Temple University Athletics
2008 Outlook
2.11.08 | Softball
Feb. 11, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - After reaching the postseason for the first time since 2004, optimism is high on North Broad Street that last season was just the beginning of a new era in Temple softball. Entering her third season at Temple, head coach Casey Dickson believes everything is in place to continue upon last season's success.
"Last season was a tremendous year for the program," Dickson said.
"Replacing Adrienne (Repsher) and Jess (Rohn) will be difficult this year, but it is important that our players build upon their success and last season's momentum."
And the Owls have plenty of momentum heading into 2008. The Cherry and White won 11 of its last 16 conference games to earn its first spot in the Atlantic 10 tournament since 2004.
One of the best offensive teams in the Atlantic 10 last season, the Owls hit .301 as a team and scored 207 runs. Still, Dickson believes that defense and pitching could be the key to this year's squad.
"Our outfield depth is much stronger and cohesive," Dickson said. "We are returning two pitchers who are in the best shape of their careers physically and mentally."
Reproducing last season's results will not come easy for the Cherry and White. Even with seven letterwinners returning, the Owls lost five starters and seven letterwinners from last year, including the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Adrienne Repsher.
Last season, Repsher completed arguably the greatest season in Temple softball history. Her .456 batting average, 13 home runs, 44 runs, .951 slugging % and .578 on-base percentage, for the season, were all school records. The left-hander leaves Temple as the all-time leader in home runs (21) and total bases (250) while tied for second in doubles (41). She also ranks tied for eighth in hits (147), fourth in runs (88), third in RBI (91), third in BA (.324) and second in putouts (1282). She also named a First Team Academic All-American.
Along with the loss of Repsher, the Owls lost her high school teammate in Jessica Rohn. Rohn put up the best numbers of her career last season, with a .297 average on 35 hits.
Adding to the difficult transition the team will face, the Owls will open the season against some of the nation's premier softball programs. When competing in the Arizona State and Texas A&M tournaments in February, the Owls will face national powers California, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M.
"In order to be the best, you need to play the best," Dickson said about the challenging schedule. She hopes that the competition will benefit the Owls when Atlantic 10 play rolls around in March.
Despite the loss of two phenomenal players and the difficult non-conference slate, what the Owls return is what has everyone excited about the 2008 season.
Leading the attack for the Owls this season will be juniors 1B/3B Courtney Norene and OF/P Katie Burdeaux.
Norene enters the season as the Owls main offensive weapon. Despite being in the shadow of Repsher's record-breaking offensive season last year, Norene produced a stellar offensive campaign of her own. She batted .333 while hitting eight home runs, had 30 RBI and scored 18 runs Her slugging percentage (.590) ranked third on the team and on-base percentage (.391) ranked second.
Not only will Norene be replacing Repsher in the middle of the line-up, she will also be taking over for her at first base this year. Already a team leader in the dugout, Dickson expects even better thing when Norene is in the spotlight.
"In the last two years, Courtney has grown to be quite a leader for us and has become a dominant force at the plate," Dickson said.
Burdeaux returns after an outstanding 2007 season in which she batted .329 with seven home runs, 24 RBI and 12 runs scored. She ranked nationally for batting average and slugging percentage, and trailed only Repsher with a .622 slugging percentage. Burduaex will need to build upon those numbers this season as she will help to offset the loss of Repsher in the middle of the line-up.
"She is an excellent power threat in the middle of our line-up, " Dickson said.
Burduaex is also expected to increase her pitching responsibilities this season. Last season on the mound, Burdeaux made 16 appearances while posting a 1-4 mark in 31.1 innings pitched.
Behind the plate, sophomore Krystle Metzler returns from an impressive freshmen campaign. Making 36 starts last season, she batted .298 while hitting four home runs, with 25 RBI and 11 runs. She was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team for her performance.Already a team leader as a sophomore, even Dickson was surprised by how impressive Metzler was in her rookie campaign.
"Krystle defeats the theory that you have to have a big catcher. She is one of the best in the country behind the plate and has grown into a respectful hitter as well," Dickson said.
On the mound this season, senior Brianna Dairy returns as the primary hurler for the Cherry and White. She made 15 starts last season while posting a 7-5 record and team-best 3.08 ERA. She also pitched five complete games and a team-best three complete game shutouts. Rebounding from off-season surgery, Dickson expects Dairy to be at her best.
