GEORGETOWN, Texas - The 2012 season marks the first senior class that has built this program from the ground up for Coach Angela Froboese. In a very short time they have emerged as a dominate force of the SCAC and have turned their focus to a return trip to the NCAA Regionals.
"Our seniors bring a ton of experience," shares Froboese. "From the first season in 2009 they have been the leaders of this team and with the amount of experience they have I am expecting a big year for our team."
A major part of the senior class is a dominating pitching trio in Lyndsy Maus, Kaitlyn Pavlicek and Lauren Zearfoss. Zearfoss was the SCAC Co-Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer-of-the-Year last season after ending the year with a .95 ERA with a 17-6 record with 21 complete games and nine shutouts. She struckout 180 batters while walking just 36 all season, holding opponents to a .175 batting average. Maus and Pavlicek were both All-SCAC selections last season. Maus posted an impressive 2.65 ERA last year with an 11-8 record, striking out 107 while walking just 18 batters. She held opponents to a .239 batting average. Pavlicek saw limited action on the mound last year but was a big part of the pitching staff in years prior and has excelled, posting a 2.74 ERA her first-year.
"We have one of the best pitching cores in the conference, if not in the region and beyond," states Froboese. "They are really clicking as a group this year and have looked great. With Coach Erin Crawford working with them I think we can have an even better year. Lyndsy is a seasoned veteran, having faced every situation imaginable in her four seasons, Zearfoss now knows our conference and KP has looked outstanding so far this preseason, providing us with some additional options as she brings unique strengths to the mound. It starts in the circle for us this year and we will go as far as they can take us."
Pavlicek also heads up the power hitters for the Pirates. Southwestern returns five batters that posted above a .300 batting average last season, making their offensive attack one opponents are sure to envy. Pavlicek, Tessa Galloway, Kayla Irvin, Amanda Ambrose and Haley Hughes will provide a solid core from which Coach Froboese can build around.
"We have a lot of power returning, especially in our returning three, four, five hole hitters and I think we will have a strong line-up one through nine. At any moment and in every game you don't know which part of the line-up is going to produce runs. That is going to be key for us to win ballgames."
Another exciting first for Coach Froboese is the depth this team has and the versatility it provides. "We have backups this season which we haven't necessarily had in the past and they are so much more than that. They will be consistent contributors to this team and provide us with a lot of different line-up options. We may have a different set of nine each day, but we have 18 strong players that can play at any moment."
Part of that depth is a talented group of juniors that are small but mighty including Hughes, Abigail O'Connor and Jessica Bryant.
In the sophomore class is a group that got a lot of experience early on in their collegiate career and that will serve them well this season. "Our key is going be how our sophomores respond this year. I know what we are going to get from our juniors and seniors, they have proven it year to year and will continue to do so, but it is going to be on our sophomores to see if they can continue where they left off last season."
Enhancing this team are five first-years who help fill in the gaps for the Pirates. "We need some of our freshman to step up from the get-go, which I know they can," shares Froboese. "Some may be playing in some new spots this year and having to do so quicker than anticipated, and that is going to be one of our biggest challenges and opportunities."
Southwestern has one of the toughest schedules in the nation, facing five NFCA Preseason Top 25 teams. They open the season at home on February 17th, taking on Mary Hardin Baylor in a two game series. The Pirates were also invited to the incredibly competitive ASC Crossover at the beginning of March, the only team to be invited by the conference.
SU opens up conference action on March 24th when they host Austin College in a four game series. Southwestern was picked as the preseason favorite to win the SCAC West. The Pirates are also looking for their second SCAC Conference title and second trip to the big dance.
"One of our goals as a team is to get back to (NCAA) Regionals and one way we are doing that is by upping the ante and playing nationally and regionally ranked teams. In order to be the best you have to play and beat the best," shares Froboese. "I think we will be in every game with our talent and experience, but we will have to play our best."