The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sports
Wednesday, March 16, 2016 — 7A

2016 Softball Preview

Managing the burden of expectations

The No. 2 Michigan softball 

team is no stranger to high 
expectations.

With 18 Big Ten conference 

titles, 
11 

Women’s 
College 
World 
Series 

appearances 
and 
a 
2005 

national championship to its 
name, the program has been a 
model of consistent success ever 
since head coach Carol Hutchins 
took over the reins in 1985.

However, this season is a bit 

different. Despite a 60-8 campaign 
in 2015 in which the Wolverines 
captured 
both 
the 
Big 
Ten 

regular-season and tournament 
titles, last year is remembered for 
something else.

Falling to No. 1 Florida in Game 

3 of the Women’s College World 
Series in Oklahoma City remains 
the lasting memory of a season in 
which everything else seemed to 
go right.

With the return of four All-

Americans 
— 
senior 
second 

baseman 
Sierra 
Romero, 

outfielders Kelly Christner and 
Sierra Lawrence and junior right-
handed pitcher Megan Betsa — 
and all but one starter from last 
year’s lineup, the Wolverines 
entered the season ranked No. 2 
and have remained firmly planted 
in that spot through the first 
month of this 2016 season.

The only way for Michigan to 

improve, of course, is by winning 
the national title. However, the 
Wolverines refuse to buy into the 
championship or bust mindset, 
and frankly, they shouldn’t.

“It’s a bust to everyone else,” 

Romero said. “To us, we trust 
our preparation, we trust the way 
that we’ve trained and we don’t 

change anything. We’re starting 
over. Last year doesn’t matter.”

For better or worse, what 

people love about sports is that 
anything can happen. A standout 
freshman can be trapped in a 
sophomore slump. A loaded team 
can be decimated by the injury 
bug. And a group accustomed 
to success can fall victim to 
complacency.

On the other side of the coin, 

an under-the-radar player can 
make a surprise showing. A run-
of-the-mill team can go on a tear. 
And an underdog can overtake a 
seemingly superior opponent.

None of these situations can 

be planned for in the preseason 

rankings, 
or 
even 
midway 

through the year. Yet, any one 
of these circumstances could 
change the course of an entire 
season.

Rankings seem to be awarded 

much significance, which is a bit 
puzzling given what they really 
are — attempts to combine past 
performances 
with 
personal 

predictions 
regarding 
player 

progression and future results.

A valiant but often futile effort.
For example, Michigan was 

ranked No. 8 at the start of the 
2015 
season, 
behind 
several 

SEC teams. But the Wolverines 
marched all the way to the World 
Series, beating many of them in 

the process.

By the same token, any number 

of factors could cause a regression 
from their No. 2 ranking.

No psychic, metric or keyboard 

warrior can predict the outcome 
of a season — not in February, 
March, April, May or June. 

So much is conditional, so 

much up to fate. No matter the 
expectations, nobody knows what 
will happen until it happens. 
Nothing can be taken for granted. 
Nothing is a given, nothing is 
guaranteed.

In truth, rankings are just 

numbers with someone else’s 
opinion attached.

That’s the mentality Michigan 

has adopted this season given 
its high expectations because, to 
Hutchins, the only opinions that 
matter are the ones in her locker 
room. In her mind, rankings are 
meaningless.

“This team has that burden of 

expectation that I frankly don’t 
have,” Hutchins said. “We don’t 
spend one minute on it. Nobody 
knows who was ranked second 
last year in the preseason, but 
clearly they were wrong.”

Though the Wolverines may 

have all the pieces in place to 
make a strong postseason run, in 
reality, the season has just begun. 
There’s no telling how, when or 
where their season will end.

“You don’t just go to the World 

Series, it’s not on our schedule 
card,” Hutchins said. “You have 
to earn it. Making it is a big deal. 
It’s hard to get there. ... How you 
respond to (challenges) is the key 
to success.”

Only Michigan’s play on the 

field in every game will determine 
the Wolverines’ fate this season.

For better or worse, it’s in their 

hands.

BETELHEM
ASHAME

On Softball

DELANEY RYAN/Daily

Michigan hopes to improve on its national runner-up finish last season.

