Seniors, young guns set for softball season
Sophomore triple-threat on deck for 2007
By Kelly Pucillo, contributing writer
Posted on February 5, 2007

The 2007 JMU softball team will look to a record-breaking sophomore class to push them into contention for this season’s Colonial Athletic Association crown.

A trio of sophomores gives the Dukes hope for the upcoming season offensively. Outfielder Kaitlyn Wernsing and catcher Julia Dominguez both finished the year hitting a team-high .343 while third baseman Amber Kirk finished right behind them with a .299 average. Dominguez also led the Dukes with a JMU single-season record 10 home runs, 28 RBIs and a .628 slugging percentage.

Sophomore pitcher Meredith Felts led Madison with 11 wins while striking 135 batters in 139 1/3 innings pitched. She finished the season with 12 complete games and ranks first in single-season leaders strikeouts while tying for fourth in wins. Felts held opponents to a .222 batting average while walking on 34 batters all season.

The 2006 team finished sixth in the CAA with a record of 24-28, but coach Katie Flynn expects great things for 2007 after last season’s defensive struggles.

“It’s a game of mistakes,” the sixth-year coach said, “but this season we have a lot more weapons.”

Those weapons start with senior captain and starting shortstop Katie George.

George, who was also voted a captain last season, was a dual-threat on offense batting .295, driving in 21 runs and also stealing 15 bases on 16 attempts.

The Dukes also have a strong freshman class that will add depth to a promising rotation. Freshman left-handed pitcher Brandon Moss out of Trinity High School in Richmond will, according to Flynn, be seeing a lot of time on the mound.

Other promising newcomers are center fielder Courtney Simons and sophomore first baseman Shannon Moxey, a transfer from West Virginia Wesleyan College.

As far as experience, the Dukes lost just one starter from last season — Briana Carrera. JMU has plenty of young returning talent that is ready to step up and lead the team.

“The younger players are contributing a lot more; the freshmen are stepping in right away,” George said.

Having nine new additions will always create a different vibe, but the senior leadership on this year’s team is working to bring the team together.

“It’s always different with new players,” senior captain and first baseman Sally Smith said, “but practice has been a lot of fun.”

Flynn said this year’s team also has depth and more utility players. Thus, not only are injuries less of a worry than past seasons, but now players are improving faster.

Flynn said that there are no glaring weaknesses. They are a healthy team, and all the players have a really great mindset as they are starting to mesh and develop team chemistry.

The freezing weather has forced the team to practice inside, but the energy and efforts of everyone has successfully brought them together — especially in the past two weeks.

“We are really playing well together,” George said.

Added Flynn: “Everything we are doing now is preparing for May.”

The Dukes’ first game is at The College of Charleston Tournament on Feb. 16.

“I think we’re going to be really, really good,” George said. “It’s my senior year. I want to go out with a bang.”