Feb. 15, 2006

Overview Army head softball coach Jim Flowers is excited but cautious heading into 2006. In spite of losing three all-Patriot League infielders and one all-star outfielder to graduation, he does not look upon the season as a rebuilding one.

Instead, the winningest coach in Army history believes this year's team is deep in talent, if not experience, with 10 returning letterwinners, two other veterans and five promising newcomers.

"During the fall competition, our young players stepped up and competed at the level expected of them," noted the 16th-year mentor. "We had a very productive fall season, batting .316, the highest in my tenure, along with winning seven straight games."

Seventeen players return from a squad that finished 29-21 in 2005 and was runner-up in the Patriot League during both the regular-season (12-6) and the postseason tournament. Army's 29 wins marked the second highest in the program's history since the Black Knights made the jump to Division I in 1991.

While Flowers has a solid core of returning players, he is excited about the group of young talent he has assembled.

"Our coaching staff feels that 2006 could be one of our most rewarding seasons," stated the 16th-year mentor. "I say this knowing the ability of this group and the players' willingness to work hard during the off-season.

"Our defense may be inexperienced, but almost everyone on the team has game experience in some capacity. We may be young, but our talent gives us added power, speed and versatility in the lineup, which could make this year one of the best seasons we have ever had.

"This is a very close knit group that has fun on and off the field. They enjoy being with one another, and this group has been winners since they arrived here.

"Our goal year-in and year-out is to win the Patriot League title. We have reached the finals the last four years, winning it in 2002. We feel that we are due after coming up short the last three years. Our seniors have not experienced a championship, and their goal is to host and win the Patriot League Tournament."

Despite losses brought on by graduation, the Black Knights return five players who batted .300 or better with another just missing that mark. Army set a team record with a .306 batting average that ranked 16th nationally.

Army has plenty of talent with which to work, starting with senior third baseman Darcy Wilson, back for her fourth year as a starter. The Tucson, Ariz., native ranked seventh nationally in doubles per game last year, while her 17 team and league-high total were instrumental in helping Army to its No. 1 ranking in the country with is school record 92.

Senior outfielder Nikki Posey, a three-time Patriot League all-star, moves from right to center field. She will provide leadership to a young outfield that features a freshman handling duties in left field and three solid candidates vying for the right field position.

Juniors Veronica Lauzon and Lindsey Gerheim earned postseason honors both on the field and in the classroom last year. Lauzon, who batted .420 as the designated player, was an all-league selection along with Gerheim, who picked up her second certificate at a different position. After being the league's pick at designated player her first year, Gerheim was an all-league selection in the outfield last year. Both were Mid-Atlantic Region all-stars honors along with being selected for ESPN the Magazine District I academic honors.

Lauzon, who started her career as a catcher, could see time behind the plate this year along with her first base or DP duties. Gerheim made her third move in as many seasons, sliding into shortstop after playing outfield last year and DP her freshman year. Sophomores Valerie LoSchiavo and Melissa Garza are the leading candidates to replace a pair of league all-stars at first base and second base, respectively, after serving in reserve roles last year. Senior Jamie Gjurgevich returns as one of most experienced catchers in the Patriot League.

Though Army's pitching staff is young, sophomores Veronica Barth and Kelly Trout earned all-league honors their first year, providing Flowers with a veteran presence in the circle.

"We have more speed in the outfield, power at the plate, depth at every position and a quality pitching staff, which should translate into success," said Flowers.

"Last year we started out very slowly and had to recover. This year we want to meet that challenge and start off the season strong. This group has the ability, both mentally and physically, to stay tough throughout the season."

Lindsey Gergeim

Infielders Army lost three all-Patriot League infielders to graduation, but has three league all-stars challenging for two of those spots. Lindsey Gerheim, a two-time all-conference and regional pick at two different positions, makes another switch to shortstop. Veronica Lauzon and Kelly Trout, both all-league picks in 2005 as the designated player and as a utility infielder, respectively, are among those vying with sophomore Valerie LoSchiavo for the first base vacancy.

Gerheim and Lauzon have solid bats and rank among the team's top returning offensive threats. Lauzon's team-high .420 batting average ranked second in the league and 15th nationally after ending last year hitting safely in 16 of the final 18 games as the DP. She also ripped eight doubles and four homers, while driving in 23 runs.

Gerheim finished fourth among the regulars batting .321 with a team-high six home runs and 74 total bases. Gerheim and Lauzon could alternate hitting at the No. 3 spot or in the middle of the lineup.

Darcy Wilson, who returns for her fourth year at third base, provides leadership to a young infield as the team captain. She ranks second on Army's all-time charts with 33 doubles. The Tucson, Ariz., native hit .291 last year with a team-high 32 runs batted in with 22 of her 41 hits going for extra bases in recording a .518 slugging percentage. Wilson will provide a strong presence in the lineup once again batting cleanup.

LoSchiavo, who filled in as a reserve last year, is the top candidate to take over at first base following a solid fall campaign. Trout, who has a great future at Army as a pitcher, could see some time at first base when she isn't pitching. The tall, rangy player is strong defensively along with boasting a solid bat.

