Eastern's Suzie Espinoza returns for the Mountaineers in 2010.
LA GRANDE, Ore. -- The Eastern Oregon University softball team takes the field for the first time this season Saturday at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore.
The Mountaineers return to the field looking for their first winning season in five years. EOU brings back eight players from a team that had a slugging percentage of .410. Eastern welcomes a pair of players that have college level playing experience in 2010. The Mountaineers were picked seventh in the Cascade Collegiate Conference preseason coaches’ poll.
2009 REVIEW
A year after posting 21 wins; Eastern had a difficult time finding its rhythm in 2009. EOU only put a pair of wins together four times during the season. The Mountaineers finished 13-29 overall and 5-19 in conference play. Eastern Oregon was seventh in the CCC.
The Mountaineers were seventh in the league in RBI per game, Earned Run Average, and Opponents Batting Average. But, EOU excelled in the field and posted a .950 fielding percentage which was third in the conference. Eastern also hit the ball very well. The Mountaineers slugging percentage was third in the conference, and EOU was 19th in the NAIA in home runs per game (.786).
Megan Platz was a huge factor in that statistic. The graduated senior hit a school record 13 home runs and had a 31 percent chance of a home run every contest, which was ninth in the nation. Megan Monaghan was right behind with nine home runs. The graduated senior had the team’s best batting average (.362). Platz and Monaghan each had 35 RBI in 2009.
The Mountaineers found Peggy Anderson Field in La Grande a refuge, posting seven wins at home. Eastern swept a doubleheader against Oregon Tech, a 21-win team, which finished fourth in the conference.
PITCHING
Eastern Oregon has four pitchers on the roster this season, three being freshman. Suzie Espinoza returns on the mound for the Mountaineers. The sophomore recorded a team-high six wins last season. The Tualatin, Ore. native posted a 5.33 ERA in 85.1 innings pitched. She will play double-duty once again for EOU in the infield as well.
Jen McDonell will make her debut as a Mountaineer this season. The freshman from Mollala, Ore., was first team All-Pacific League as a junior at Canby High School. Whitney Hodges and Teri Pardue will also see time on the mound for Eastern this year.
INFIELD
Fielding was a strength for Eastern Oregon in 2009, and should be the same in 2010. The Mountaineers return four players from the infield to this year’s lineup. EOU had a fielding percentage of .950 and committed 60 errors.
Newcomer Jessie Utt will play first this season for Eastern. The sophomore from Riverside, Wash., had a great training season and will suit up for EOU after being a standout at Omark High School. Kassi Reisbeck and Shelby Spencer will share time on second base for the Mountaineers this year. Reisbeck, a sophomore, saw limited action for Eastern Oregon last year, but had a fielding percentage of 1.000.
Wailana Buchanan will split time on second and third base in 2010. The junior transfer saw action at NCAA Div. 1 Idaho State University in 2007, before moving to North Idaho College. She was first team all-league in high school in Vancouver, Wash. Krista Kountz, one of four seniors on this season’s roster, should see time at third as well. She hit .235 last season, had eight RBI, and had a fielding percentage of .882.
Iris Woodhead will close out a fantastic career at Eastern Oregon this season in the shortstop role. The senior has been solid in the infield for the Mountaineers and will be a leader in 2010. She’s returning after a 17 RBI season last year, along with a fielding percentage of .922. Freshman Linda Solis will also see some time at short stop this year.
OUTFIELD
The EOU outfield features four returners and will be integral in Mountaineer success this season. Ashleigh Byrne enters her senior season after transferring from Clark Community College before last season. Byrne had little trouble in left field for Eastern in 2009, and will be a leader in 2010. She led the team with 10 steals, had a hitting percentage of .244, and a fielding percentage of .933.
Fellow senior Megan Hardman will see action this season. The Richland, Wash. native saw limited action last year after transferring from Blue Mountain Community College. Sophomores Ashli Hughes and Holly Martin return to the outfield. Hughes had a very good freshman season, which features 11 RBI, eight steals, and a fielding percentage of .969. McDonell should see time in the outfield as well this season off of the mound.
SCHEDULE
Eastern Oregon will play 11 teams before it opens its home conference schedule. The Mountaineers have nine home dates in 2010. A trip to George Fox and Lewis & Clark opens the regular season. The NCAA Div. 3 Northwest Conference members were picked at the bottom of the coaches’ preseason poll. EOU travels to Walla Walla University before opening the conference schedule at Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon.
Eastern will spend its Spring Break in California on a business trip. The Mountaineers travel to Simpson University, Menlo College, and William Jessup in a three-day span over the break from classes. The Mountaineers then return home to play 14 games from March 27 to April 10. During that home stand, EOU plays 12 conference games. Eastern Oregon then returns to the road to play out the conference schedule, an eight-game lineup over an eight day period. The Mountaineers close the regular season at home against non-conference foe, Walla Walla University, on April 28.
The Cascade Collegiate Conference should be tough again in 2010. The league sent champion, The College of Idaho, to last year’s NAIA World Series. The coaches’ unanimously chose the ‘Yotes as this season’s conference champion in the preseason poll. In fact, the preseason poll matched the exact order in which the standings finished last season. Southern Oregon was selected as the conference runner-up after 2009’s 22-15 finish.