NKU All-American Ricki Rothbauer

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - In order for the Northern Kentucky University softball team to make its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II World Series, the Norse must find replacements for several key performers from last season’s record-setting 55-2 team.

The Norse must replace NCAA Division II National Player of the Year Krystal Lewallen, NKU’s two-time All-American pitcher who transferred to Louisiana-Lafayette following the season. Lewallen posted a 32-1 record with a NCAA Division II-leading 0.36 earned run average in 2005, and she won a school-record 79 games in three seasons at NKU.

NKU also graduated All-American center fielder Stephanie Leimbach (the school’s all-time leader in hits and runs scored), first baseman Angie Lindeman (the school’s all-time leader in runs batted in), All-Great Lakes Valley Conference catcher Megan Owens, All-GLVC pitcher Emily Breitholle and starting third baseman Sara Becker.

The 55 consecutive wins posted by last year’s team are the most in collegiate softball history. NKU won two games at the NCAA Division II World Series at Salem, Va., but consecutive losses to Lynn (Fla.) and Kennesaw State ended the Norse’s bid for a national championship.

NKU is now putting last season’s accomplishments behind it and focusing on establishing itself this season.

“It’s a new season,” head coach Kathy Stewart said. “We always talk about each game we play being an opportunity to prove ourselves, regardless of our record.

“This team has a tremendous opportunity to make a name for themselves versus living in the shadow of last year’s team. If the team does feel pressure due to us being a big game for our opponents, I’m sure they’ll give everything they have or, as we say, leave it all on the field.”

NKU was picked to finish second in the GLVC preseason poll behind Southern Illinois at Edwardsville. The Norse were a perfect 16-0 in the conference last season and also captured the GLVC Tournament for the first time in history.

The Norse return a solid group of experienced players from last season, primarily the team’s three captains: Ricki Rothbauer, Becky Napier and Rachele Vogelpohl.

Rachele Vogelpohl hit .352 in 2005

Rothbauer, a senior second baseman, was named first team All-American last season after batting .394 and compiling nine triples, 23 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Rothbauer also received first team All-GLVC and All-Region honors for her performance.

Napier, a junior who started 56 games last season, batted .356 with 38 RBI and 13 doubles. She received first team All-GLVC accolades as a shortstop in 2005.

Vogelpohl, a senior making a move from the outfield to shortstop this year, finished with a .352 batting average last season. She added four home runs and 19 RBI while earning second team All-GLVC honors.

“(The three captains) are all coming off career seasons,” Stewart said. “We are expecting another great year from (Rothbauer). Becky Napier will be in the starting lineup once she has been released from her shoulder surgery she had in the fall. She is a tremendous all-around player. Rachele Vogelpohl is a versatile player who had a very good offensive year last year, and we’re expecting the same from her this year.”

Also returning to the starting lineup for the Norse is sophomore catcher Sarah King. King started all 57 games last season in the outfield and finished with a .311 batting average while collecting two home runs and a team-leading 45 RBI.

Center fielder Kara Lorenz and left fielder Heather Cotner will see action in the starting lineup in their senior seasons for NKU. Lorenz saw action in 39 games last season, starting three times, while Cotner batted .288 in 57 games a year ago.

“Our strength will be the experience of our returning players,” Stewart said, “but our weakness is the inexperience of our two freshmen pitchers.”

Becky Napier batted .356 with 13 doubles

The freshmen pitchers are Michelle Critchelow and Candace White. Critchelow, a graduate of Grayson County, was named the 2005 Kentucky Miss Softball after recording more than 1,000 career strikeouts.

Amanda Smith, a freshman first baseman and graduate from Canal Winchester (Ohio), batted .503 in high school and was named All-Mid-State League three times. She may also see time on the mound this season.

Freshmen Katybeth Coode and Cara Parker will also start. Coode, who will see action in right field, batted .432 for DuPont Manual High School last season while driving in 35 runs and finishing with a .690 slugging percentage. She was named second team All-Region.

Parker, a graduate of Kings High School, earned All-Fort Ancient Valley Conference honors last season and will start at third base.

Seeing action as the designated hitter will be freshman Shatona Campbell, a graduate of Fairfield High School. She set single-season records at Fairfield with 12 home runs and 50 hits while finishing with a .491 batting average. Campbell was named first team All-Greater Miami Conference, first team All-City and second team All-Ohio in 2005.

Stewart said sophomore Jami Patton and freshmen Jessica Feldhaus, Segille Melton and Jenny Weis will be expected to be a factor for the Norse when given the opportunities.

“We’ll be competitive,” Stewart said. “We’ll be tested early. We’ll be starting at least three freshmen in addition to our freshmen pitchers, and therefore, we feel we’ll improve as the season goes on. Our goal is to win every game. We expect to win.”

NKU opens its season Feb. 10 against West Florida and Delta State in the North Alabama Tournament in Florence, Ala. The Norse will host a doubleheader against Georgetown (Ky.) Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field.

The GLVC tournament will take place May 5-7 in East Peoria, Ill.

NKU is ranked No. 15 nationally in the Division II poll.

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