University of North Carolina Athletics
Youth and Confidence in the Circle for Carolina
November 18, 2014 | Softball
There will be a few changes in the pitching circle this season for Carolina. Gone is Lori Spingola, who over four years nearly rewrote the school record book, graduating as the career leader in wins and starts and second in strikeouts and innings pitched.
Sophomore Kendra Lynch is the only Tar Heel returning with significant experience from last season, appearing in 19 games, starting 11. Freshmen Kaylee Carlson and Sydney Matzko and junior Lauren Fuller, along with Lynch, will make up the pitching rotation in 2015.
“The pitchers, I'm very excited to see what they can do moving forward” said Head Coach Donna Papa. “We have two lefty's and two righties. The exciting thing about that is the looks they can give and they all are different pitchers.”
Each of these hurlers brings something different with them to the circle. Carlson is a power pitcher that will strike batters out. Matzko has great movement on her ball and is able to confuse batters. While Fuller does not throw as hard as Carlson or Matzko, she is the perfect compliment to the two as she can throwhitters off balance when mixed in with the freshmen.
And then there is Lynch who, along with Fuller, will also step into the batters' box on the other side of the ball, which is not always the easiest thing to do when you just pitched a hard fought inning. But that does not faze Lynch.
“I know for me mentally I need to stay in it” claimed the sophomore. “I think it's a really hard transition to go from pitching to hitting or hitting to pitching. But being able to separate the two and keeping my mind on pitching when I'm pitching and hitting when I have to hit will only help the team.”
Now she also must take a leadership role and help to set an example for her two freshmen teammates. One thing she does not lack though is confidence that the duo will be effective this year.
“Kaylee and Sydney were a good addition to the team. They both are really eager to learn and get out there which is what I think the team really needed. They're both great, they always listen and I try to help them but I really think its going to be a good thing.”
One thing for sure is that this Tar Heel team is coming into this season with a full head of steam looking to make a statement, no matter who is in the circle each game.
“I really see us as a top ACC team and I see us making it to regionals” stated Lynch. “I see us competing with the top teams in the country because I think we're that good.”
