The University of Mississippi Athletics
Strong Senior Class Leads Rebel Softball In '10
2/5/2010 | Softball
Led by a talented senior class and boosted by an impact transfer, the Ole Miss Rebel softball squad enters the 2010 season with a barrel of experience and some lofty goals for the upcoming year.
"This senior class knew that they were the future of Ole Miss," said Rebel head coach Missy Dickerson. "Coming into their final season, I know they want to leave a legacy at Ole Miss and in the SEC. They've already accomplished so many things, but I think that it's important for them to accomplish two more things while they are here. The first is to have a winning season, which they've been so close to the last three years, and the other is to reach the NCAA Tournament. Those are the two huge goals that they want for this program and their legacy, so I don't think that they will settle for anything less."
In her fifth season at Ole Miss, Dickerson will coach a veteran-laden team that returns all three pitchers and all but one position starter from last year's squad. An experienced senior class is headlined by a pair of record setters in Lauren Grill and Becky Nye. Grill, a 2008 NFCA first team All-American, is the Ole Miss career leader in batting and ranks second in school history in both home runs and RBI, while Nye ranks in the top three in Ole Miss history in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched. The duo is joined by fellow seniors Alise Doubt, Ashley Dowdy, Courtnie Ghinaudo, Alyssa McGovern and Amber Tramp.
"Having such a large senior class should help carry the team," said Dickerson, who won three national championships as a player at UCLA. "They have faced everybody's No. 1 and No. 2 pitcher. They've faced more the of top programs in the nation in almost every possible situation. They've been there and done it. They should not see anything as an experienced senior class this year that will catch them off guard, and we hope that will trickle down to the rest of the team. The seniors know how to control their emotions, and the emotions of the rest of the team, based on who we are playing. I expect them to show a lot of leadership, which is such an important part of having a senior-laden team."
In addition to returning 11 players that started at least one game last season, the Rebels received a huge boost this past off-season when All-Big 12 pitcher Brittany Barnhill decided to transfer to Ole Miss from Texas. A two-way player, Barnhill led the Longhorns with 26 wins last season en route to first team All-Big 12 honors as a pitcher. At the plate, the Rhome, Texas, native blasted eight home runs and knocked in 26 runs a year ago and helped lead Texas to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in her two years in Austin.
"Anytime you can add a player of Brittany's caliber to your team, it can only make your program better," Dickerson said. "I think that her experience will be equal to our seniors, and that says a lot about her as an individual and a pitcher. I think that her abilities compliment our pitching staff tremendously. We are looking for her to be a presence out there on the mound."
Barnhill isn't the only new face around the program, as former All-American Megan Matthews Buning has joined the staff as pitching coach. After serving as an assistant at Florida State and associate head coach at Coastal Carolina, Matthews Buning is back in the SEC where she was a standout pitcher at South Carolina.
"Megan has brought a different perspective that has already paid dividends with the pitching staff," Dickerson said. "She has brought a new level of patience, and I think the girls are drawn to her because of her knowledge and experience as a pitcher."
The Pitching
The Rebels' experience this season will be especially evident in the circle where Ole Miss returns all three pitchers from a year ago. Right-hander Becky Nye returns after leading the team in wins (15), innings pitched (230.0), ERA (2.83), starts (28), complete games (22), shutouts (3) and strikeouts (140) last year. The McKinney, Texas, native is also the school's career leader in saves (6) and opponents' batting average (.228).
"We relied on Becky a lot last year, and I don't know that she was totally prepared for that," Dickerson said. "She has worked really hard this off-season and I know that she wants to have a successful senior year. She has to step up as a senior and lead the staff, meaning that she must take charge every time she steps out on the mound. When the other pitchers see that, they are going to want to follow her."
Also returning in the circle is junior Lindsey Perry and sophomore Kelly Chandler. Perry, a Madison, Miss., native, started 19 games a year ago for the Rebels and posted six wins with 61 K's in 97.2 innings. A Terry, Miss., native, Chandler posted a 2-1 record last year as a freshman and struck out 16 batters in 30.1 innings pitched.
"Lindsey and Kelly need to build their confidence in game situations," Dickerson said. "They had a really good fall, and you want that to transition out to the mound in a game. You are starting to see more and more confidence in practice, but the real test will be when they step out into the circle for a game. The hard work and refining of skills that were missing, is only going to help them both."
Transfer Brittany Barnhill brings a whole new dimension to the pitching staff. The hard-throwing righty struck out 264 batters over her two seasons as a Longhorn. A 2007 EA Sports All-American and the 2007 Texas Gatorade High School Player of the Year, she set a Texas state high school record with 1,715 career strikeouts.
