Tuesday, February 09, 2010

MACON, Ga. – As the 2010 NCAA Division I Softball season approaches, the Atlantic Sun Conference takes a look at each team leading up to the start of the season. Today, we return to Nashville, Tenn. to feature the preseason coaches’ poll favorites in the Lipscomb Lady Bisons.

Overview
Lipscomb returns nine starters and 13 of 15 letterwinners from the 2009 season, in which the Lady Bisons recorded an overall mark of 39-14 and an A-Sun tally of 14-4 for a third-place finish in the league. Head coach Kristin Ryman enters her fifth season with the Lady Bisons. having amassed an overall record of 105-102-1 while at Lipscomb. This season, Lipscomb hopes to return to postseason play for the fifth time. In the 2009 A-Sun Tournament in DeLand, Fla., Lipscomb fell to league foe Mercer, 10-4. The Lady Bisons tallied a home record of 15-7 at Draper Diamond in Nashville, Tenn.

Top Returners
Last season, Kellie Sirus, the 2010 Preseason Player of the Year, earned spots on the All-Atlantic Sun First-Team and the All-Tournament Team after finishing the season ranked 17th nationally in NCAA Division I in doubles per game (.32), 25th in batting average (.418), 36th in RBI per game (.91) and 40th in slugging percentage (.724). The psychology major also earned an A-Sun Player of the Week award on April 27.

Top hitter Abby Keese joined Sirus on the 2010 Preseason All-Conference Team. A Second-Team All-Atlantic Sun selection, the Denver native placed eighth in runs batted in (46), fifth in doubles (12) and sixth in on base percentage (.465). The junior totaled 11 multi-hit games and ranked second on the Lady Bisons in multi-RBI games with 11, slugging percentage (.566), on base percentage (.415), home runs (9), total bases (90) RBIs and doubles, while ranking third in batting average (.321) and hits (51).

Newcomers
Breanna Thurman played at Spring Hill High School in Tennessee where the outfielder lettered four years in softball. Thurman earned 10-AA All-District Team honors in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and also earned “Offensive Player of the Year" in 2006, 2007 and 2009.

“Bree is going to challenge in the outfield because she really has an understanding of our philosophy as the fall went on,” said Kristin Ryman. “She brings a lot of speed to our team which is great to have. We have worked her in center, right and left. She is competitor. She will be in a very challenging position. If her hitting continues to click she is somebody who could be in the mix in the outfield on an everyday basis. “

At Station Camp, Lacy Walker played with the All-District Team in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and earned the team’s MVP award in both 2007 and 2008. Walker’s .461 batting average stands as the highest in school history. The Hendersonville, Tenn. native also had collected steals, the most in season for Station Camp.

“We are very excited about the addition of Lacy to our team,” Ryman said. “She is someone who is going to bring a lot of versatility and speed to the table, and she is going to push our infielders and outfielders right away. Defensively, she brings the ability to play nearly anywhere, and offensively she brings consistency and speed.

Camille Cross collected All-State accolades in 2007 and 2008 at Friendship Christian Academy. Cross earned All-Region and All-District in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and served as team captain in 2008, in addition to notching an MVP award in softball in 2008. The Lebanon, Tenn. native lettered in varsity football as a kicker, in addition to earning All-District and All-State honors in track and field. In 2008, Cross collected the team’s MVP award in track and field.

“Camille has the ability to make an immediate impact with her bat, and defensively can play a number of positions,” Ryman said. “Camille brings a tremendous amount of talent, and we are excited to get her here and see her continue to develop. She is a very hard worker who brings a passion to reach any challenges she faces. She continues to improve behind the plate.”

Megan Teller is the sister of Lipscomb basketball player Michael Teller.

“She is pushing for playing time at first base,” Ryman said. “Megan is long and lanky. She brings speed and an athletic presence to that corner. Her hitting improved throughout the fall. She is going to need the experience of seeing college hitters on a consistent basis.”

At North Oconee High School, Ali Watson earned All-Northeast Georgia Team by the Athens Banner accolades all four years and was a two-time All-State selection. Watson, a Bogart, Ga. native, also earned four-time All-Regional selections and started all four years. As a senior, the pitcher compiled a 23-6 record (the team finished with a 25-10 record) and a 0.42 ERA.

“Ali Watson has thrown some great innings for us,” Ryman said Watson’s performance during the fall season. “When she has had the opportunity she has put in some good work.”

Schedule
The Lipscomb Lady Bisons softball team traditionally has started the season with a series of tournaments, but for 2010 there are a couple of twists.

The Lady Bisons will host their first ever tournament at Draper Diamond, March 5-7, with Murray State, Eastern Kentucky and Evansville participating. The Lady Bisons will then be in Honolulu, Hawaii, March 17-20 for the Hawaii Spring Fling. They will play host Hawaii, California-Berkley and Tokyo Women’s College. It will mark the first time the team has played in Hawaii.

The Lady Bisons will open the season Feb. 12-14 at the Mardi Gras Classic in Mobile, Ala. The field includes Central Arkansas, Western Kentucky, Southern Illinois Edwardsville and host South Alabama. The next tournament on the schedule is the Georgia Southern Eagle Classic in Statesboro, Ga., Feb. 19-21. The field includes Oakland, Binghamton and host Georgia Southern.

The Frost Classic is Feb. 26-28 with Oakland, Austin Peay, Kentucky, Kansas and Georgetown all scheduled to face the Lady Bisons. The tournament is sponsored by Tennessee-Chattanooga. Next, the Lady Bisons will play a rare game in February at home when Alabama-Birmingham visits on the 16th for a doubleheader.

The Lady Bisons have been to the Atlantic Sun Tournament four times. Lipscomb will open Atlantic Sun play at home with doubleheaders with ETSU and USC-Upstate on March 26 and 27. Rounding out the home conference doubleheaders will be Stetson (April 16) and FGCU (April 17).

The Lady Bisons will play Jacksonville (April 2), North Florida (April 3), Mercer (April 9), Kennesaw State (April 10), Campbell (April 24) and Belmont (April 27). Rounding out the home conference doubleheaders will be Stetson (April 16) and FGCU (April 17).

The Lady Bisons visit Cookeville on March 9 to face Tennessee Tech from the Ohio Valley Conference on the road. Evansville will make a return visit to Draper Diamond on March 11 for a doubleheader. The Lady Bisons will then play Tennessee State from the Ohio Valley Conference at Draper Diamond on April 7 and close out the regular season on May 6 with a visit from Middle Tennessee State from the Sun Belt Conference. After the tournaments, the only non-conference road game for the Lady Bisons will be a visit to Bowling Green, Ky. to face Western Kentucky on March 30.

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11 Days of Atlantic Sun Softball Schedule
Jan. 28 – Belmont
Jan. 29 – Stetson
Feb. 1 – ETSU
Feb. 2 – Kennesaw State
Feb. 3 – Jacksonville
Feb. 4 – UNF
Feb. 5 – USC Upstate
Feb. 8 – Mercer
Feb. 9 – Lipscomb
Feb. 10 – FGCU
Feb. 11 – Campbell