Chapman University
2008 Softball
Season Preview

Winter has come and gone and the Panthers are just a bit wiser, bolder, hopeful and stronger. Chapman University women’s softball coach Janet Lloyd could not have asked for more from her team of veterans; a roster that includes many familiar faces - 13 to be exact.

“We definitely are the same team (as last season), but the team did a lot of growing up over the break. Now, most of our girls have at least a full season of experience,” said Lloyd. “They worked hard physically and mentally in the off-season to prep them for this season.”

Lloyd’s 2007 team finished the season with a 28-13 record, silently exiting the regional playoffs after losses to Louisiana College and Mississippi College.

“Going to Louisiana (for the Division III softball regionals) made many of the players grow up. The team really felt the pressures of playing when the majority of the fans are rooting for their opponent,” said Lloyd. “That place was strongly one-sided and the girls quickly learned by the end of our trip that they had to get over their mental distractions when playing in the playoffs.”

The Panthers’ pitching staff is ready to pick up where its graduated All-America ace Maggie Wilder, left off.

“The transition has been tough, but we will get over it,” said Lloyd. “When you lose a 20-game winner you need to have your other pitchers step it up, and our girls are doing just that.”

This season, the Panthers will rely on senior RHP Jennifer Winford (2005 NCAA Division III All-Independent Rookie of the Year and 2006 Division III All-Independent Pitcher of the Year), as she hopes to shake off a sub-par 5-5 record last season.

“What she has focused her attention on is how to be mentally strong and have control of her game,” said Lloyd. “She’s been working hard.”

Helping Winford this season will be sophomores Vanessa Goncalves, Katie Finley and Ally Waffle who combined to go 11-6 last season as freshmen.

The Panthers’ infield army looks good led by senior SS Catherine Hall, who batted .328 and led the team with seven home runs and 41 RBI and was elected to both the ESPN Magazine’s Academic All-District team and to the NFCA’s All-West Region team. Sophomore Melanie Villarroel (2007 NFCA All-West Region, third team) will help anchor the middle infield after batting .337 and committing just one error in 35 games.

“I honestly don’t see anything but positives from our infield this year,” said Lloyd.  “They’re all healthy and are working hard at improving themselves.”

From behind the plate, the Panthers are sure to excite with the experienced platoon of senior Amanda Campbell and junior Kandy Francis. Each hit well over .300 and handled a pitching staff that maintained a 2.35 team ERA.

If there is a missing brick in the Panthers’ road to a World Series title, Lloyd knows it is finding the best team of three in Chapman’s outfield.

“Don’t get me wrong, we have great outfielders, but the hardest thing is finding those three with the best chemistry,” said Lloyd.  “It might come down to who hits the wall, but again, to try to find that mix we might rotate the girls to see what best fits.”

Junior Erin Dudzinski will return to centerfield, after earning much praise in her sophomore year. Dudzinski finished the 2007 season with team highs in batting average (.401), runs (33), hits (61) and doubles (14) while earning NFCA All-America honors. Dudzinski will once again provide power and speed from the leadoff spot, where she led the Panthers with 14 doubles and 15 stolen bases.

The Panthers have a hefty schedule to carry through April, facing the defending national champion Linfield (Ore.) on March 26, as well as NFCA-ranked No. 4 St. Thomas (Minn.), No. 7 Redlands and No. 9 Ithaca (N.Y.), but Lloyd and her team are always ready for the ride.

“It’s our team’s philosophy that if we can’t make the wins in the regular season, we still have postseason,” said Lloyd.  “It’s a bit of an advantage in facing teams such as Linfield during our regular season.  We can see what we are weak in and can correct them before we meet them again in the postseason.  If we come up with the upper hand in regular season, it only makes us think positively on what we can do on the field.”