"Brittany is definitely a power pitcher." Dickerson said. "She throws the ball hard and has the potential to blow the ball by people. She also has tremendous experience from playing in the Big 12 and competing at NCAA Regionals. During her time at Texas, she has played a lot of strong competition and many of the top teams in the country. She was the leader of their staff last year, and she has the potential to step into that role here. I think it pushes the other pitchers to do well, because they want to be where she has been.
"This year's pitching staff is probably the most complete we have ever had. The kids have really worked hard and they have bought in to what Megan is teaching them, and that is a huge plus."
The Offense
Led by Lauren Grill, the Rebels should field a powerful and speedy lineup this season. The Tualatin, Ore. native became the first player in Ole Miss history to earn first team All-American honors in 2008 and has 36 career home runs. Last season, Grill led the Rebels with 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 32 RBI. She also paced the squad with 31 walks, a .425 on-base percentage and a .608 slugging percentage. The two time All-SEC selection enters her final season with a chance to completely rewrite the Ole Miss record books. She is within sight of breaking school records in hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, runs, walks and total bases.
"What makes Grill such an outstanding hitter is she has very good pitch selection," Dickerson said. "There are not too many people that can fool her or throw the ball by her. She is able to adjust very well to each pitcher that we see with her quick hands and powerful swing."
Senior Ashley Dowdy also returns to add punch to the Rebel lineup. The former SEC All-Freshman team selection is tied for fourth in school history with 13 career home runs and finished second to Grill last year with seven round-trippers. She also finished second on the team with seven doubles and third with 21 RBI. She currently ranks fourth in school history in slugging percentage, fifth in walks, sixth in on-base percentage and ninth in total bases.
Speedy sophomore Corrine Doornberg returns after earning SEC All-Freshman team honors a year ago. The British Columbia native led the Rebels with a .315 batting average last season and tied for second on the squad with six steals.
"Corrine did a very good job with ball placement last year," Dickerson said. "You expect a lead-off hitter or a nine-hole hitter to get on base. Anytime you have a person with good bat control in one of those positions in your line-up, it just increases their opportunities to get on base. She can still improve on what she did last year, and we are hoping that she does that.
"The biggest area we need to improve on is pitch selection. Our problem last year was our discipline at the plate, and we are working hard on that this spring.
Dickerson is excited about the Rebels' speed this year, as Ole Miss returnees recorded 33 of the team's 36 stolen bases from a year ago.
"One of the things we have tried to do over the last couple of years is give our line-up more variety, and now I think we have that," Dickerson noted. "We have the ability to get on base with our slappers and to set up our power. It all comes down to being more disciplined at the plate and having a better eye for pitch selection."
Defensively, the Rebels return seven of their eight position starters, but the depth and experience of this squad gives Dickerson the ability to switch around the lineup. Doornberg has moved to the infield from the outfield, Dowdy is practicing in the outfield right now and Overbeck has moved over to third from shortstop last year. The Rebels also have six outfielders vying for three spots.
Other returning starters include Courtnie Ghinaudo, who started 32 games a year ago and led the team with three triples; Amber Tramp, who started 47 games at catcher last year and knocked in 11 runs; and Aly Presswood, who registered 24 hits in 46 starts at first base. The Rebels also return speedy outfielders Alise Doubt, Amanda Hutcheson and Alyssa McGovern, who combined for 12 steals a year ago. Cali Overbeck and Rachel Torres are also back after combining for 23 starts last year.
"I am excited by the amount of depth we have this year," Dickerson said. "We have so many options, and we can try some new things. It is going to come down to who is hitting the ball the best."
The Schedule
After playing 19 games against ranked opponents last season, fans can expect a similar road for the Rebels in 2010. Five of Ole Miss' opponents this season were ranked in the final top-25 polls, including four squads that were among the top 10. Also, Ole Miss will face 13 teams that earned NCAA Tournament bids last year and four squads that advanced to the Women's College World Series.
Ole Miss opens the season on Feb. 11 at the Kajikawa Classic, hosted by Arizona State, and will face off against the Sun Devils on the opening day. After traveling to Boca Raton, Fla., for a tournament hosted by Florida Atlantic, the Rebels will return home to host the annual Red & Blue Classic Feb. 26-28 at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. The Rebels will then travel to Woodstock, Ga. to take part in the Buzz Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech, before returning home to take on South Carolina in the SEC opener on March 10.
With such an experienced team, the Rebels know what it will take to reach their goals this season. The veteran players have the experience to compete against the top teams in the country. That experience is expected carry over to the younger players and lead the Rebels to new heights this season.