Sophomore Melissa Garza, who backed up third base as a freshman last year, moved to second base in the fall and it proved to be a good fit. Showing consistency at the plate, batting .273, her team-high .467 on-base percentage has earned her the nod for the No. 2 spot in the lineup.

Freshman Deanna Comstock is a talented newcomer who could be a major impact backing up the middle infield along with third base. Freshman Brandy Kinstle, who gained experience during the fall, will be called upon to fill in at second base and third base.

After shouldering pitching duties her first two years, junior Chris Stauffer will see duty in both the infield and outfield along with DP duties. She wields a strong bat, hitting .286 last year and is capable of batting in the .300 range.

OUTFIELDERS Army will have to make a few adjustments in the outfield after losing two starters from 2005. Senior Nikki Posey, one of the premier fielders in the Patriot League and a three-time all-star, is the lone returning starter. She will move to center field to take advantage of her speed and range after spending the last three years in left field. Posey, who can hit to the alleys, batted. 304 with 58 total bases and 24 runs batted in last spring.

Freshman Sarah Yates is the leading candidate to replace Posey in left field, and could draw time in center field as well. Yates boasts a strong arm and a solid bat, while her aggressive play in the field and on the bases earned her the leadoff spot in the lineup.

Newcomers Kathryn Sobotta and Ashley Rowland provide depth while vying for playing time behind Yates.

Right field is the only position coming out of fall practice that has not yet been nailed down. Abby Rayl, Chris Stauffer and Rowland are battling for that spot, which translates into a solid bench for the Black Knights. Rayl, who has the strongest arm on the team, is the leading candidate after drawing reserve duty last year, while Stauffer will be battling for playing time and has the power to be a threat at the plate.

Veronica Barth

Pitchers Army lost its school leader in appearances, but has a lot of potential with a pair of veteran hurlers in league all-stars Veronica Barth and Kelly Trout. Barth enjoyed a standout rookie season and ranks among the top returning hurlers in the league. As a first-team pick last year, she helped handle the bulk of the workload, pitching 108.2 innings in 25 appearances compiling a 2.83 earned run average and a 9-6 record. She went 5-2 with a 2.01 ERA mark in league play, hurling 48.2 innings.

After being productive last year in spot starts and as a reliever compiling a 4-2 record, Trout will be counted on heavily splitting starting duties in the circle with Barth, and both are excellent hitters as well. Trout finished her freshman year batting .362 in 58 plate appearances with six of her 21 hits going for extra bases, while Barth batted .378 with 14 hits and seven runs batted in.

Catchers Army has two returning veterans behind the dish in senior Jamie Gjurgevich, and sophomore Mary Ann Kearney, both excellent receivers who call outstanding games. Gjurgevich has been a stabilizing influence since her freshman year, and will be a force handling a young but talented pitching staff. She will team with classmate Darcy Wilson to provide leadership to a young infield that has three new faces.

Gjurgevich, with a .281 career batting average, ranks among Army s all-time leaders in hits (90), doubles (20) and runs batted in (42). A middle-of-the-order hitter, she batted .333 in conference action last year and .231 overall.

When Kearney, a natural leader despite her youth, is calling the game, Gjurgevich will be positioned in either center or left field.

Schedule Army once again has an exciting schedule facing teams from several conferences, including America East, Conference USA, the Ivy League, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Big 10, Atlantic 10, Northeast and Southern.

"We continue to build our schedule with tough Division I competitions early in the season in an effort to prepare for the Patriot League Tournament," explained Flowers.

Army faces strong early season tests participating in two challenging tournaments in February. The Black Knights open 2006 competing at the Pirate Classic that includes host East Carolina, Michigan State, Elon and Seton Hall Feb. 17-19.

The following weekend (Feb. 25-26) the Black Knights travel to the District of Columbia to participate in the Colonial Challenge where they face Mt. St. Marys, Manhattan and host George Washington.

Army takes on Hudson Valley rival Marist in early March before making its annual trek to the Rebel Games in Florida that has the Black Knights playing a highly-competitive 10-game slate.

Returning home, Army closes out the month of March with three non-league doubleheaders in a span of nine days with its home debut scheduled against St. Peter's March 21.

The month of April will be devoted to Patriot League action with the Black Knights playing a four-game series against a field of five teams that begins the first weekend through the end of the month.

The Black Knights host Holy Cross (April 1-2), Lafayette (April 22-23) and defending champion Lehigh (April 29-30) at the Army Softball Complex with Colgate (April 8-9) and Bucknell (April 15-16) encounters on the road. In between are a pair on non-league midweek road doubleheaders at Rutgers (April 5) and Albany (April 19).

"Lehigh will once again be our toughest league competition," said Flowers. "Bucknell is a much improved program, Colgate is as strong as ever, while Lafayette and Holy Cross have new coaches who are highly motivated and set high standards for their programs.

"I expect the league to be very competitive with any team capable of beating the other. We have to stay focused and concentrated on every pitch of every game, particularly in league play. We want to challenge for the conference regular-season title and host the Patriot League Tournament," continued Flowers. "Our next goal is to win the title and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which could put us in a position to host a regional tournament."