"Her arm is healthier that it's ever been and she's in the best shape of her life,"Dickson said. "She's following a better path in life and she's really taken some great instruction from our pitching coach. She's suffered some injuries and had surgery in the off-season, but she's 100% now."
Rounding out the returning players are senior SS/2B Anna Rico, senior INF Natalie Wagner, and sophomore UTL Lauren Coutu.
Rico will be patrolling the middle infield for the Owls again this season after boasting a .970 fielding percentage last season. At the plate, she batted .313 while hitting two home runs with 11 RBI and 22 runs. She also stole six bases in six attempts.
"Anna's drive and determination has been a great image for our freshmen to follow,"Dickson said. "She gets the job done every time with determination and conviction."
Wagner started 36 games while batting .284 with nine home runs, nine RBI and 22 runs The speedster also stole a team-high nine bases in 12 attempts. She had a .928 fielding percentage primarily playing at second base.
"It has been a pleasure coaching Natalie for three years, two at Temple and one at Frank Phillips. You can always count on Natalie as a coach and a teammate."
Cantu, used primarily as a pinch runner last season, started seven games and hit .154 for the season.
Along with the seven returning players, a talented collection of nine newcomers comes to North Broad Street to round out the roster.
Leading the newcomers is freshman shortstop Chelsea Reicher. Hailing from Macomb, MI, she was named All-Conference, All-District, All-Area Academic, All-County during both the 2006 and 2007 seasons in high school. Dickson is already singing the praises of the freshman who could wind up starting in her freshman season.
"She's a gift, an unexpected athlete that I found through a recruiting video. You can tell that she is very talented" Dickson said. "She plays with ease which is hard to find."
Also expected to contribute right away is junior transfer Chante' Pleydle. Dickson expects the speedy Pleydle to be a key contributor to the team while playing centerfield. Pleydle comes from Frank Phillips College, where she was a teammate of current Owl Natalie Wagner.
On the mound, freshman pitcher Amanda Branco should help out the Cherry and White immediately. Dickson praised the work ethic of the young Branco, calling her "a great person to represent our program."
Senior 1B/OF Teresa Bonavita came to Temple from American International, where she was a Division II All-Region and all-conference pick after batting a team-high .383. As the only left-handed bat on the squad, she will be a valued commodity for the Owls this season.
Rounding out the new freshmen are outfielders Rebecca Hahn, Catherine Maloney, Samantha Dungan, Asia Mason and utility player Sumer Ploskonka. Each are expected to contibute if this going to be a successful season for the Cherry and White.
Along with the batch of new players, Dickson also has an all-new coaching staff. New coaches this season include assistant coaches Heidi Freitager and Lynsey Grace, as well as volunteer pitching coach Dan DeMarco.
Freitager's primary responsibilities will be as catching coach, recruiting coordinator, and camp/clinic facilitator. Prior to coming to Temple, she coached at Everglades High School, where she led her team to a #3 USA Today/NFCA national ranking after winning the Florida state championship (2007) and two district championships (2006, 2007). During her time at Everglades, she was also named Sun Sentinel (2006, 2007) and Miami Herald (2007) Coach of the Year. She has also served as an assistant at Nova Southeastern, Morehead State and New Mexico State.
"With Heidi's experience as a head coach, our whole program will reap the benefits," Dickson said. "She has a keen eye for talent, a professional approach to her job, and knows what it takes to win."
A 2005 graduate of Temple University, Grace returns as an assistant coach for the 2008 season. A four-year member of the Owl softball team, Grace was a two-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection (2002, 2004) and was named to the 2002 A-10 All-Tournament Team. A multiple A-10 Player Of The Week honoree, Grace is currently second on the all time career home run list with 13.
Also returning to Temple is volunteer coach Dan DeMarco. A former pitching coach for the Cherry and White, DeMarco will revisit his days with Temple and assist with the team's pitching. DeMarco spent 11 years as the pitching coach at Kutztown University and has 20 years of experience as a private instructor. Dickson is already seeing the benefits having DeMarco back.
"I would say the pitching has already improved. He helps out with everything. We haven't had a full-time pitching coach since I've been here," Dickson said.
Between the returning players and newcomers, the talent is in place for the Owls to build upon last season's success. If the chemistry gels quickly and new players can step up to fill in for the departed Repsher and Rohn, the Owls could find themselves returning to the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
