Monmouth,IL -- The Monmouth College women=s softball team starts its 1997 season this week hoping to continue a recent trend. After a six-year absence from the Midwest Conference tournament, the Fighting Scots placed third in 1995 and improved to second last spring. Third-year head coach Mia Smith has turned the softball program in the right direction, leading the Scots to back-to-back 19-win seasons.

Monmouth finished with a 19-11 mark last year and is 38-21 over the past two seasons. The Scots have posted an impressive 16-4 record against MWC teams in that span and will be shooting for their first divisional title since 1987. The team=s two league championships came in 1979 and 1987.

Despite losing three top offensive players to graduation, Smith can point to a strong nucleus of veteran players on this year=s roster. On the mound, the Scots return sophomore pitcher Sherilyn Daniels (Geneseo,IL/HS), who led the team with an 11-5 record in her first season. Daniels posted a respectable 2.39 ERA in 115 innings with 14 complete games and 2 shutouts, striking out 43 batters while walking only nine. Seniors Jill Bowles (London Mills,IL/ Valley) and Angie Stevens (Sheboygan,WI/HS) will anchor the infield and provide solid team leadership. Bowles hit .284 last spring (23 hits, 10 RBI) while Stevens batted . 280 and both will be counted on for more offensive spark this season.

AWe need to fill our 3-4-5 positions in the lineup after graduation losses,@ said Smith. AOur outfield is solid and experienced and we will have good speed on the bases. The battery is young but talented and should be a strength. Our freshman class is quite promising but they need lots of playing time to develop.@

Three juniors return for the Scots in the outfield. Della Smith (Godfrey,IL/Alton) and Lynn Utter (Monmouth,IL/HS) are expected to claim two starting spots while the third will likely be filled by classmate Amy Gavlinski (Peoria,IL/Richwoods). Gavlinski was an All-Conference performer as a freshman but suffered a season-ending injury only eight games into the 1996 campaign. The catching duties will be handled by sophomore Beth Stannke (Coal Valley,IL/Orion), the team=s leading hitter at the plate a year ago. Stannke posted a .405 batting average and was second in hits with 32.

AOur overall team speed should allow us to generate some runs,@ added Smith. AThe pitching will carry us well if our offense can consistently score runs. We are hoping the younger players can gel with the veterans and help us repeat last year=s conference results.@

Freshman Laura Wagner (Canton,IL/HS) is one of the new faces Smith is hoping will contribute to the Scots= success. Wagner will be the team=s second pitcher behind Daniels and will see some time at first base. Jamie Earl (Galesburg,IL/HS) is another freshman who may see some time on the mound this spring.

Coe will again provide a stiff challenge to all MWC South Division teams along with a stronger Illinois College squad. Defending league champion Beloit, whose championship last spring was the first in school history and snapped a four-year title run by Coe, is expected to be tough again in the North Division. Carroll, Lake Forest and St. Norbert all won more than 15 games last year and could push the Buccaneers for the top spot.

Monmouth begins its season on March 20 with a road game at Augustana, one of two regionally-ranked non-conference teams the Scots will face this spring. The Vikings are rated third in the Midwest Region and Illinois Wesleyan is ranked sixth. IWU will visit Monmouth for an April 3rd doubleheader and the Scots will travel to Bloomington for Wesleyan=s tournament later in the month. Monmouth will open its Midwest Conference schedule on April 7th with a home doubleheader against Illinois College.

Back to Women's Softball