BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Union College has high expectations as the 2009 softball season starts Tuesday when No. 22 Georgetown (Ky.) College visits for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
The Lady Bulldogs are coming off an Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament runner-up finish and a third-place run in the NAIA Region XII Tournament. Union concluded the season at 24-29 overall with a conference record of 10-6 which placed the Lady Bulldogs third in the standings.
Junior Sarah Driver (Hopkinsville, Ky.) is coming off another All-AAC season. She went 16-13 during her sophomore season with a 1.95 ERA. In 197 2/3 innings, she struck out 195 batters while opponents hit a mere .205 off of her. When Driver takes to the mound, it is usually for the duration as she completed 26 games in 28 starts last season. Her one save in five relief appearances was the only one for Union in 2008.
"She is our proven veteran," said Union head coach Bubba Szary. "Sarah has been battle tested and has stepped up."
Newcomer Abby Sears (London, Ky.) joins the rotation this season. Sears completed an outstanding prep career at nearby North Laurel High where she was an All-State performer.
"Abby and her past experiences should lead to an immediate impact for us," Szary commented.
Sherry DeVault (Baltimore, Ohio) appeared in 26 games during her freshman campaign last season. All but one was a start and she tossed 15 complete games. She picked up eight victories over 146 2/3 innings.
Szary added that DeVault brings experience after being tested as a freshman in the conference.
At first base, Ryan Travis (Hopkinsville, Ky.) and Ashlee Bertsch (Hamilton, Ohio) will compete for the starting job. Travis held the position last season, owning a .254 batting average. Bertsch red-shirted in 2008 but played in 53 games during 2007.
Lee Davis (Lexington, Ky.) returns at second base after a team-high 33 RBIs last year. She ranks fourth of the returnees with a .300 batting average last season. Davis could see time as the designated player as well to utilize the power at the plate.
When not pitching, Sears will be at shortstop. She provides solid defense up the middle. She was named the Class 3A KSCA Player of the Year along with an All-State nod for the fourth straight year.
Newcomer Alice Blauser (Hopkinsville, Ky.) provides depth at both second and short. She knows the program as she is the younger sister of former Lady Bulldog and now assistant coach Lyla Blauser.
Third base will be interesting as two Lady Bulldogs will battle for the position.
DeVault saw time there last season when not pitching. Joining her is senior Katie Kitchen (Georgetown, Ky.) who played in 22 games as a corner infielder in 2008. Kitchen scored seven runs and drove in four in her first year as a Lady Bulldog.
Behind the plate is the sturdy Bethany Outland (Hopkinsville, Ky.) The junior started 49 times last season and owned a .991 fielding percentage. She manages the game and brings a leadership position, Szary commented.
Edye Blackburn (Lexington, Ky.) provides depth behind Outland and for the Lady Bulldogs this season.
Union will use Missy Campbell (Baltimore, Ohio) in a utility role in the infield as well as the outfield this season.
Around the outfield, Union has five players capable of filling the three starting positions.
In left field is senior Mallory Lavoy (Temperance, Mich.). She is coming off her best offensive season as she batted .310. Lavoy also adds speed in the outfield and on the bases, Szary said.
New in centerfield this season will be an All-AAC utility player in sophomore Ashley Tatman (Lexington, Ky.). Tatman played shortstop and saw time as the catcher during her freshman season. She led the squad with four home runs, owned a .339 batting average and slugged .480.
"She is one of our best offensive threats, and her athletic ability will be utilized in center," Szary said.
Completing the outfield will be a trio of players in right field - Ashleigh Mensch (Elizabethtown, Ky.) and Suzannah Behnken (Tempe, Ariz.) along with Driver when she is not on the mound.
All three bring experience in the outfield as Mensch and Behenken are both seniors with the junior Driver.
Behnken saw most of the time in right last season with 47 games played, while Mensch started three times and played in 19 games.
The 2009 schedule features a total of 54 games. Included in the schedule are the 16-game conference campaign and three tournaments.
Union has four home conference doubleheaders while the other four are on the road. The preseason conference favorite Milligan (Tenn.) College visits Barbourville, but Union has to travel to UVa-Wise, the team picked second in the conference.
Georgetown is not the only ranked team on the schedule. No. 11 Lee (Tenn.) University and No. 15 Shorter (Ga.) College are tournament foes as Union plays both at the Shorter College Tournament. Another six opponents received votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
The Lady Bulldogs have a dozen doubleheaders at Union Field while nine are on the road and 12 games in the three tournaments.
Eight doubleheaders feature teams from the Mid-South Conference and Union will play two more games against Mid-South foes as part of the Campbellsville (Ky.) University Tournament.
Union will play nearby NCAA Division II foe Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) University a home-and-home series of doubleheaders.
The season leads up to the AAC Tournament, which is set to start April 28 in Kingsport, Tenn.
Union landed third in the Appalachian Athletic Conference Softball Coaches' pre-season poll. The Lady Bulldogs were only two points away from the top spot.
Union garnered 64 points along with a pair of first-place votes. Milligan, the defending regular season and tournament champions were picked to repeat with four first-place votes and 66 points. UVa-Wise is sandwiched between, holding second with 65 points and the other three first-place votes.
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