February 8, 2006

The Virginia Tech softball team will open its 2006 campaign Saturday against Campbell in a doubleheader at Buies Creek, N.C., beginning at 10 a.m. On Sunday, the Hokies will take on Furman in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m., at Greenville, S.C.

Today, hokiesports.com takes a look at both the infielders and outfielders on this year's squad. Be sure to check back Thursday for the opening weekend's game notes.

RETURNERS No. Name Cl.-Exp. Pos. Notes 2 Allyson Campbell Jr.-2L 2B 42 GP, 11 R, 2 H, 2 RBI 4 Caitlin Murphy Sr.-3L 2B 68 GS, .282 BA, 64 H, 17 RBI, 19 SH 6 Alisia Narodowski Sr.(TR)-1L SS 66 GS, .263 BA, 52 H, 12 2B, 28 RBI 23 Stephanie Savre So.-1L 1B 58 GS, .274 BA, 45 H, 9 HR, 39 RBI NEWCOMERS No. Name Cl.-Exp. Pos. Notes 5 Erin Ota Fr.-HS 2B Three-time first-team All-PCL selection 3 Charisse Mariconda Fr.-HS 3B Named Class 5A first-team All-Florida 19 Dori Nunley Fr-HS 3B Scheduled to redshirt

The Infielders:
HEADLINES
· A year after being completely revamped, the infield returns almost fully intact and with more depth.
· Stephanie Savre returns at first base. She swings a powerful bat from the left side, hitting nine home runs a year ago. Beth Walker or Ashley Thatcher could also be used here.
· Caitlin Murphy, Allyson Campbell and Erin Ota will battle for playing time at second base. Murphy earned all-conference honors two years ago for her production at the plate. Campbell earned her playing time last season as a dependable pinch runner, scoring 11 runs. Ota is a speedy freshman from California who will see a lot of action this year.
· Alisia Narodowski returns at shortstop. The transfer from Lake City Community College gets a good jump on the ball and has a quick release.
· Charisse Mariconda enters the season as the starter at third base. She is a highly touted recruit from Florida who swings a good bat and plays excellent defense.
· Dori Nunley is an invited walk-on who is scheduled to redshirt this year while working at third base.

Coach Scot Thomas on the infielders: "We have some experience coming back, but we also have a lot of youth in the infield. We're going to be more athletic and you'll see this group getting to a lot of balls. We have a lot of depth and I think we've improved as a whole. Three starters return in Caitlin, Alisia and Stephanie, but we also have good young talent in Charisse, Erin, Dori and Beth. So while this group was a question mark going into last season, I think we're going to be a very good and much improved group this year."

RETURNERS No. Name Cl.-Exp. Pos. Notes 8 Kelly Brown Sr.-3L RF 64 GS, .322 BA, 76 H, 16 2B, 16 SB 12 Caroline Stolle So.-1L LF 62 GS, .249 BA, 43 H, 8 HR, 20 RBI 13 Callie Rhodes r-Jr.-2L LF Took a medical redshirt (knee) 17 Crystal Beach Sr.-3L RF 50 GP, 20 R, 1 H 22 Theresa Walsh Sr.-3L OF 28 GS, 18 H, 17 R NEWCOMERS No. Name Cl.-Exp. Pos. Notes 14 Beth Walker Fr.-HS RF/1B Invited walk-on with very good power 18 Jessica Everhart Fr.-HS CF Led HS team to two AA state titles 15 Jenna Rhodes Fr.-HS CF First-team all-state her senior year

The Outfielders:
HEADLINES
· The outfield will have five letterwinners returning.
· Kelly Brown was the spark plug at the top of the lineup last year and anchors the right field position. She set a new school record for hits in a season (76) in 2005.
· Speedy Callie Rhodes returns after missing the 2005 season with a knee injury. She will be a threat on the basepaths as she had 31 stolen bases in 2004.
· Theresa Walsh is perhaps the best fielder of any of the Hokies and can play any of the three positions. She brings speed and a left-handed bat to the lineup.
· The surprise of last year was walk-on Caroline Stolle, who ended up starting 49 games in left field. She also had eight home runs and improved dramatically in the field as the season progressed.
· Crystal Beach spent her first two years at third base, but moved to right field last season. She has seen most of her action on the base paths.
· Freshmen Jessica Everhart, Beth Walker and Jenna Rhodes will all battle for playing time in the outfield. All have the ability to contribute at the plate and in the field. Everhart heads into the season as the starter in centerfield while Rhodes will be a speedy threat on the base paths. Walker swings a powerful bat and could be used in the outfield or infield, or as a pinch hitter.

Coach Al Brauns on the outfielders: "This could be one of the most athletic outfields that I've ever coached. We're fast and can run down a lot of balls. We have a good mix of experience and youth and I see this being a very good outfield for us. Kelly Brown is our anchor in right field and I look for some combination of Caroline Stolle, Jessica Everhart and Callie Rhodes to handle the other two positions. And we have a lot of depth in Theresa Walsh, Beth Walker, Jenna Rhodes and Crystal Beach."