2016 Season Preview: Softball
1/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 27, 2016
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2016 OUTLOOK
Under the direction of 32nd-year head coach Carol Hutchins, Michigan enters the 2016 season with the No. 2 ranking in the preseason polls -- its highest preseason ranking in 10 years -- and with the bulk of last season's NCAA runner-up squad back, including four All-Americans, the Wolverines have enough talent and experience for another successful season.
Hitting will be among the Wolverines' greatest strengths again this season. U-M returns all but one member of its powerful hitting lineup that led the nation with 118 home runs and set program records in runs scored (540) and runs batted in (504). Its top four will likely remain intact; junior outfielder Kelly Christner and senior outfielder Kelsey Susalla were breakout stars in their first season in the lineup last year and combined with mainstays senior outfielder Sierra Lawrence and senior second baseman Sierra Romero to boast 71 home runs, 271 RBI and 287 runs scored. Michigan also boasts great experience and reliability at the bottom of the order, most significantly from junior shortstop Abby Ramirez, who batted .371 from the No. 9 spot last season.
The Wolverines will carry a four-member pitching staff, headlined by All-America junior RHP Megan Betsa, who posted a 31-5 record last season with a 1.72 earned run average and 333 strikeouts. Graduate student RHP Sara Driesenga, who missed the majority of 2015 with a nagging rib injury, was granted a medical redshirt in the offseason and will provide another experienced arm, while sophomore RHP Tera Blanco will look to step up and break through in her first season as a starting pitcher.
The Wolverines welcome seven freshmen to the 2016 squad -- a pitcher, two catchers, two infielders and two outfielders. Alex Sobczak and Katie Alexander will likely split time at the catcher position, while several other newcomers also vie for playing time.
STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH
Sierra Romero -- Already the program's record holder in numerous career hitting categories, including batting average, run scored, home runs and RBI, Romero is arguably the best player in the country. She is a three-time All-American -- twice a first-team selection -- and was named the inaugural espnW Softball Player of the Year last season. She will look to take her game to another level in 2016.
Tera Blanco -- With a veteran three-member pitching staff already in place last year, Blanco saw limited time in the circle in her rookie campaign, instead starting most games as U-M's first baseman. She earned the large share of the innings during U-M's fall ball schedule and made significant strides, holding the opposition without a run scored through four appearances.
Alex Sobczak/Katie Alexander -- With the departure of four-year starting catcher Lauren Sweet, the Wolverines will debut a new face behind the plate this season. The freshman duo of Sobczak and Alexander have split time in practice and exhibition games since their arrival, and both will likely see playing time throughout the 2016 season.
Left: Sierra Romero // Right: Megan Betsa
KEY COMPETITIONS
Saturday, Feb. 13 -- vs. Florida (Tampa, Fla.)
The Wolverines will not have to wait long for a rematch against No. 1 Florida, facing the Gators on the just second day of the season at the USF-Wilson DeMarini Tournament. Michigan faced Florida five times in 2015, including last year's season opener, and while U-M claimed just one meeting, all five games were close, including three decided by one run.
Spring Break Trip, Feb. 26-March 5
Michigan will play 11 games, including six teams ranked in the preseason poll, over a nine-game stretch on its annual spring break trip to California. Included its busy slate, U-M will face No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 23 North Carolina State and No. 20 Washington at the Mary Nutter Memorial Tournament, No. 7 UCLA in a midweek road matchup and No. 15 Missouri and No. 21 California at the Judi Garman Classic.
Fri-Sun., March 25-26 -- Northwestern (Alumni Field)
The Wolverines will open the Big Ten portion of their schedule against perennial conference contender Northwestern -- a team, like Michigan, which annually finishes among the league's top teams. Michigan currently owns an eight-game win streak in the series against the Wildcats but has faced them just once over the last two seasons -- in the semifinals of last season's Big Ten Tournament.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On feeling eager to start the 2016 season ... "It's really why we do what we do. We get up every day to play the game. That's the fun part. We've two weeks left of practice, and at that point, we'll be ready to go."
On avoiding distractions related to expectations ... "They'll learn one way or the other, and they'll learn the hard way if they start making it more than it is. The bottom line is you have to expect to work hard every day. You have to expect that the season is going to be very difficult, and you can't expect anything else. Expectations are nothing more than thought processes that you put on yourself, and they get in the way of accomplishing your mission. We just need to consistently be a good softball team. We need to play good, consistent softball. We're talented. I'd like to see more consistency out of them."
On the leadership of the upperclassmen ... "I think they've set a good tone. Our leadership has come back strong. They understand hard work. To their credit, this team works really hard. Now it's time to see the rising sophomores step up, because we need them to fill in some of the gaps."
2015 RECAP
Michigan boasted one of the best seasons in its storied program history, registering a 60-8 record en route to its eighth straight Big Ten title, a Big Ten Tournament title and a runner-up finish at the Women's College World Series. The Wolverines combined powerful hitting with shutdown pitching, leading the nation with 118 home runs and setting school records in runs scored (540) and RBI (504) while combining for a stout 1.66 ERA and 18 shutout victories. U-M also boasted a program-best five All-Americans -- Kelly Christner, Sierra Romero, Megan Betsa, Sierra Lawrence and Haylie Wagner.
Communications Contact: Leah Howard
