2008 Season Preview

The 2008 Lady Trojans enter the spring season with a new coach and a new sense of excitement.  Head Coach Robin Lockridge inherits an experienced team that lost only one starter from last season.  The Lady Trojans add four freshmen to their 11 returning players and bring high expectations for the upcoming season.  Ranked fifth in the preseason Mid-Central Conference poll, Lockridge has an optimistic outlook on the upcoming season as she aims to lead her team to a top-three finish in the league.

Before seeing any conference action, the Trojans will test their experience versus national competition at the Tucson Invitational in Arizona.  During the spring break tournament Taylor will face opponents from as far east as St. Joseph's College from New York and as far west as Eastern Oregon University.

The Team

The Tojan infield, which returns starters at every position, should be the strength of the team.   Senior Erica Yoder tallied a team-leading 69 assists last season from the shortstop position.  Juniors Lindsey Stone (2B) and Julianne Beadner (1B) and sophomore Liz Lewellen (3B) will also build on their experience as starters from last season.  Freshmen Maggie Burns and Jessica Sabinas will look to add a fresh enthusiasm to an experienced roster.

Coach Lockridge is excited about the young legs and deep bench in the much improved outfield.  Two freshmen, Liz Hermann and Emily Kramer, will be expected to make an immediate impact as seniors Johanna Henry and Amanda Eckman and junior Laurie Shumaker welcome the newcomers.

Senior Brittany Beckham, junior Jill Tomaszeski and sophomore Jessica Fankhauser will be assigned the pitching duties.  Fankhauser led the 2007 team with a 1.60 ERA in 114 innings pitched.  Behind the plate junior Lindsey Arnold will anchor the Lady Trojan defense after recording only four errors in 37 games last season.  Arnold is also the most proficient offensive player returning from last year's squad.  She leads all returning players with a .313 batting average, 23 RBI and three home runs.

Coach Lockridge has been encouraged by her team's work in the fall season and feels optimistic about the spring.  "The team chemistry is excellent," Lockridge says.  "As a first year coach, I couldn't have asked for a better situation."