By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---The No. 20 Owens Community College softball team will open its 2016 season this morning in Orlando, Fla. looking to make a return trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament.
"We've been working a lot on team chemistry and communication," said sophomore Emily Young. "I believe that with that we can go far, win the league and hopefully make it back to nationals this year."
Last year's Owens softball team finished 32-18 overall and 10-2 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play. They won the OCCAC championship, captured the Region XII District I tournament championship and earned a berth in the NJCAA Division II championship, where they went 1-2 overall with both losses coming to the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds.
This year's team, which opens the season ranked No. 20 in the NJCAA Division II poll and is picked to finish first in Region XII District I play, features a 1-2 punch in the circle with RHP Kailey Minarchick (Columbia Station/Columbia Station, Ohio) and RHP Miranda Benschoter (Elmwood/Bloomdale, Ohio).
"We work really well together," Minarchick said. "If I have a problem or something, I can go to her and she can tell me what I'm doing wrong."
Minarchick was named Division III-IV District Player of the Year, Division III-IV District Pitcher of the Year and Division IV Honorable Mention All-Ohio, while Benschoter went 20-3 with a 0.97 ERA and 227 strikeouts over 152 innings while being named First Team All-Northern Buckeye Conference (NBC), First Team All-District, NBC Pitcher of the Year and Division III First Team All-Ohio.
In addition to those two, the pitching staff will also feature RHP Morgan Gangwer (Lakota/Risingsun, Ohio) and RHP Megan Gregory (Rittman/Rittman, Ohio). Last year's No. 1 pitcher Lesley Ducat (Evergreen/Lyons, Ohio), who was the OCCAC Pitcher of the Year, is now pitching for NAIA Siena Heights University.
In the outfield, Owens returns three sophomores including reigning NJCAA Division II Third Team All-American Jacey Gray (Springfield/Holland, Ohio), Makayla Burtscher (Bedford/Temperance, Mich.) and Haley Kreger (Bedford/Temperance, Mich.).
Gray hit .468 with 56 runs, 26 RBI and a team-high 50 stolen bases last year from the right field position, while being named the OCCAC Player of the Year and Region XII District I Player of the Year in addition to her All-American honor. Burtscher was the team's leadoff hitter and hit .385 with 52 runs, six doubles, eight triples, five home runs, 24 RBI, 11 walks and 41 stolen bases. She joined Gray in becoming the only duo in program history to each record 40 or more steals in the same season.
Kreger, who was a backup outfielder last year while transitioning from soccer to softball. This year, with a full offseason and a fall season behind her, looks to get more playing time. She only had five at bats last year, but scored 12 runs and swiped four bases in pinch running duties.
"I'm really excited that I'm back with softball," Kreger said. "I've improved so much over the last year working on my fielding and my hitting, and I'm just really looking forward to this season."
In addition to those three sophomores, the lone freshman listed in the outfield on this year's roster is Sabina Watson (Bradford/Starke, Fla.)
In the infield, Owens returns two sophomores in Emily Young (Maumee/Maumee, Ohio) and Cassidy Rolf (Eastwood/Pemberville, Ohio).
Young, who figures to see a lot of time at shortstop this year, hit .379 with 27 runs, six doubles, five triples, two home runs, 24 RBI and 11 stolen bases last year. She hit a grand slam in the Region XII District I championship game. Rolf, meanwhile, appeared in 40 games as a freshman. She hit .291 with two triples and eight RBI.
In addition to those two, several freshmen could see time at various infield positions. Lindsey Wiggins (Bradford/Brooker, Fla.) should see plenty of time at first base, Jordan Hanf (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) and Michayla Barga (Bradford/Bradford, Ohio) can play a multitude of positions and Olivia Myers (Elmwood/Bloomdale, Ohio) will see some time in the middle infield.
Behind the plate will be the trio of sophomore Ericca Herzog (Southview/Sylvania, Ohio) and freshmen Angelique Prunty (Elyria/Elyria, Ohio) and Ashley Guthrie (Milan/Versailles, Ind.).
Herzog was featured as a backup catcher last year. She hit .189 with seven runs, three doubles and nine RBI in 29 games. Guthrie, who can also play infield, hit a school record 10 home runs as a senior at Milan High School last year. Prunty was a reserve at Elyria High School last year, but features plenty of offensive potential for this year's team.
The NJCAA recently released the top returning position players at the NJCAA Division II level, and Owens had five players on the list including Herzog, Rolf, Young, Burtscher and Gray. Furthermore, Minarchick and Benschoter were listed nationally as two of the top incoming freshmen.
In terms of the coaching staff, two new assistants have joined the team in Kim Lawson-Miesmer and Bill Bonham.
The Express open their 20-game spring trip schedule tomorrow. Their home schedule begins March 19 against Mott Community College and conference play begins April 8 against Sinclair Community College at home.
"I think we're all ready get out there and play some ball," Benschoter said. "We've been stuck inside for weeks now and we're just ready to get out there and do what we need to do and get the job done."
LINKS
2016 roster - here
2016 schedule - here
2016 video roster - here