Nov. 5, 2002
ATLANTA – Large amounts of rain this fall may have put a wrench the Georgia Tech softball team’s practice plans, but it would take a lot more than a little wet weather to dampen hopes of another strong season for the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champions.
“They were ready to start where we left off last spring. That was obvious,” said fifth-year Tech head coach Kate Madden. “In that respect it was one of our better falls, but at the same time we’ve never had a fall since I’ve been here where we’ve missed so many days of practice. It was just like we were rusty almost the whole fall, but we played well and played with confidence.”
Tech played three scrimmages this fall, posting a 1-1-1 record. The Jackets opened the fall season with a 1-1 tie, at Georgia State on October 6. Tech then posted a 6-0 win over Kennesaw State at Glenn Field on October 12. After an October 18 meeting with Wallace College was cancelled, the Jackets closed out the fall scrimmage season with a 3-1 loss at Georgia. All games were 10-inning contests.
“They just didn’t see enough live pitching,” added Madden. “We had a game cancelled, and I like to play at least four games in the fall.”
One constant for Tech this fall was the dominance of the pitching staff, which allowed just four runs in 30 innings of work. All three returnees: senior Tiffany Goodman, sophomore Jessica Sallinger and junior Erin Voeltz got plenty of innings and looked strong. The 2002 ACC Rookie of the Year, Sallinger led the Jackets with a 28-9 record a 1.17 earned run average and 337 strikeouts. Voeltz is also coming off an impressive season where she went 17-7. Goodman was 7-2 a year ago and figures to add important depth to the rotation this season.
“Our pitching was fine the whole fall,” said Madden. “Our pitchers gave up hardly any runs at all until the Georgia game and that was only three runs at the end. The pitching looked very good. If anything was lacking a bit it was probably our hitting.”
The Yellow Jacket bats should be fine come the start of the regular season, as Tech returns seven of eight field starters. Junior All-American shortstop Tara Knudsen leads the way, as she hit .374 with an ACC record-tying 16 homers and 51 runs batted. Senior catcher Lindsay Wood (.276, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 27 2B), junior right fielder Soraya Reddick (.283, 19 RBI) and junior center fielder Sara Wissmann (.257, 4 HR, 33 RBI) are also expected to add offensive punch.
The fall has also been an important adjustment period for Tech’s newcomers – three freshmen and two sophomore transfers. According to Madden, freshmen Elizabeth Carls (pitcher), Amy Hosier (outfield) and Lauren Schlechte (third base) are still learning the ropes of collegiate softball.
“I think they’ve adjusted just as most freshmen do,” said Madden. “They are still learning a lot and, some of the freshmen are being put in positions that they haven’t been put in before. They need to continue to learn that position. They are also just trying to get adjusted to how our team works. There’s a lot of potential with the freshmen. They’re going to add a lot.”
The pair of sophomore transfers, Liz Bartle (Young Harris College) and Peri Zakin (Miami (Ohio) University), are also important additions for the upcoming season.
The Jackets open the 2003 season February 8 against Boston College and South Carolina at the Gamecock Invitational. Tech will play a minimum of 17 games against teams that made the 2002 NCAA Tournament. The Yellow Jackets, who reached the finals of the Tallahassee regional a year ago, are coming off their first postseason appearance.
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