Posted on the bulletin board in Boston University softball coach Shawn Rychcik’s office is a red piece of paper that reads: 2006-2007 Goals. The paper stands out as a reminder of how high the bar has been set for this squad. Wining the America East tournament and making its first NCAA Tournament appearance in four years is listed as the team’s top goals.
“We have some individual goals, some team goals, offensively and defensively,” Rychcik said. “But ultimately, winning the conference and going to the NCAA’s is all that matters. I think anybody would give up a .400 average for a .250 and go to the NCAA tournament. It’s something we feel this program needs to be at.”
Here is a breakdown of the 2007 Terriers, the pre-season favorite to take home the regular season America East title.
PITCHING
In previous years, pitching depth has been a problem, but Rychcik believes the Terriers have more than enough depth this season. Senior tri-captain Brittany Detwiler, sophomore Cassidi Hardy and freshman Megan Currier will be the three pitchers BU will rely on this season.
The experienced Detwiler has battled through injuries during her first three years as a Terrier, but she begins this season healthy and will provide leadership for the younger members of the pitching staff. Detwiler proved she’s poised for an outstanding senior campaign, after tossing the first no-hitter of her career — and BU’s first since 2001 — in the first game of the season.
“I expect Brittany to put up zeros,” Rychcik said. “She is real confident and has shown right off the bat that she is going to be real important for us this season.”
Hardy will look to improve on her tremendous freshman season, in which she went 18-12, had a 2.95 earned run average and pitched 23 complete games, earning her a selection to the All-America East Second Team.
“Cassidi proved last year she can pitch at this level, and she should be even better this year,” Rychcik said. “I expect [her] to perform well right off the bat.”
Currier was a highly sought-after recruit and she quickly showed why, no-hitting the University at Albany, the defending America East champions, through four innings in her second career appearance last weekend. Rychcik expects big things from the rookie, but realizes there will be some transition time needed.
“I expect Megan to pitch like she did against Albany, but she will have to get used to a new level of emotional and physical grind,” Rychcik said.
Overall Rychcik believes the members of his pitching staff can motivate each other.
“I think we have a staff this year that will feed of one another and push one another to rise to the challenge,” Rychcik said. “I am looking forward to see how they merge together over the year.”
INFIELD
The Terriers bring back almost their entire infield from last year’s team, as senior Brandi Shields and sophomores Brooke Hudson, Melissa Dubay and Christy Leath return. Rounding out the starting infield is freshman Rachel Hebert, who will take over first base, filling out the shoes of BU’s all-time leading homerun-hitter Liz Alley .
Shields, one of the team’s three seniors, is the sole upperclassman in the Terrier infield. The Indiana native is one of three Second Team All-America East players in BU’s infield, and returns after hitting .272 last year. The second baseman led the team in doubles last year (11), while finishing second in both runs scored (30) and steals (21).
“Brandi’s been through the most out there, so she can relate some experiences,” Rychcik said.
Leath returns behind the plate to catch for the Terriers. The sophomore has already been honored as the first America East Player of the Week, and she brings last year’s .313 average and team-leading 40 RBIs back to the diamond. She was also Second Team All-America East last season.
“Christy’s a good hitter,” Rychcik said, adding Leath will bat in the cleanup spot for most games. “She’ll be asked to drive in runs.”
The left side of the infield features returning players, with Hudson at third base and Dubay at shortstop. Hudson, the last of the returning Second Team All-America East selections from last year, has a reputation as a strong defensive player at the hot corner. And Dubay brings good power from the shortstop position, as she hit four homeruns and drove in 23 runs last year.
The sole newcomer to the Terrier infield is Hebert, who will play first and occasionally catch to relieve Leath. The Humble, Texas native was a First Team All-District performer twice in her high school career.
“I’m pretty excited about [Hebert],” Rychcik said. “She was a pretty good recruit coming in for us, and I think she got off to a pretty good start to start her career here.”
And for the most part, these infielders will see the majority of action for the Terriers this season.
“We don’t have a deep bench,” Rychcik said. “The more games you play, the better and more experienced you get. Going in, that’s our team on the field.”
OUTFIELD
The Terrier outfield is stacked with returning players. Sophomore Shayne Lotito and senior Chiya Louie look to have the left and center field positions locked down.
Lotito, slated to be the leadoff hitter, is coming off a stellar freshman season in which she hit a team-leading .354 and had 23 stolen bases in 26 attempts.
Louie is coming off an injury-plagued junior year in which she saw action in just 16 games before sitting out because of a knee injury. After off-season surgery, Rychcik is looking for a productive season from No. 3 hitter, but knows he will have to monitor her workload.
“She’s on just about no cartilage in her knee right know,” Rychcik said. “She’s going have to make 50 games out there, and I really need her in the lineup on the offensive side of things.”
BU was dealt a loss before the season started when they lost junior right fielder Tyler Benson, who underwent surgery last May to repair a torn rotator cuff. Her rehabilitation was on track for this spring, but she encountered more pain early this winter and will be red-shirting the season.
“Just before Christmas, we had an MRI done and realized that there were a whole set a problems in there that had just never gotten taken care of, and I think she’s had some cartilage degeneration in there now that’s just really causing some problems,” Rychcik said.
Junior Molly Gallagher and freshman Rachel Moeller will pick up the slack in right field. Gallagher was a walk-on to the team in 2005 and brings a lot of veteran leadership to the table, and Moeller was a highly-touted recruit who will be counted to become a power hitter for the Terriers.
“Both of them are very capable and they bring a different element when they get to the plate,” Rychcik said. “Molly has good speed and hopefully Rachel can give us a little power in the lineup.”