as she leads all current Huskers with  30 career stolen bases, 101 runs scored and ranks second with a .343 batting average.

Sophomore Tatum Edwards could also figure into the outfield rotation, after earning starts in left field and as Nebraska's designated player in 2011, in addition to her pitching duties. As a freshman last season, Edwards batted .285 with 14 homers, 42 RBIs and a .588 slugging percentage.

"We're very fortunate to have a lot of different options in the outfield," Revelle said. "Nikki and Brooke have been all-conference performers, but we have other talented players ready to step up. We will look to put our best players on the field in an effort to give us the best chance to win, and that's what makes the outfield so interesting this year.

"Tatum could play in the outfield if we have another hitter step up and earn the designated player role, and freshman Jordan Bettiol had a very impressive fall season and she is definitely in the mix as well. Madison Drake is another player who did a tremendous job last season and by the end of the year was our starter in left field. And Megan Southworth also has starting experience in the outfield and will push for playing time this season.

"Overall, we have a lot of talented players competing for only three spots in the outfield. In an effort to get our nine best hitters in the lineup, it's certainly a possibility that some of our outfielders will have a chance to be our designated player, or maybe even fill in at another position."

On the infield, Nebraska must replace four-year starters Julie Brechtel and Heidi Foland, both of whom were lost to graduation. Aiding the transition are the return of senior Ashley Guile and junior Gabby Banda. Banda started at third base as a freshman and was Nebraska's starting shortstop last season. She will again be Nebraska's everyday starting shortstop in 2012, and her ability to play both third and short gives the coaching staff some flexibility in deciding where to play talented freshman Mattie Fowler.

Fowler will join Banda as a starter on the left side of the Husker infield. Fowler is expected to see most of her time at third base, but she could also see time at short, in addition to pitching for the Huskers. Fowler was a first-team high school All-American in 2011 and was the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Arizona.

On the right side of the infield, Guile returns for her second season as Nebraska's starting first baseman. An all-conference performer, Guile was one of 50 players named to the USA Softball Player-of-the-Year watch list in 2011. She boasts a .308 career batting average and leads all Huskers with 27 career doubles, 83 RBIs, 79 walks and 22 hit-by-pitches. Guile made a successful transition to the position last year, and this spring, she will be looked upon to provide a leadership role for a new starter at second base.

Junior Courtney Breault, a transfer from the University of Arkansas, is expected to contend for the starting second base job. Breault was a two-year starter for the Razorbacks and earned SEC all-freshman team honors in 2010. She underwent shoulder surgery last August and the recovery time may limit her availability early this season. Haget is the Huskers' other candidate to play second, where she started each of Nebraska's eight games during the fall season. A high school infielder, Haget's ability to play second could potentially open up a spot in the outfield for the talented contenders at that spot.

"We lost two great leaders on the infield from last season and while they will be missed, we have players ready to step up and fill those voids," Revelle said. "Ashley made a very successful transition to first base last season and she understands our defense, so she will be able to help organize our right side, in addition to adding consistent production to the middle of our lineup. We expect Courtney to line up beside Ashley when she gets back to full health, but we also have tremendous confidence in Nikki at second base.

"On the left side, Gabby is a terrific defender and we have confidence in her at shortstop. We also look for a big year out of Gabby at the plate, after a more consistent and productive sophomore season. Gabby's versatility defensively allows us to put Mattie in the best position to succeed. Mattie is a very talented and smart player who comes from a great softball family. We have no concerns at all about throwing this freshman into the fire, and we know she will produce in a starting role."

Although Nebraska returns eight starters from last season, starting spots are not guaranteed. Bettiol is sure to push Nebraska's five returning outfielders for playing time, while sophomore Kylee Muir made a big splash during the Huskers' fall season, when she batted .529 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in only 17 at bats. Revelle said Muir's best chance at earning a starting spot would be as the designated player, which would leave Tatum Edwards - an all-conference hitter in 2011 - looking for a spot elsewhere when she's not pitching.

Revelle sees the competition as something that can only benefit the team.

"We have a lot of players back, but there are some battles going on for playing time," she said. "We return all of our outfielders, but Jordan will make it hard to keep her off the field. Kylee had a terrific fall and adding her bat to the lineup only makes our offense that much stronger. We expect the competition to bring out the best in all of our players.

"As coaches, we will have some difficult decisions to make, but we're in a great position where we know we have plenty of players capable of producing. It's up to us to put our best players on the field and we're looking forward to that challenge."

Revelle also added that while defense is a high priority, the coaching staff is committed to sending its best possible lineup to the plate. Overall, Nebraska's returning hitters boast a combined .292 career batting average. Four players own career batting averages above .300, while three Huskers have career slugging percentages better than .550.

"We have some very talented hitters, and we may have a chance to have the best offense in school history," Revelle said. "We set several school records offensively last season, and we intend to do the same this year.

"When you look at our potential batting order and how those players have produced, and you look at what Hoggie has done in the circle...like I said, I can't wait for this season."