WILLIAMSTOWN, MA — The West Division winner of the New England Small College Athletic Conference will host the conference tournament this year.
The Ephs would like to keep the tournament in Williamstown. Williams has hosted the tournament in even years three straight times, dating back to 2002. The Ephs had captured three consecutive NESCAC titles before Tufts won it in 2007.
“Like most teams, we’d like to make a run and win NESCACs,” Eph head coach Kris Herman said. “Being No. 1 in the West would be fun.”
Herman has 12 veteran players back from her squad that finished 20-16 in 2007, including her top three pitchers and five of her top six batters. Among those are junior shortstop Joey Lye, a First Team All-NESCAC selection one year ago, and senior Katie Powers, who was voted to the second team.
The Ephs hit .304 as a team in ’07, scoring 202 runs over 36 games. Herman said she thinks this team has the potential to surpass both those totals this spring.
“We feel good,” she said. “We have a lot of returning players but still lots of unknowns in regard to lineups, both offensively and defensively. Compared to last year we have much more depth and health and thus energy.”
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| Joey Lye '09 |
Lye, who will start at shortstop, led the Ephs in batting average (.404), hits (46), runs (36), on-base percentage (.460) and stolen bases (16 in 21 attempts) last year. She sets the tone from her lead-off spot.
Behind her, Powers, who will start at catcher, provides both average (.311) and pop (6 home runs in 103 at-bats). Junior Morgan Simpson will be somewhere in the line-up when not on the mound after batting .333 with 19 RBIs one year ago. Senior Taryn Goodman is back after hitting .284 as is junior Libby Copeland-Halperin, who batted .283. Sophomore Stephanie Brooks batted .322 in 59 Abs, and junior Emily Fowler-Cornfeld (.310, 4 HRs) provides even more power, both at the dish and in the circle.
“We are all better hitters than we were on Feb. 15,” Herman said. “I expect we’ll continue to get better as individuals and as a team. I am excited for all of these kids and for some marked improvement in a few others starting with (Katie) Blankshain, (Mary) Gelber, (Becky) Sansone and some rookies.
“They have all worked extremely hard on mechanics this winter. We have so many kids who can and will contribute with the bat.”
In the field, things are far from being determined. Powers will catch and Lye will be at shortstop, although sophomore Gelber is also working out there. At first base, Copeland-Halperin, Fowler-Cornfeld, senior Kristen Lemons and first-year Mary Beth Daub will all vie for time. At second, Simpson and Gelber will split time. Third base good be Goodman’s if she has a strong start, with Brooks pushing her.
The outfield competition is wide open with Lemons, Sansone and
Blankshain, first years Katie Zipps and Carly Ameen, all in the
mix. First-year Jesse Herzer will back-up Powers behind the plate,
as will Brooks.
On the mound, Herman can turn to veterans like senior Margaret Ryan, Simpson, Fowler-Cornfeld and first-years Daub and Caitlyn Cain. Ryan was an All-New England Regional hurler as a sophomore, but battled an injury last year and finished 4-6 with a 5.91 ERA. Simpson threw the most innings last year, going 10-5 with a 3.57 ERA in 100 innings. Fowler-Cornfeld went 6-5 with a 3.82 ERA in 73 innings.
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| Katie Powers '08 |
“We’ll use all five pitchers this year,” Herman said. “At the start we’ll use everyone and see how they all perform. Many of them play another position on the field as well, so that will evolve.”
As has been the case since Herman took over the program, the Ephs spring trip to California will test the mettle of her team immediately and often. The trip includes games against national and regional powers such as St. Thomas, Plattsburgh State, Tufts, and Pomona Pitzer.
“The advantages (of such a schedule) are that there are no questions about how good we’ll have to be to compete at the highest level,” Herman said. “We’ll be tested and be able to see how we respond as a team and as individuals.”
The Ephs begin their trip with a game against Hamline University Monday, March 17 at 8:30 a.m. PST.
