Lions unveil hitting clinic

Barry Faulkner

Though there are eight newcomers to the Vanguard University softball

program this spring, the new dimension getting most of the early

attention is the decreased distances to the outfield fence at the

school’s renovated home field.

In her first 13 years with the program, seventh-year head coach

Beth Renkoski had never seen a Vanguard player clear the fence in a

game. Last year’s team did belt a school-record 11 dingers, but all

were either on the road or inside the park.

But before this season, Vanguard elected to move home plate nine

feet farther away from the backstop. The new dimensions measure 218

feet to left field, 216 to center and 214 in right and at least one

Lion newcomer has found the adjusted confines quite a bit friendlier.

Freshman Catherine Buttrey launched a drive over the

left-center-field fence in her second collegiate at-bat to break the

home, home run drought. She followed that up with a pair of bombs in

Tuesday’s home doubleheader. Buttrey also homered during the team’s

2-3 tournament trip to Las Vegas, while fellow freshmen Judy Bell and

Rachel Bomgren have also blasted homers to give the team six in its

first nine games.

“Power is very much one of our strengths this year,” said

Renkoski, after her squad hit .328 during its 4-5 start, 63 points

higher than last year’s team batting average.

Depth and versatility are also plusses for this year’s unit,

providing options but also difficulty for Renkoski every time she

eyes a lineup card.

“Every game, I come up with five or six options and we try to pick

the lineup that is best for that particular day,” said Renkoski, who

considers this year’s depth arguably the best she has seen during her

time at the school.

Ashley Mauro, an All-Golden State Athletic Conference performer a

year ago, joins the team’s lone senior, catcher Rachael Rolle, as

reliable veteran leaders. And Renkoski believes her young players

have shown impressive poise to this point.

“Nothing seems to bother [the newcomers],” Renkoski said. “No

matter how quiet or loud they are, their effort always seems to be

the same. I think we have more potential than anyone would ever

believe.”

That potential includes a four-pitcher rotation led by sophomore

Krystal Keltner, the only pitcher back from last year’s squad. She

was 10-5 with a 2.27 ERA, but struck out only 51 in 108 innings.

“K.K. [a nickname that is surely the envy of pitchers everywhere]

has some experience, but I really expect our other three pitchers to

all contribute,” Renkoski said.

Freshman Jennifer Rynda won her first two decisions, while

sophomore Jenna Willis, who had the other win heading into Friday’s

clash at Cal Baptist, and freshman Jennifer Olvera also comprise the

Lions’ delegation in the circle.

Through the first nine games, each pitcher had thrown between 13

and 17 innings and all have recorded double-figure strikeouts.

Buttrey, who has seen most of her time at third base, typifies the

versatility of the position players. Hitting .435 with nine RBIs, she

can also play first base.

Mauro, a junior who started every game for last year’s 27-26-1

unit, figures to hold down second base, while Bomgren has a monopoly

on shortstop. Bomgren, the leadoff hitter, is off to a fast start.

She hit .407 through nine games.

Third base candidates include junior Holly Martinez and freshman

Heather Durham, the latter a true utility performer with ability at

second and first.

Junior Lauren Manriquez, recovering from problem with a lower-leg

tendon, according to Renkoski, could also contribute at first base.

Bell, 12 for her first 24, and Benson are additional options

behind the plate, while Benson could also play third and the

outfield.

Depth will obviously figure into the designated player spot.

The outfield rotation includes sophomores Beth Burchell and

Vanessa Bolich, as well as speedy junior Lindsey Dyer (already 3 for

3 in stolen-base attempts) and pitchers Olvera and Rynda. Dyer is 11

for 28 (.379) in the early going.

Renkoski is unsure how the GSAC competition breaks down this

season, but she believes her team can fill one of the four playoffs

berths available in NAIA Region II.

The Lions open conference play March 2 against visiting Point Loma

Nazarene.

A Vanguard postseason appearance would break a four-year absence.