Young Lady Cougars Aiming For a Better Mark in 2011

Although the Lady Cougar softball team is defined by youth, it still has experience in its arsenal. 

The Lady Cougars lost three seniors to graduation last spring and return just one senior, Maggie Freise, this fall. Lutheran finished the last season with an 8-14 mark. 

“We’re young this year,” Lutheran head coach Jon Bernhardt said. “We have seven juniors, two sophomores, and three freshmen this season. But some of the girls have played a lot since they were freshmen. They’re not inexperienced, but they’re not at the senior level either.” 

The Lady Cougars have a roster of 13 girls this season. Bernhardt said the numbers are good for a small school like Lutherans but that he would like to see the numbers expand so the school could add a junior varsity program. 

Bernhardt starts his second year as head coach this fall. 

Freise played left field last year and will start at third base this year. Bernhardt said Freise “makes contact with the ball and hits it hard.” 

Sophomore Rachel Tharp is the Cougar’s No. 1 pitcher this year. Bernhardt said she started 80 percent of the time last year. 

“She (Tharp) throws about four or five different pitches,” Bernhardt said. “She keeps batters on their toes. Her speed is average, she’s not overpowering.” 

Freshman Meg Derrington will play catcher. Bernhardt describes the catcher as “a good athlete” and one of the only players he has with experience behind the plate. 

Junior Kelsey Brenon was slated to play first base but she was injured in a scrimmage this week. Bernhardt said he hoped to have her back as soon as possible. Junior Ruthie Macke and freshman Brenna Bagby could play at first in Brenon’s absence, said Bernhardt. 

Freshman Hannah Bernhardt and junior Lauren Orr are competing for time at second base. Bernhardt calls Hannah Bernhardt a “small ball hitter” and Orr “a big hitter but not as much speed.”

Junior Brittany Bagby, a starter last year, returns at shortstop. Bernhardt said Bagby should be Lutheran's No. 3 or No. 4 hitter. 

Junior Claire Schoedel and Macke are competing for time in right field, junior Sami Liefer will play in centerfield, and junior Michelle Ray will play left field. In addition, sophomore Isabella Seitzer could play in both left and right field. 

Bernhardt said the Lady Cougars will miss last year’s seniors when it comes to hitting. He also called Bagby a “strong hitter” and that Liefer can hit a lot of doubles and triples and that her speed allows her to turn a double into a triple. 

Lutheran finished in the middle of the pack, third out of six schools, in the AAA Conference last year. Bernhardt expects the league to be competitive this year but he also wants his team to push the leaders of the pack. 

“St. Dominic and JFK should be the ones to beat again this year,” he said. “I’d like to see us challenge for the top spot this year.”