DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Fired Up for Softball Season Opener
2/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
CHICAGO - There is a definite edge to this DePaul softball program, and it emanates straight from the Blue Demons' Hall-of-Fame coach.
"If we're always scrappy and play with a chip on our shoulder, we'll be tough to beat," said Eugene Lenti as his team opens the 2010 season against No. 13/18 LSU Friday at the Time-Warner Invitational in Austin, Texas.
"We all saw the preseason polls, both nationally and in the BIG EAST. We feel like we were disrespected.
"We won the BIG EAST regular-season title last year and finished second (to Notre Dame) in the BIG EAST tournament. We have eight starters returning---including the two-time BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year Becca Heteniak.
"But Louisville is picked ahead of us."
Lenti and the Blue Demons believe they were also slighted by voters in the two national softball polls. DePaul was tabbed at No. 21 in the USA Today/NFCA preseason rankings and No. 20 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball rankings.
"We're not getting the respect, but we like it that way," said Lenti, one of only 12 coaches in Division I with 1,000 or more career victories. "All those people who don't give us the proper respect---we like to prove them wrong.
"Other programs know we're a great team. They better bring their 'A' game if they want to compete with us. If they make a mistake, we'll make them pay."
LSU (34-18-1 last year) is led by Kirsten Shortridge, who batted .426 last spring with 80 hits, 38 runs and 26 stolen bases. Also returning are Rachel Mitchell (.306, team-high 38 RBI) along with Ashley Langori and Anissa Young, who combined for 17 home runs and 65 RBI.
They will likely face Heteniak, a second-team All-American last season after going 26-9 with a 1.38 earned-run average and limiting opponents to a .164 batting average.
"Becca is one of the top five pitchers in the country," Lenti said. "She knows how to shut down teams and has so much big-game experience in the Women's College World Series and the NCAA regionals and super regionals.
"Behind Becca, Lindsey Dean and (freshman) Bree Brown have both looked good in preseason practices. When Bree steps forward, she has the ability to dominate. Lindsay has one of the better changeups around and has beaten Northwestern and Fresno State.
"When it comes to pitching and defense, we're as good as any team in the country. The only question will be finding a way to score runs."
DePaul graduated second-team, All-American Amber Patton (.497) and all-conference selection Jackie Tarulli-Fisher (.323, 11 home runs, 49 RBI), who were integral parts of its offense.
But Heteniak (.338, 12 homers, 49 RBI) will anchor an attack that has quite a bit of power potential.
"Becca is one of the premier offensive players in the country," Lenti said. "She simply has a great bat. I'm sure teams will pitch around her when they can.
"Annie Demas, Marla Mathews, Samantha Morgan, Simone Ashkar, Brittney Yniguez and Katelyn Braget all have the potential to hit between five and 10 home runs. The strength is there, and these kids have a lot of pop in their bats.
"This team could have more power than we've ever had before."
The Blue Demons (39-14 and an NCAA regional finalist last season) can also manufacture runs with the speed of all-conference selection Tara Voss, Shea Warren, Lynsey Ciezki, Alex Morroco, Sean Plese and Sarah Shizas.
"Nobody on the team is going to replace Amber or Jackie," Lenti said. "We're hoping for a collective effort from a number of players who are ready to emerge."
Following LSU, the Blue Demons will take on the host Longhorns on Friday. Saturday will bring a showdown with No. 19/22 North Carolina (47-13 in 2009) and its ace, two-time ACC Player of the Year Danielle Spaulding, who led the nation with 14.3 strikeouts per seven innings last season. The semifinal round is Saturday evening, and the third-place and title games take place on Sunday.
Lenti's motto---respect everyone, fear no one---is borne out in a killer schedule that has the Blue Demons facing nine of the nation's top 25 teams.
Among that softball elite, Washington, Alabama and Michigan are No. 1-2-3 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
In the USA Today/NFCA poll, Washington is No. 1, Alabama No. 2, Michigan No. 4 and Arizona State No. 5
DePaul will play them all.
"This is the toughest schedule we've ever had---by far," Lenti said. "Historically we have played difficult teams early in the season and beaten a lot of big-name teams.
"It means we'll be battle-tested by the time we get to the NCAA tournament."
And ready for a little respect.
