Taylor softball preview

By PEDRO VELAZCO
Tribune sportswriter

Sat, May 17 2008

— The Titans fell to 11-15 last year after averaging more than 16 wins per season the previous three campaigns — each a winning season. Now they look to bounce back but have a lot of question marks as the season opens.
“I think it’s up in the air,” Taylor coach Brian Weeks said. “I would love to say that I’d like to shoot a projection out there and tell you what I’d like to win. I’d like to have a winning season with this group. Pitching-wise we’re about where we were; Honestly I think we’re a little better [at pitching].
“Our infield’s pretty solid. I have what I think is one of the better catchers in the area. I’ve got a good bit of athletic ability on this team. I’m anxious for the season to get going. I think we’re going to be OK.”
Senior Britney Parsley will carry the bulk of the pitching load. She had an ERA of 2.55 last season and struck out 29 batters. At catcher is sophomore Kylie Weeks.
In the infield, senior Andrea Zook is at first, senior Crystal Boes is at second, sophomore Shelby Wall is at shortstop and senior Hilary Farmer is at third.
“I think we’re going to have a pretty sound infield,” Brian Weeks said. “When you lose two players like the caliber of players that we lost [to graduation] last year it’s always tough to fill those spots to that degree, but I think we’re going to be pretty strong there.”
Junior Abby Carpenter is in left field and can also pitch when called upon, freshman Brooklyn Lemons is in center and junior Elise Black is in right.
Taylor’s substitutes are junior Kayla Webber, who plays at second or in the outfield, junior Jennifer Seal, who can catch, work in the outfield and at first, and sophomore Casey Myers, who can play in the outfield or at short.
At the plate, Wall leads off, followed by Boes, Kylie Weeks, Farmer and Parsley.
Kylie Weeks led the Titans with a .404 batting average last season and batted in a county-high 22 runs. She had nine doubles and seven steals. Farmer batted .302 and knocked in 17 runs.
“My first five hitters should be pretty strong,” Brian Weeks said. “I’m just hoping that we’re going to be able to compete. I don’t know what to expect but if these girls can realize their own abilities we’ll compete well in our conference.”
The Titan coach said the biggest change in the team is that Taylor doesn’t have the speedy slap-bunt hitters it had last season. As a result, the Titans will need to find new sources of offense. A balanced attack would be the best solution.
“They’re all going to have to get confidence in themselves,” Taylor coach Brian Weeks said. “They’re going to have to rise to the occasion, play to their capabilities and I’m going to have to have the kids in the latter part of the lineup, they’re going to have to contribute. My last four are going to have to contribute as well as the first five.”