TERRE HAUTE —
Somebody had to be picked No. 10.
That’s where Indiana State is predicted to finish, 10th of 10 teams, in the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference softball season. A combination of several losing seasons and a coaching change made it almost inevitable.
New softball coach Shane Bouman is fully aware of the past history in the program, but he’s focusing his attention on looking forward and not looking back.
“The reality is we’re going to build a winning culture with positive attitudes and positive energy,” Bouman said. “I’m not so worried about the past or what’s been happening within this program.
“I know what we’re going to instill. Pitchers are going to throw strikes, get ahead in the count early. We’re expecting to catch every ball that hits our glove. Hopefully we can keep [opponents] under three runs and we’re going to score three or more runs. That’s as simple as our year’s going to be.
“We have great kids with an unbelievable work ethic we’ve instilled in the past few months. We’re going to hustle every play, out-hustle everyone we play.”
During previous coach Brenda Coldren’s nine-year run, the Sycamores were 164-284 overall, 53-174 in the MVC. Last year, those marks were 15-33, 4-21. ISU reached the MVC Tournament semifinals in 2009, but has failed to qualify the past two seasons.
Bouman has been head coach his alma mater South Dakota State (six years), assistant coach at Iowa (three years) and directed Iowa Lakes Community College to a 27-12 record last season.
A three-year starter at quarterback for SDS, Bouman’s also an accomplished softball pitcher, leading five teams to ASA National Championships. His brother is Todd Bouman, a 13-year NFL quarterback, playing last season with Jacksonville.
Bouman was hesitant to name names for definitive roles on his team this season, stating it’s going to be an all-out competition for playing time.
For example, pitchers on the roster this season are senior Lindsey Beisser (4-7, 2.99 ERA), junior Kristen Felker (8-12, 4.12 ERA) and freshman Ashli Scott.
“Whoever’s pitching the best, that’s who’s going to throw,” Bouman stated. “We’re looking for one of those three to be great. The rest of the kids, there’s a number of kids competing at a number of positions.
“We’re going to put the best nine out there. That could change from day to day. What’s their strength, what’s their weakness? We’ll find out in the next few weeks once games start. I have a feeling we’ll have kids that are going to compete.”
A few holdovers will be in the mix this season, but many of them were either injured for portions of the season or had an off-season a year ago.
Players with productive seasons last year include sophomore Alex Baumgart (.287, 39 hits, 14 stolen bases), junior Kim Pierce (.322, four home runs, six stolen bases, .500 slugging percentage) and sophomore Shelby Wilson (.241, 28 hits, 14 runs)
Others struggled mightily a year ago, including junior Mackenzie Connelly (.247 as a freshman, .087 as a sophomore), senior Alyssa Doyle (.294 as a sophomore, .174 as a junior), sophomore Danielle Ketner (.194 while plagued by injuries as a freshman) and junior Alex Lucas (.155).
Three local players seeking playing time are freshmen Megan Stone and Scott, both from North Central, and Ketner, a former Terre Haute North standout.
“I don’t talk a lot about the past, but the past has provided a lot of opportunities,” Bouman said. “When you haven’t had a real successful program, the kids that you are recruiting want to come and play right away. We feel all six kids we signed early … we’re going to sign about three more late … and the thing they like is the opportunity to play immediately.
“Every one of the kids in this program is going to have a chance to play this year and make an impact. They want to come here, they want to play, compete at the top of the Missouri Valley Conference, make a name for themselves nationally. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Two players with differing vantage points, one a senior, one a freshman, offered their observations of the new direction of the program.
“I feel we’ve made great strides … [Bouman] makes us do the little things right to be the best player we can be,” Doyle observed. “We don’t look too much into the future. It’s all about what’s happening now.
“I’m a senior so I’m looking forward to my last season. I’d really like the team to go out with a big bang. Would really like to make it to conference tournament.”
“It’s been exciting, upbeat all the time,” Stone observed.
What brought her to ISU?
“The program, definitely … it’s close to home because I have a big family.”
Stone is vying for a starting slot at third base or in the middle infield.
ISU has an unusual schedule this year; the team is either at home or on the road for extended periods of time. To wit, its season begins with 14 games on the road, then 10 games at home, then nine of 10 games on the road, then 10 games at home, then finishes with six on the road
“[The schedule’s] a great thing for this year, a bad thing for next year as far as travel,” Bouman said. “Next year we’re going to Georgia and Auburn. We’re taking some huge steps to play big-time competition against BCS schools next year. We want to play the best teams so it prepares us for the MVC.”
Back from the future, Bouman and his players are excited to get this season under way.
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of smiles, a positive energy,” Bouman smiled. “The music is on [in the practice facility]. We want to have kids have fun playing softball, that want to compete at the highest level. Do we have high expectations? Yeah. We have very high expectations.”
ISU opens its season with season with four games in Bowling Green, Ky., this weekend.
Sports
Related Photos
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Interaction: Indiana State University softball coach Shane Bouman works with Megan Stone during Friday's practice at their indoor facility.
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Intensity: Indiana State University softball player Makenzie Connelly, from Casey, throws the ball to a teammate during Friday's practice.
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