APPLETON, Wis. -- Every year the Lawrence softball team loses a key player here or a top pitcher there, and every year the Vikings find a way to post another winning season and make the Midwest Conference Tournament.
Lawrence again faces that challenge this season, as the Vikings will look to replace all-conference and all-region performers Becca Reason and Loni Philbrick-Linzmeyer, who both graduated from a team that went 17-16 and 8-5 in the Midwest Conference.
“We lost a good chunk of our offense and defense,” said Lawrence coach Kim Tatro, beginning her 14th season at the helm of the Vikings. “Those are the biggest question marks, and that’s where it all starts.”
Reason, the team’s shortstop, sparked the offense from the lead-off spot in 2006 with a .382 batting average and .460 on-base percentage. Philbrick-Linzmeyer, the starting catcher for four years, batted .370 with a school-record 13 doubles and 30 runs batted in.
The old adage says winning starts with pitching and defense, and the Vikings have both. The success of this year’s team could start with ace pitcher Catherine Marinac, who showed in 2006 what it takes to replace a star and become one yourself.
“People have to step up like Cat did last year,” said Tatro. “Cat stepped up, and that helped solidify our season.”
Marinac, the 2006 North Division Pitcher of the Year, became the team’s ace last season after seeing limited action as a freshman. She replaced Lauren Kost, who had been the team’s top pitcher for several seasons.
Marinac went 13-10 with four shutouts and a 2.51 earned run average last season. Perhaps just as significant was Marinac’s durability, as she threw 145 of the team’s 217 innings. She became the team’s workhorse despite her slight build.
“The thing that has been encouraging about our staff is Cat looks physically stronger and has more confidence,” Tatro said. “She came out of nowhere last year, and that type of success breeds confidence. It’s very evident and very obvious from last year that she’s on a mission.”
The pitching staff appears to be deeper this season with the addition of a pair of freshman to go with senior Tammi Weiss. Alex Goodson, a native of Plainfield, Ill., and Meredith Foshag, the North Shore Conference Player of the Year while at Mequon Homestead, are the newcomers on the mound.
“We have other options, and that is something that is comforting for Cat,” Tatro said. “Is she going to carry the load, potentially. Does she have to, maybe not. It’s a great situation for us.”
Goodson is the flamethrower in the group, while Foshag is more of a control pitcher. While both players have potential, Tatro knows from experience it’s tough to throw freshmen in pressure situations.
“Until (Goodson and Foshag) are in a game, you don’t know how they are going to react,” Tatro said. “I think it’s one of those things that is going to evolve.”
Whoever takes the mound for Lawrence will have a new catcher behind the plate. With the graduation of Philbrick-Linzmeyer, now an assistant coach for the Vikings, Lawrence will likely look to freshman Lucy Bouressa. A former star at Kaukauna, Bouressa has the inside track to be the starting catcher, and she is joined by sophomore Hillary Cheever.
“Lucy knows we’re going to put a lot on her, but she looks forward to that challenge. She gets better every day,” Tatro said. “It’s kind of like she’s taking the next step. She’s being asked to serve in a leadership role as a first-year student. I’m not worried about it. She’s going to be fine.”
Anchoring the infield is senior Molly Bouressa (.244 average, 12 runs batted in), Lucy’s older sister, at first base. Junior Carrie Van Groll (.210, 14 RBI) is back at second base and sophomore Jenna Reichel (.307, 12 RBI), a second-team all-conference pick in 2006, returns at third base. Goodson can play multiple positions, and who plays where may depend on who’s pitching that day for the Vikings.
First-team all-conference outfielder Toren Johnson returns to play in center, with 2006 starters Justine Garbarski back in right and Appleton’s Amanda Hauser in left. Johnson hit .300 a season ago and was second on the team with 24 RBI. The Vikings also have depth with Clintonville’s Megan Butterbrodt fighting for playing time in the outfield.
The Vikings made their fifth consecutive appearance in the Midwest Conference Tournament last year, but Lawrence was picked to finish third in the North Division this season by league coaches.
With Ripon and St. Norbert tabbed as the top teams in the North, Tatro believes it will take a group effort for Lawrence to return to the four-team league tourney.
“It doesn’t fall on one player,” Tatro said. “Everyone collectively has to better for us to be successful.”