Sept. 27, 2000

The much anticipated first Illinois softball recruits began class last month and played in two key fall softball tournaments in September. The Illini went 5-3 in tournaments at Orland Park, Ill., and Moline, Ill.

One of the highlights of the fall may have actually come in a loss. Before an overflow crowd at Centennial Park in Orland Park, the Illini met DePaul, a team that qualified for the NCAA Softball World Series in May. Illinois freshman pitcher Amanda Fortune gave up just one run and six singles in a 1-0 defeat to the hands of the Blue Demons. DePaul threw its ace against Illinois and freshman shortstop Lindsay Hamma and freshman third baseman Erin Jones each had hits. The only run in the game came on a bloop single in the sixth inning.

Thanks to the Illini presence, the Bradley Tournament at Orland Park drew record crowds Three players from Sandburg High School in Orland Park played in front of the home crowd. The Illinois coaching staff is trying to slowly work "The Big Train," Shannon Lindgren, back from injury and used her in the NIC Tournament for 2 1/3 innings in Moline the following week.

Based on the fall tournaments, Kathryn Nevard, a freshman from Camarillo, Calif., has emerged as the ace of the staff. Nevard appeared in six of the eight contests, logging a team-high 24.1 innings. She posted a 4-0 record with a team-best 1.15 ERA, walking two and striking out 30.

If pitching and defense indeed win championships, then the young team is in great shape. The staff allowed just nine walks, while striking out 40 and committed just three errors in the eight contests for a .986 fielding percentage. Fortune, who hails from Newhall, Calif., combined with Nevard to log 43 of the 50 innings pitched. In her 18 innings, Fortune posted a 1.94.

The team contains a number of pure athletes. Freshman Lindsay Hamma, who led Buffalo Grove to the state girls1 basketball title in 2000, has shown she has the hot bat. Hamma batted .542 with a double, a triple, and eight RBI. Kristie Sauter, a freshman from nearby Providence High School, and freshman Janna Sartini from Galt, Calif., are next in the batting department at .400 and .389, respectively.

The Illini power came from Katie O'Connell, who leads the team with 10 RBI. The freshman, who led Joliet High School to the state softball title, belted a three-run homer as the Illini battled from behind against Western Illinois in Orland Park and blasted a grand slam in a 12-0 win over South Suburban College.

Western out-slugged the Illini 8-4 in Orland, but the Illini got revenge with a 4-3 victory at the NIC Tournament. In that contest, the Illini battled back from a 3-1 deficit to score three runs in the top of the fifth. Singles by Jones, freshman Erin Montgomery of Casey-Westfield High School, O'Connell and Hamma, accounted for the runs. Hamma's two-run single in the fifth was the difference in a 3-2 victory over Truman State at the NIC. The tournament was plagued by rain. Illinois1 only other game during the weekend was a 7-4 loss to Drake, a contest the Illini led 4-0. Sartini1s triple was the big blow offensively for Illinois.

In other action at the Bradley Tourney, the Illini scored three runs in the top of seventh to down the Braves, 3-0.

Illinois opens the regular season on Feb. 9 at the Sam Houston Tournament. The first game at Eichelberger Field is slated for March 27 vs. Valparaiso.