SPORTS
Badgers look to be best of both worlds
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Also by Ben Voelkel:
- Rocky trip Outback for UW (January 1, 2008)
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- Schulte hopes losses to stronger programs pay off (March 30, 2006)
- Schulte sets goals for 2006 (March 8, 2006)
- UW shows signs of improved play (April 18, 2006)
- Ay caramba! Wisconsin hits El Paso (February 23, 2007)
- UW braces for wintry cold, PU (April 13, 2007)
by Ben Voelkel
Friday, March 31, 2006
When the Wisconsin softball team takes the field this weekend for the first time in Big Ten play, no one will be able to say the Badgers non-conference schedule didn't adequately prepare them for play in one of the nation's toughest conferences.
During non-conference schedule, which head coach Chandelle Schulte has referred to as one of the toughest she has seen, the Badgers played five nationally ranked teams, including current No. 1 Texas. That number will increase to six when the Badgers face off against No. 16 Northwestern in their Big Ten opener, part of a two-game series today and Saturday in Evanston. The Badgers will then head south for a double-header against Illinois Sunday.
The Big Ten currently has three teams either ranked or receiving votes in the NFCA/USA Today Poll.
Heading into the Big Ten season, the Badgers have their sights set on two goals.
"We want to match last year's conference win total of 11 and qualify for the Big Ten tournament," Schulte explained. The top eight teams at the end of the season qualify for the conference tournament.
Northwestern comes into the Big Ten season red-hot, having won eight of their last 10 games, including a 3-2 win over then-No. 1 UCLA in their last outing. The Wildcats boast an 18-8 record, with five of those losses coming to teams in the top 10.
While Northwestern's team batting average is a pedestrian .257, the key to their early-season success can be found in the right arms of pitchers Courtnay Foster and Eileen Canney. Both Foster and Canney were All-Big Ten selections last year, and Schulte identified them as "two of the top five pitchers" in the Big Ten.
This season, the duo has combined for a miniscule 1.77 team ERA and has held opposing hitters to a .174 batting average. The key to success in the batter's box, Schulte feels, is patience.
"[Foster and Canney] are power pitchers," Schulte said. "It's really tough to hit against them, but if you are patient at the plate, you can work for a walk. If we get runners on, I think we will be able to move them around and score some runs."
While the first two games of the weekend figure to be low-scoring pitchers' duels, Sunday's doubleheader could end up looking more like football scores than that of a softball game. The Illini (13-15) score an average of 5.5 runs/game while giving up more than six runs a game.
Leading the charge offensively for Illinois is senior and three-time first-team All-Big Ten first baseman Jenna Hall. Through 26 games this season, Hall has put on an offensive clinic, batting .487 with nine home runs and 28 RBI. Throw in eight doubles, and you get a mind-boggling .947 slugging percentage. She has also demonstrated quite an eye at the plate, having drawn 18 walks against only 10 strikeouts.
Given Illinois' offensive firepower (five starters besides Hall carry a BA over .300), the Badgers will have to bring their bats to the park and continue playing good defense if they hope to win.
"We really can't make many mistakes when we are in the field and give any extra outs," Schulte said. "Illinois can really make you pay if you give them more than three outs an inning."
"We have played against tough offensive teams [earlier this year]," freshman pitcher Leah Vanevenhoven added, saying those games helped prepare the Badgers for teams such as Illinois.
As for the strategy against Hall? Think Barry Bonds circa 2002.
"Every ball she swings at has a shot at leaving the yard," Schulte said. "You have to be really careful to her, and maybe giving her a free pass wouldn't be the worst thing."
Wisconsin may catch a break, as Hall has sat out two recent games after sustaining a knee injury while chasing a foul ball. She has been regaining mobility and will likely play, but might not be at full strength.
Either way, Schulte stressed the importance of focusing on each game and not taking any games for granted.
"Our league is very balanced," Schulte said. "Anyone in the Big Ten can beat anyone else on a given day.
"We just have to give our best effort every game and we will be fine."
