University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Of 2000 Have High Expectations
March 9, 2000 | Softball
March 9, 2000
North Carolina heads into the 2000 softball season with its sights set on unchartered territory. The Tar Heels are hoping to build on a successful 1999 and go where no UNC softball team has gone before.
"We have tons of potential for achieving things we have not achieved as a program," says coach Donna Papa, who is in her 15th season in Chapel Hill. "We want to take what we accomplished last year in our hitting and defense and expand on that. We have the players to do that."
Last season, UNC finished 40-22 and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in batting and fielding. Papa hopes that success will serve as a springboard for this season's team. "One of the things we still have not achieved is an ACC Championship," Papa says. "That looms out there as a stepping stone to help us get to the next level, which is NCAA post-season play." The Tar Heel roster boasts a desirable mix of seasoned veterans and talented newcomers. UNC is replacing starters at three positions, but most of those spots will be filled by veterans who had gained experience playing other positions. At the plate, those shifts should make the lineup even stronger than last year's, which set program records for most hits, home runs and runs scored.
"We have tremendous potential," Papa says. "The key is being able to realize that potential and get the most out of what we have."
Pitchers
Carolina should see its biggest improvement in its pitching. While junior Radara McHugh carried most of the load last season and threw a school-record 261 innings in the process, this year the Tar Heels have a variety of options. "We have more depth and with four pitchers, we can go with different looks," Papa says. "We have good balance on the staff."
McHugh has made a change in her wind-up that has increased her velocity and given her a more relaxed delivery. The prospect of a deeper staff also has helped her to relax. "Last year, she had so much pressure on her," Papa said. "By the end of the season, her arm was tired and people knew what to expect from her."
The staff's second veteran is junior lefthander Erin Joseph, who has battled a variety of injuries throughout her career. Last season, she pitched 127.2 innings with a 2.03 ERA while battling biceps and thumb problems. In the fall of 1999, she was hampered by a stress fracture in her left leg. "She adds a different element for us because she can throw batters off with her off-speed and breaking pitches," Papa says. "I don't think we have any idea what her potential is and to find out, we need to get her healthy enough to throw seven innings."
Freshman Michael Parrott will see plenty of time in the lineup, whether at pitcher or first base. In the mold of Beverly Smith and Brandy Arthur-former UNC standouts from Houston, Texas, who won ACC Player of the Year honors-Parrott is a strikeout pitcher, a power hitter and an excellent defensive player. And, she's from Houston. "She's a complete player," Papa says. "We tell her she has to keep up that ACC Player of the Year tradition."
The other freshman on the staff, Stacy Fox, has a repertoire of pitches and will boost the staff's versatility. "The advantage that freshman pitchers have is that no one knows what to expect from them," Papa said. "Sometimes that's when they can be most effective. The disadvantage they have, of course, is that they're facing collegiate-caliber hitters for the first time."
Catchers
Sophomore Natalie Anter, who earned All-Southeast Region, All-ACC and All-ACC Tournament honors as a freshman last season, returns to her spot behind the plate. In her first year of collegiate competition, she led the Tar Heels in RBI (42) and home runs (eight) and was second on the team with a .333 average. She also threw out nearly half of the runners attempting to steal against her, 17 of 36. "She's an all-around athlete," Papa says. "Hitting is her forte, but you don't find many catchers with the arm she has. She also provides tremendous leadership for us in the infield."
Sophomore Kelly Ramsey also will see time at catcher, particularly when Joseph is on the mound. The two played for the same summer team in California before coming to UNC and have continued to work well as a battery.
The third catcher is freshman Anna Tharrington, a decorated high school athlete who also will be a backup in the outfield.
Infielders
The Tar Heel infield for 2000 will be full of familiar faces. Some, however, spent last season playing other positions.
Two junior starters-shortstop Michelle Semmes and first baseman Beth Olen-return, but last year's regulars at second and third are gone. Senior second baseman Stephanie Jurkowski decided just before the start of spring workouts to focus on academics this semester and junior Bree Blythe, her backup, made the same decision a few days later, leaving Papa with some juggling to do. Senior Crystal Henderson, who played shortstop as a freshman, will shift in from centerfield to take over the second base duties.
As the leadoff hitter in 1999, Henderson batted .329 with six home runs and also was the team's leader on the basepaths with 28 steals in 29 attempts. With 59 stolen bases over the past three years, she is within reach of the UNC career record of 73. "She works very hard but has been limited by back injuries," Papa says. "I've always thought she had All-America potential, so I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do this year."
The spot at third base was vacated by the graduation of Megan Smith, and several players will battle to claim it. Ramsey and junior Carrie Bates, both of whom played catcher in past years, are the primary candidates.
Ramsey, who batted .326 last season, is eager to settle into a regular defensive position and had a good fall at third. One of the team captains, she brings an important dose of leadership to the field. "She has a good arm, good defensive skills and powerful offense," Papa says, "but she brings other things besides her physical abilities that help pull the team together. She acts as glue for us, no matter where she plays." Ramsey also will continue to see time at catcher.
Bates was a catcher in her first two seasons but has moved out from behind the plate after undergoing knee surgery in the fall. "She has a great release and has worked hard at getting used to that position after two years at catcher," Papa says. "She's a strong hitter, too, and hits with power to the opposite field. Last year, our three catchers-Carrie, Kelly and Natalie Anter-were three of our best hitters. This year, we want to get them all on the field."
The Tar Heels are again strong at shortstop with Semmes, a third-year starter who has distinguished herself both at the plate and in the field. One of the top hitters in the ACC the past two years, she was hampered by a pulled hamstring during fall and missed all of the team's games. "To be as successful as we hope to be, she needs to be healthy," Papa says. "She has a phenomenal arm and excellent range, and is one of the best shortstops in our region. Just as importantly, her bat is a tremendous asset for the team."
Sophomore Sarah Young, a pitcher last season, will be the backup at second and at shortstop. Sophomore Mary Wood, a transfer from Queens College, is another backup in the infield.
Olen, the other returning starter in the infield, settled in at first last season after seeing time at third and in the outfield as a freshman. "She has great hands as a receiver, " Papa says. "She's a smart defensive player and a strong hitter." Olen hit four home runs last season and drew more walks (21) than any other Tar Heel. Backups at that position are Ramsey and Parrott.
Outfielders
The shift of Henderson to the infield depleted the outfield's experience, but the group is still full of talent. Anchoring the outfield is senior Jen Klesaris, who played mostly in left last season but will move to center when Henderson plays second. "Jen is very versatile and can adjust well," Papa says. "We feel good about having her in center."
A team captain, Klesaris missed the 1998 season because of a shoulder injury and spent last season adjusting to being back on the field. She was a standout during the fall of 1999, however, particularly at the plate. "She looked like the old Jen," Papa says. "She played so well and looks comfortable. We're looking for really good things from her."
Sophomore Rosie Gustavson, who split time in left with Klesaris last year, will take over that spot. "Rosie is one of the only true slappers on our team so she adds a different element to our lineup," Papa says. "Combined with her speed, that should make her an offensive threat for us." Two freshmen, Fox and Tharrington, will provide depth.
The top candidate to take over the right field position vacated by the graduation of Colleen Lefferts is freshman Quinn Porter. "She has the kind of arm you want in right," Papa says. Another talented freshman, Lauren Parker, will be a backup in center and right. "She has tremendous talent and an excellent arm," Papa says. "She's working on her hitting and will help us in baserunning this year because of her speed."
