Softball plays hardball
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The Iowa softball team will try to build on back-to-back third-place Big Ten finishes when it embarks on the 2010 season.
What you should know
The Hawkeyes will need to replace seven seniors after a successful 2009 campaign in which they accumulated a 33-11 overall record as of April 15.
“There was a lot of talent [this year],” outgoing senior Colleen McGlaughlin said. “A lot of young players — freshmen and sophomores — are big contributors to the team.”
Whom you should know
Senior-to-be Amanda Zust will assume the role of the go-to pitcher next season, after posting an impressive 16-4 record and compiling 105 strikeouts as of April 15. Zust has big shoes to fill as the No. 1 pitcher after the departure of Brittany Weil, one the most accomplished pitchers in school history.
“Britt and [Zust] have been great competitors here together,” head coach Gayle Blevins said. “They really pull for each other and they’ve benefited from having each other around.”
Sophomore-to-be Liz Watkins had a breakout season at catcher in her first year on campus. Watkins led Iowa in home runs as of April 15 with seven. She also contributed the second-most RBIs on the team, with 32 as of April 15.
Senior-to-be Lindsey Digmann returns for her final go-around after leading the Hawkeyes in batting average (.372) as of April 15. Katie Brown, Chelsey Carmody, and Katie Keim all return as starters in what was a solid infield in 2009.
Main rival
Blevins’ said her squad needs to approach every game with the same mindset, but there is no doubt conference rivals Michigan and Northwestern provide the most heated series for the Hawkeyes. Iowa, Northwestern, and Michigan are perennial fixtures at the top of the Big Ten.
Returning starters (statistics as of April 15)
Amanda Zust, P — 1.54 ERA, 105 SO, 16-4
Katie Keim, 3B — 14 H, 1 HR, 13 RBI
Katie Brown, 1B — .345 BA, 4 HR, 24 RBI
Chelsey Carmody, 2B — .343 BA, 11 SB, 46 H
Lindsey Digmann, OF — .372 BA, 16 H, 7 SB
Taylor Leichsenring, OF — .282 BA, 31 H, 6 SB
Liz Watkins, C — .330 BA, 7 HR, 32 RBI
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