Big Ten preview: 
2016 season won’t 
be a two-horse race

By TYLER COADY 

Daily Sports Writer

The 
Michigan 
softball 

dominance over the Big Ten 
is akin to that of the Romans 
over the Mediterranean under 
Augustus: 
It 
is 
long-lasting 

and filled with triumph. For 
30 years, the Wolverines have 
dominated the Big Ten, claiming 
18 conference championships 
and racking up 556 wins.

While No. 2 Michigan (20-2) 

enters this conference season 
as the clear favorite to hoist the 
title in May, a more competitive 
season beckons as a bevy of new 
challengers aims to dethrone 
the Wolverines.

No. 22 Minnesota and No. 

23 Nebraska are the most 
formidable 
contenders 
to 

Michigan, as they both are 
coming off NCAA Tournament 
appearances 
in 
2015 
and 

successful 
non-conference 

results this spring. Ohio State 
and Illinois are off to solid starts 
and both have received votes for 
the top-25 rankings this season.

Michigan 
State, 
Indiana, 

Purdue and Wisconsin also aim 
to make some noise as they all 
enter Big Ten play with winning 
records.

If 2015 was a two-horse 

race between Michigan and 
Minnesota, 2016 promises a 
different story.

The Daily broke down all the 

teams that should factor into the 
Big Ten race.

No. 22 Minnesota (16-7)
Having 
made 
last 
year’s 

NCAA Tournament regionals, 
the Golden Gophers were on 
the cusp of a Women’s College 
World Series berth, only to see it 
ruined by perennial powerhouse 
Arizona. Fast forward a year, 
and Minnesota is once again 
poised to challenge for a Big 
Ten championship and a World 
Series appearance.

In non-conference play, the 

Golden Gophers went up against 
numerous 
top-25 
opponents, 

earning several wins over the 
likes of No. 12 Georgia, No. 13 
Oklahoma and No. 21 Arizona 
State but also falling twice to 
No. 10 Florida State and once to 
No. 8 Washington.

When it comes to personnel, 

Minnesota relies heavily on 
right-hander Sara Groenewegen 
to keep them in games, eat up 
innings and provide a boost at 
the plate. Groenewegen has not 
lost her step in the circle so far 
this season, as she enters Big 
Ten play with an 11-3 record and 
1.80 ERA.

In the batter’s box, outfielder 

Kayla Wenner, infielder Sam 
Macken and infielder Danielle 
Parlich make up an imposing 
trio. They all hit over .300, with 
Wenner hitting a staggering 
.400.

If the Golden Gophers are able 

to find a reliable second pitcher 
to back up Groenewegen and 
take advantage of a conference 
schedule that does not include 
Michigan, expect this team to 
make a run at the Big Ten title. 

No. 23 Nebraska (15-6)
Cornhusker junior infielder 

MJ Knighten is putting up 
numbers that rival those of 
Michigan’s Sierra Romero. The 
California native is second in 
the nation with 12 home runs 
and is hitting an eye-popping 
.435. Her teammates aren’t far 
behind, as Nebraska boasts six 
other hitters who average over 
.300. Senior outfielder Kiki 
Stoves is hitting .403 with 19 
runs scored and senior infielder 
Alicia Armstrong has knocked 
in 20 RBI.

Couple this prolific lineup 

with a pitching rotation that 
consists of junior right-hander 
Cassie McClure (8-2, 2.51 ERA) 
and senior right-hander Emily 
Lockman (5-2, 2.82 ERA), and 
the Cornhuskers seem ready 
to take the next step from last 
year’s conference tournament 
runner-up into the Big Ten elite.

Ohio State (11-6)
The Buckeyes played all over 

the country to start their 2016 
campaign and came away with 
moderate success. A win over 
No. 21 Arizona State is the high 
mark of the Buckeyes’ season to 
date, while losses to No. 9 James 
Madison and No. 23 Nebraska 
keep them out of the top 25.

Ohio State’s strength derives 

from the fearsome top half of 
its lineup. Alex Bayne, with her 
.364 batting average and six 
home runs, leads the way while 
Cammi Prantl is hitting .370 and 
Erika Leonard sits at .339.

