Published: March 26, 2008 10:26 pm            

Northwestern softball preview

The Tigers welcome new coach Kerrie Kucholick (formerly Kerrie Burton) who was a Northwestern standout just a few years ago. Kucholick played four years at the University of Southern Indiana and is now a kindergarten teacher in the NW system.

She got a late start, replacing Tom Barnes a week into the practice schedule after athletic director Dan Armstrong decided the program needed a change. Armstrong cited concerns over player turnout and a need for fresh energy as the reasons for the change.

“Things weren’t going very well and the program was in jeopardy,” Armstrong said. “Tom is a great guy and he worked hard at Northwestern for a lot of years. It’s nothing against him, it was just time for a change.”

That’s where Kucholick comes in. She hopes to draw on her experience at USI.

“My style of coaching is a college softball style. I coach like a college team,” she said. “It’s been a big change for them [the players] but it’s been a great change. They have bought into my way of coaching.

“It was kind of the plan to be the coach next year and it was thrown on me a little early, but I’m ready for the challenge. This is my ideal situation. I’m absolutely thrilled to be back and be a part of this county and help the Northwestern softball program. We really need to pick it up and build on what we have right now.”

Northwestern hopes to take another step forward after improving to 15-12 last season and reaching the sectional final.

Kucholick has several experienced parts to work with, starting with sophomore pitcher Shelby Barnett. She had an ERA of 1.61 last season and fanned 61 batters. She also led the Tigers with a .362 average, shared the county lead with 11 doubles and cracked two homers.

Also pitching are senior Kourtney Kohl (3.05 ERA, 5 saves, 34 strikeouts) and sophomore Shelby Bogue. At catcher, sophomore Alex Wiley returns with freshman Brittany Smith and freshman K.J. Gingerich as backups.

Senior Natalie Appelhans and junior Katie Wilkinson are contesting for the job at first base. Senior Blaire Bell, junior April Wray, a transfer from Kokomo, and Kohl are in the mix at second. Junior Brittany Weaver, Barnett and sophomore Erika Coblentz are options at shortstop. And Gingerich and junior Stephanie Bretl are candidates for third base.

Senior Elyse Samuelson, junior Bri Kuffell, junior Hanna Miller, another Kokomo move-in, sophomore Hannah Gray, sophomore Bailey Muhelenkamp and freshman Aubrey Bogue are looking for time in the outfield.

Kohl knocked in 15 runs last season and had three triples. Weaver swiped six bases in 2007.

“We are a really good power-hitting team,” Kucholick said, listing her squad’s strengths. “We have a lot of girls that play year round. We have a lot of returnees so that’s really going to help our program.”

Kucholick wants the squad to communicate better and show more intensity. She said the Tigers have taken big strides already. She also wants them to be hungry for postseason glory as Northwestern moves to Class 3A this season.

“It’s never too late to set a goal for our team,” she said. “I know the girls last year made it all the way to the sectional championship game. Being a team that was young and had a lot of abilities and strengths, I think we can get to that and even past that. I think that’s a great goal for us to make it to regionals and possibly semistate and state. It’s not an out-of-reach goal for us at all.”

        

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