DePaul University Athletics
Lenti to His Players: Embrace the Moment and Have Fun
5/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
CHICAGO - It's time for the Blue Demons to get into their "Washington Huskies mode."
Washington is the No. 1 college softball team in the country, and DePaul was at its best in a 5-3 upset of the Huskies in the middle of March.
That's the elite level the Blue Demons hope to attain beginning Friday at the NCAA Regional in Columbia, Mo.
They have 10 wins against teams ranked in the Top 25 at some point in the season.
"We play really well against the top teams," said senior ace Becca Heteniak. "That's how it has gone this season. At the same time, we've played down against the lesser teams.
"But in the NCAA tournament, all we're going to face are good teams."
It begins with No. 17 Illinois (43-6) at 4 p.m. Friday.
The same Illinois that DePaul edged 3-2 on May 6 at Cacciatore Stadium behind Shea Warren's two-run double, Samantha Dodd's RBI single and a sharp outing from freshman pitcher Bree Brown.
The Illini have won 16 of the last 17 games.
"It doesn't have any effect that we played them and won two weeks ago," said DePaul coach Eugene Lenti as his program makes its 15th NCAA tournament appearance---13th in the last 14 years.
"Last year we played Illinois in the regular season and in the regional (6-0 DePaul win). We did get a chance to see their two best pitchers (Monica Perry and Pepper Gay) in the game two weeks ago."
The Illini come to the Show-Me State with a .329 team batting average and 57 home runs. Danielle Zymkowitz ignites the attack with a .421 batting average and 35 stolen bases in 36 attempts.
Meredith Hackett is the most dangerous hitter with a .418 batting average, 15 home runs and 55 RBI. Holly Pinchback and former Sandburg star Ashley Conrad each have nine home runs.
"This is a good regional field with three teams in the top 20 RPI," Lenti said about his ballclub, Illinois and Missouri. "Creighton has a great lockdown pitcher in Tara Oltman. Illinois has a solid offense. Missouri has a great offense and great pitching.
"This is about as evenly matched of a regional as there is in the NCAA tournament field. A lot of regionals have one super-dominant team and three good teams. We have four very good teams."
Missouri (46-11) features leadoff blur Rhea Taylor (.455, 41 stolen bases in 44 attempts), Jenna Marston (.389, 52 RBI) and Ashley Fleming (.354, nine home runs). Ace Chelsea Thomas is 12-1 with a 1.72 earned-run average and Kristin Nottelmann is 19-7 with a 2.27 ERA.
The Tigers, who beat DePaul 1-0 in last year's regional final in Columbia, have won 19 of 22 including victories over then-No. 12 Texas, then-No. 14 Oklahoma State and then-No. 22 Texas A&M.
Creighton (37-21) is driven by individual stars more than any other team in this regional.
Oltman is 32-12 with a 1.62 ERA and 281 strikeouts in 268.2 innings. Renae Sinkler is batting .381 with 24 home runs and 58 RBI. Amy Baker is hitting .329 with 15 home runs and 46 RBI.
Together, Sinkler and Baker have 39 home runs and 104 RBI.
"We're in a great spot," Lenti said about his 38-16 ballclub that has won 17 of its last 19 games and captured the BIG EAST Conference regular-season title. "The pitching has been phenomenal the last couple of weeks. Our defense is as steady as it's been all year.
"It comes down to scoring opportunities. When your opponent makes a mistake, you have to take advantage of it and put up runs across the board. It's all about if our bats come alive."
The Blue Demons are returning to familiar surroundings.
"We know the softball field and the area, and there's definitely a comfort factor there," Lenti said. "We're excited to be there.
"For the players, this is the reward for having a great year. Getting an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament means we're one of the top teams in the country.
"Embrace the moment and have fun with it."