For the Buckeyes, a best-case 

scenario puts them in the upper 
echelon of the Big Ten, but a 
serious challenge to Michigan, 
Minnesota, and Nebraska at 
the top is unlikely due to an 
inconsistent pitching staff.

Illinois (13-7)
The Illini surprised many 

last season when they recovered 
from a 12-18 start to go 14-9 in 
the Big Ten and 26-27 overall. 
A weak schedule left Illinois 
with few quality opponents in 
the opening stages of 2016, but 
a win over No. 10 Florida State 
signaled its improvement.

The Illini rely heavily on 

their lineup to score runs, as 
pitcher Jade Vecvanags is prone 
to walks and pitcher Breanna 
Wonderly to home runs.

Luckily for Illinois, Kylie 

Johnson is hitting .389, Allie 
Bauch has knocked in 15 runs, 
and Nicole Evans and Carly 
Thomas have combined for eight 
home runs.

Like Ohio State, the Illini 

are capable of posing a serious 
challenge to the Big Ten elite, 
but a more likely outcome places 
them fighting to be the best of 
the rest.

Michigan State (14-10)
Buoyed by the strong play 

of Lea Foerster (.451 average) 
and Celeste Wood (18 RBI), 
Michigan State seems to have 
erased the memory of last year’s 
disastrous season and looks 
primed to play a major part in 
this Big Ten campaign.

So far, the Spartans lost to 

No. 21 Arizona State and No. 12 
Georgia by slim margins and 
have yet to record a victory over 
a ranked opponent.

Indiana (14-9)
An arduous non-conference 

slate posed problems for the 
Hoosiers, who lost to No. 11 
Texas A&M, No. 3 Auburn 
and No. 15 Kentucky. Despite 
problems 
against 
SEC 

opponents, Indiana played all 
of those teams close and took 
Auburn to extra innings.

Indiana’s strength is in its 

arms, as Tara Trainer and Josie 
Wood make up a menacing duo 
and form the backbone of the 
Hoosiers’ hopes for a top-half 
Big Ten finish.

Purdue (13-10)
February and March brought 

the Boilermakers all over the 
country, with an inconsistent 
outcome to show for it. At times, 
Purdue played well, with a 
win over then-No. 25 Central 
Florida. But on other days, the 
Boilermakers were blown out, 
suffering a 11-1 loss to No. 18 
Arizona.

If Purdue aims to better its 

11th-place finish of last season, 
the continued hot hitting of 
Kristen Hoppman and Katie 
Harrison 
is 
of 
the 
utmost 

importance.

Wisconsin (12-11)
Heading into Big Ten play 

last season, Wisconsin held a 
16-14 record. But conference 
matchups proved unfruitful for 
the Badgers, who stumbled to a 
5-17 Big Ten record.

A similar start to this season 

gives the Badgers hope that 
things will be different, and 
with Kelsey Jenkins and Chloe 
Miller having combined for 
eight home runs and 42 RBI to 
date, Wisconsin’s hopes hinge 
on continued production from 
those two.

Michigan will rely on veteran lineup

By AVI SHOLKOFF 

Daily Sports Writer

Veterans anchor the No. 2 

Michigan softball team’s lineup 
from top to bottom. Eight of the 
nine players who regularly start 
for Carol Hutchins’ Michigan 
team also had prominent roles for 
last year’s Women’s College World 
Series squad.

These 
veterans 
will 
lead 

the 
Wolverines 
into 
their 

first homestand and into the 
beginnings of the first part of 
their Big Ten schedule.

The 
Daily 
looks 
at 
how 

Michigan stacks up position by 
position.

Pitchers:
Fifth-year senior right-hander 

Sara Driesenga and junior right-
hander Megan Betsa have stepped 
up to fill the void of two-time 
All-American 
Haylie 
Wagner, 

who graduated last season. Betsa, 
while erratic at times — she has 
walked 38 batters — has thrown 
a whopping 87 strikeouts in 55 
innings, good for 11.1 strikeouts 
per seven innings, the third 
highest in the nation.

