Toledo Softball to Kick Off 2016 Season at Charlotte First Pitch Classic

Saturday, February 13

Charlotte, NC

1:00 P.M.

University of Toledo

Massachusetts

2/10/2016 12:16:00 PM | Softball

TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo softball team will commence the 2016 season with three games at the Charlotte First Pitch Classic on Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 13-14 in Charlotte, NC. The Rockets will open with a doubleheader on Saturday against UMass at 1:00 p.m. and Youngstown State at 3:00 p.m., followed by a Sunday matchup vs. host Charlotte at 1:30 p.m.

Live stats will be available for all three games and a live video stream will be available for the Toledo vs. Charlotte game.

"Our team is excited and anxious to begin the season," head coach Kristen Butler said. "We have many new faces this season and I know they are just waiting to see what college softball is like. We have seen a lot of improvement since day one in August. Not only have we improved on the field, but our team has really come together to find our common goal. Our main focus these first few weeks is to celebrate the small things. We know that we need to play tough through all seven innings and it will take small accomplishments throughout the game to get a win."

Tournament Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 13
11:00 a.m. UMASS at Charlotte
1:00 p.m. UMASS vs. Toledo
3:00 p.m. Youngstown State vs. Toledo

Sunday, Feb. 14
11:30 a.m. UMASS vs. Youngstown State
1:30 p.m. Toledo at Charlotte
3:30 p.m. Youngstown State at Charlotte

2016 OUTLOOK

    Head coach Kristen Butler enters her second season with the Rockets with a team that has a solid mix of experience, leadership and young talent.
    Toledo is returning 10 letterwinners from last year's squad that finished with a 24-32 overall record and a 7-15 conference record. The Rockets are welcoming 10 newcomers to their 2016 roster.
    "I think we made a statement in the conference last year even though we didn't make the tournament," said Butler. "We saw a lot of positive changes as a team, such as higher fielding percentages, batting averages, stolen bases, home runs and power numbers. We made a statement that this program is on the rise. That helps us as a coaching staff to know how to better prepare for the conference season and what different things we need to focus on in the preseason.
    "Coming off the 2015 season there was a very high energy with the team that grew even more entering the fall. Everybody came in focused, everybody showed up in shape and determined to improve."
    The Rockets may be young, but Butler and assistant coaches Rod Radcliffe and Danielle Zymkowitz are excited for their team's potential and expect to see growth from last year.
    "Last year we had a lot of freshmen and sophomores in the lineup," Butler said. "This year we will again have a lot of freshmen in the lineup. Having a young team shouldn't make you nervous for the season, it should make you eager to work with them and watch them grow. It also makes it easier for the team to buy into a new coaching staff, which they have entirely."

PITCHING

    Returning to the mound for the Rockets is senior pitcher Marla Gooding who won 11 games last season and pitched 19 innings last fall. Butler says that Gooding's leadership on and off of the field is a huge asset for the team. She will be a big part of this season's success in the circle for Toledo.
    "Marla's maturity and game experience are really going to be a huge help for us, not only in the circle but by helping the other freshmen and the other pitchers really figure out what it takes to succeed in college," said Butler.
    Freshmen Danni Ryan, Heather Webb and Kim Frank have been added to the pitching lineup to boost versatility in the circle.
    "Danni, Heather and Kim are all pretty different pitchers so they are going to complement each other very well," said Butler. "We are going to rely on a couple of them for speed and the other two are going to be relied on for their movement, spin and location. It is so beneficial to have a team with a diverse group of pitchers so we are excited to have our freshmen here. Our pitching staff is going to be very well-rounded. Pitching depth is something that Toledo has been missing for a while and having four strong pitchers is going to be a huge help and relief to us come the beginning of the season."

CATCHING

Three catchers will complete the pitching battery this season. Toledo returns junior Ashley Maynard and sophomore Kaitlyn Bergman behind the plate and welcomes freshman Julia Miller to the lineup.
"I'm very happy to be returning both of our catchers this season," said Butler. "Their experience with the pitching staff is going to be a huge help when working with the freshmen. Julia is doing a great job so far, especially with communicating with the other pitchers. She has quickly caught on to the things we do here and has made an easy transition to Toledo softball."

INFIELD

    Sophomore Samantha Showalter and junior Chandler Rice will make a big impact on the infield. Showalter was named to the 2015 MAC All-Freshman team after recording a .252 average with 21 RBIs last season. Rice was a 2014 first-team All-MAC selection, batting .316 with team-high 60 hits and 33 RBI in 2015.
    "We are excited to return All-MAC players in Samantha and Chandler," Butler said. "Chandler will be playing all over the infield. She's been playing two different positions so far and might continue to do that throughout the season. Samantha is going a great job for us over at first base again and I think both of their defensive and offensive production will be a huge help for us again this year."
    Among the newcomers is junior transfer Brittany George and standout freshman Megan Choate. This past fall, George made an impact playing the left side of the infield and hitting in the middle of the lineup. She brings maturity and depth to the infield as an upperclassman. Choate has been a spark on defense and offense who provides speed and intensity.
    "We have added two sharp infielders in Brittany and Megan," said Butler. "Brittany was a junior college All-American, and played in the national championship last year with Owens. Having her experience at a winning level with a successful program is going to be a huge asset to us.
    "Megan is going to help us tremendously in the middle infield. She plays a lot older than a typical freshman; she plays with a lot of speed and maturity. We have additional freshmen who have helped us create depth in our infield, which is something we lacked last year."

OUTFIELD

    The Rockets are returning five players who will anchor a talented outfield for UT in 2016. Seniors Jessica Lemieux and Samantha Emery, junior Celeste Fidge and sophomores Ashley Rausch and Kylie Gross will remain one of the team's strongest assets this season.
    Lemieux is a 2014 All-MAC selection who recorded a team-high 14 doubles and 22 stolen bases last season.
    "Jessica is our on-base leader. She has one of our highest slugging percentages and batting averages," Butler said. "We are really looking for her leadership, not only in the outfield but especially at the plate. She hits at the top of the order for us because we always expect her to get on base. She is really going to spark our offense."
    Fidge is a power-hitter who recorded a team-high .561 slugging percentage and .348 batting average last season. She also led the team with four triples and 87 total bases.
    "Celeste is such a powerful athlete, and I'm excited for her potential in this coming season," said Butler. "Last year, she really increased her RBIs, slugging percentage, home runs and batting average so we are looking for her to continue to grow and produce even better numbers this year.
    "Ashley is returning in center field and she really worked herself hard at getting into the lineup as a freshman. With one of our higher batting averages, we will be looking for her to also be a good sparkplug for the offense."