Feb. 7, 2006
For Illinois and many of the other programs around the country, the training is over and the season begins. The Illini open the 2006 softball season this weekend (Feb. 10-12) in Waco, Texas, in the Getterman Classic. The tournament which features host Baylor, Tulsa, and Wichita State, is a double-round robin meaning six games for each team.
Illinois is hoping to use the momentum from the end of last season, where the Illini won six of their last nine games, including an 8-7 victory at No. 18 Iowa. Illinois returns seven starters and its top pitcher from a year ago to try to improve on a 24-26 campaign.
"The biggest difference is how well they are playing together on the field," said Illinois Head Coach Terri Sullivan. "Trusting who's playing next to you and trusting their abilities also makes your confidence grow and helps you start to play aggressive."
One of the strong points is at the top of the order where the Illini have surrounded their big slugger, three-time All-Big Ten performer Jenna Hall, with some heavy hitters - senior Rachelle Corridi and sophomore Shanna Diller in front of her and freshman Kacey Coonce and sophomore Angelena Mexicano behind her.
"We're excited about our line-up," Sullivan said. "We think we have a lot of offense from top to bottom and people that can come off the bench and really make contributions."
The schedule, one of the toughest in the country, begins strong right away with two games against Baylor, ranked No. 10 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll and No. 11 in the USA Today/NFCA poll. The Bears advanced to the Super Regional a year ago and posted a 51-14 record, but the Bears return only four positions players. All four players, however, were All-Big 12. The Bears also return top pitcher Lisa Ferguson, another all-conference selection.
Baylor and Illinois have a history. The Bears and Illini split games in the 2004 NCAA Regional, hosted by the Baylor, and Illinois knocked the Bears out of the tournament with a 4-0 win. That however, is the only Illinois win in six tries against the traditionally strong Bear team. Last season Baylor defeated Illinois 5-2 and 3-1 in this same tournament.
Illinois is also familiar with Wichita State. Last season Illinois defeated the Shockers 4-2 in Las Vegas behind a three-run home run from Hall and a masterful six strikeout complete game pitching performance from Claire DeVreese.
Coach Sullivan says DeVreese has made great strides since last season. "Claire is a much improved pitcher," Sullivan said. "She's always going to be a hard thrower, but she has developed some other pitches and is smarter at throwing them. Experience of playing a great schedule as a freshman has made her improve as well."
Wichita State is the pre-season favorite over Southern Illinois to win the Missouri Valley Conference after advancing to the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Tulsa, under first-year head coach John Bargfeldt, has four straight winning seasons, including a 31-30 campaign in 2005.
GETTERMAN CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, 12:30 p.m. - Illinois vs. Wichita State
Friday, 5:30 p.m. - Baylor vs. Illinois
Saturday, 10 .m. - Illinois vs. Tulsa
Saturday, 3 p.m. - Baylor vs. Illinois
Sunday, 9 a.m. - Wichita State vs. Illinois
Sunday, 11 a.m. - Illinois vs. Tulsa