After losing last season to 

injury, 
Driesenga 
leads 
the 

Wolverines in innings pitched 
this year and also has compiled 
a 10-0 record. Sophomore Tera 
Blanco gives the Wolverines a 
much-needed third starter and 
after a rough first start against 
Florida, she recovered to throw 
two complete games and now 
boasts a 2.33 ERA. Hutchins also 
may choose to utilize freshman 
right-hander Leah Crockett as 
both a starter and reliever as well. 
Her only appearance came in one 
inning against Virginia Tech.

Catcher:
Michigan starts freshman Alex 

Sobczak behind the plate, and she 
has performed well at bat thus 
far, hitting two home runs and 
driving in 13 runs, while striking 
out just four times, the second-
fewest on the team. She will look 
to improve in the field, however, 
as she has six passed balls and two 
errors through her 19 games as 
catcher. She has caught only one 
of 16 runners attempting to steal, 
an area she’ll need to focus on 
going forward.

Freshman Katie Alexander and 

sophomore utility player Aidan 
Falk will also see some time 
catching for the pitching staff. 
Falk has homered three times to 
begin the year and has added 14 
RBI. She will look to cut down on 
her strikeouts, though, as she has 
11, the second-most on the team.

First base:
Blanco starts at first base, as 

she did last year, in addition to her 
role in the circle. She has gone on a 
tear this season for the Wolverines, 
hitting .426 with 24 RBI, second-
best on the team in both categories. 
She slugs a fantastic .607 and has 
remained errorless in the field. 
Falk and freshman Faith Canfield 
have also received some playing 
time at the position.

Second base:
For the past three years, the 

Wolverines’ 
infield 
has 
been 

anchored by Sierra Romero, and 
this season is no exception. After 
spending her first two years 
at shortstop, Romero began a 
successful transition to second 
base last year and commands 
the position again. Romero is 
currently in the midst of a 14-game 
hitting streak and leads Michigan 
in every triple crown category. 

Additionally, she leads the team 
in runs, slugging percentage and 
total bases.

Shortstop:
For her third straight year, 

junior Abby Ramirez will look to 
continue to start double plays in 
the infield. Thus far, she leads the 
Wolverines with five as well as 
37 putouts. Offensively, Ramirez 
ranks third on the team in batting 
average with a solid .413 and has 
adjusted well to her new spot in 
the lineup as the number two 
hitter.

Third base:
Despite 
junior 
Lindsay 

Montemarano’s hitting struggles 
— her batting average is .153 — 
she still has a substantial hold on 
the third-base position. Early-
season 
slumps 
have 
become 

commonplace 
for 
the 
junior, 

but her defense has remained 
consistent with a .944 fielding 
percentage.

Canfield has also garnered 

time at the hot corner this 
year, and if she improves her 
hitting, she could see even more 
chances. 
Sophomore 
Amanda 

Vargas continues to impress at 
the plate, hitting two pinch-hit 
home runs, and she may see more 

opportunities in the field.

Outfield:
Michigan is led by three top 

veteran 
outfielders, 
including 

two 
All-Americans 
in 
junior 

Kelly 
Christner 
and 
senior 

Sierra Lawrence. Rounding out 
the outfield is senior Kelsey 
Susalla, who also had a breakout 
performance last season.

Along with Romero, Lawrence 

is the only other player to have 
started all four years. Lawrence 
had an on-base percentage of .625 
and stole two bases last weekend, 
in a time when many Wolverines 
struggled 
at 
the 
plate. 
She 

continues to thrive in the leadoff 
spot, leading the team in stolen 
bases — stealing nine in nine 
attempts — and ranks fourth on 
the team in batting average.

Susalla has maintained her 

previous 
season’s 
offensive 

prowess, hitting five home runs, 
good for second-best on the team. 
Christner, while still hitting a 
solid .324, has cooled off a bit 
from her superb All-American 
performance last year. She hopes 
her movement in the batting 
order from the third to the sixth 
spot will continue to improve her 
hitting. 

DELANEY RYAN/Daily

Sophomore infielder Terra Blanco will see time both in the circle and at first base during the 2016 season.

