General information M ¥ r . Softball QuickFacts 1 MarylandSoftballHistory 32 2002Schedule 2 Results, Honors, ACCHistory 32 Maryland'sFieldofDreams 3 CareerLeaders 33 ThisIsMarylandSoftball 4 Single-SeasonLeaders 34 2002SeasonOutlook 6 RosterandStats 35 CoachingStaff 8 All-TimeResults 36 HeadCoachCina LaMandre 8 SeriesRecords 38 AssistantCoach RachelLawson 10 OpponentCapsules 40 AssistantCoachAmySandler 11 UniversityofMaryland 42 SupportStaff 11 UniversityProfile 42 MeettheTerrapins 12 PresidentCD. MoteJr. 43 2002 RosterInformation 12 MarylandAthletics 44 PlayerProfiles 13 AthleticsDirectorDeborahA. Yow 45 2001 SeasonReview 29 AthleticsDepartment 46 2001 ReviewNotebook 29 AcademicSupport&CareerDevelopment 47 .. 2001 SeasonStatistics 30 Strength&Conditioning 47 2001 CameResults 31 Media Information 48 2002 Quick: Facts Location:CollegePark, Md. Assistant Coaches: Rachel Lawson (Massachusetts Founded: 1807 '94),AmySandler(Maryland '99) Enrollment: 33,006 Manager:MichelleBurrell (Maryland'01) Nickname:Terrapins FirstYearofSoftball: 1995 Colors:Red,White, BlackandCold 2001 OverallRecord: 39-23 Affiliation:NCAADivisionI ACCRecord/Finish: 1-7/5th Conference:AtlanticCoastConference ACCTournamentFinish: 3rd President:Dr.CD. MoteJr.(California '59) SASARecord/Finish: 3-7/5th AthleticsDirector:DeborahA.Yow(Elon 74) LettermenReturning/Lost: 11/4 HeadCoach:CinaLaMandre(TrentonState'8 StartersReturning/Lost:8/4 OverallRecord(Years):219-176-1 (7) Newcomers:8 RecordatMaryland(Years): 219-176-1 (7) Mission Statement Media Guide Credits TheUniversityofMarylandistheflagshipofthestate's The2002MarylandSoftballmediaguide was writ- highereducationsystemandaprestigiouspublicresearch ten andeditedbymedia relations assistant Mark university,knownforacademtexcellenceinundergradu- Fratto. Design andlayout wasprovidedbyJason ateandgraduateeducation.Thefacultyisattheleading Yellin, PublicationsCoordinator/AssistantDirector edgeofscientific,technologtal,intellectual,andartistic ofAthletic Media Relations. AssociateAthletic Di- discovery,whileremainingfocusedonteaching.Provid- rectorforMediaRelationsDaveHaglund,mediare- ingthebroadestrangeofhighlychallengingprograms lationscoordinatorMeredithTraberandstudentas- forthe most talentedstudents, the Universityof sistantAlan Brodyprovided editorial assistance. Maryland'sstate-of-the-artfacilitiesanddiversecampus Coverdesign byJohn Schaffhauser Photography communityofferanidealeducationalatmosphereanda byDevinShiehandLisaHelfert.PrintingbyAmbrose locatbnconnectingfacultyandstudentstounlimitedre- Printing. sourcesforscholarlyexplorationandpractfcalexperience. was a Theuniversityalsoservesthestateandregionthrough Copies of this media guide can bepurchased for i applicationofresearchandexpertisetoaddresssocietal $6.50,plus$1.50forshippingandhandling,bywrit- ttlGZOOl issuesandpromoteeconomtgrowth. ing theAthleticMedia Relations Office, University ofMaryland, CollegePark, Maryland, 20742, orby calling301-314-7064. \ 1 ""'•>.* k X,. a=r Juah I Day Date Opponent Location Time atBamaBash,Host Alabama Fri Feb.8 vs Evansville Tuscaloosa,Ala. 11 a.m. Fn. Feb.8 vs.Alabama TliUiocLraallUnUnScaa,rA\l\aQ. 4pm. Sat. Feb.9 vs.Samford Tuscaloosa,Ala. 11 a.m. Sat. Feb.9 ChampionshipBracketPlay Tuscaloosa,Ala. TBA Sun. Feb 10 ChampionshipBracketPlay(cont.) Tuscaloosa,Ala. TBA Sun. Feb.10 ChampionshipGame Tuscaloosa,Ala. 1 p.m. atSeminoleClassic,Host:FloridaState Fri. Feb.15 vs.PennState Tallahassee,Fla. Noon Fri Feb. 15 vs.Syracuse Tallahassee,Fla. 2p.m. Sat. Feb. 16 vs.FloridaState Tallahassee,Fla. 4p.m. Sat. Feb.16 vs.St.John's Tallahassee,Fla. 8p.m. Sun. Feb. 17 vs.Georgia Tallahassee,Fla. Noon atUSF-HolidayInnTournament.Host:SouthFlorida Fri. Feb 22 vs.SetonHall Tampa,Fla 10a.m. Fri Feb 22 vs.Indiana Tampa,Fla. Noon Sat. Feb.23 vs.Hofstra Tampa,Fla. 6p.m. Sat. Feb.23 vs.CoastalCarolina Tampa,Fla. 8p.m. Sun. Feb.24 vs.SouthFlorida Tampa,Fla. 2p.m. atSpeedlineInvitationalTournament,HostSouthFlorida Thu. Mar.7 vs MichiganState Tampa,Fla 1 p.m. Thu. Mar 7 vs.BrighamYoung Tampa,Fla 5p.m. Fri. Mar8 vs.FloridaInternational Tampa,Fla. 10a.m. Fri. Mar.8 vs.Massachusetts Tampa,Fla. 2p.m. Sat. Mar.9 vs.TexasTech Tampa,Fla. Noon Sat. Mar.9 ChampionshipBracketPlay Tampa,Fla. TBA Sun. Mar. 10 ChampionshipBracketPlay(cont.) Tampa,Fla. TBA Sun. Mar 10 ChampionshipCame Tampa,Fla. 2p.m. Tue. Mar.12 LASALLE(DH) CollegePark,Md. 2:30p.m. Wed. Mar.13 DELAWARE(DH) CollegePark,Md. 2:30p.m. Wed. Mar.20 TOWSON(DH) CollegePark,Md. 3p.m. atBuzzClassic,Host:GeorgiaTech Fri. Mar22 vs MichiganState Marietta,Ga. 3p.m. Fri. Mar.22 vs.GeorgiaState Marietta,Ga. 6p.m. Sat. Mar.23 vs Elon Marietta,Ca. 9a.m. Sat. Mar.23 vs.WesternKentucky Marietta,Ca. 5p.m. Sat. Mar23 ChampionshipBracketPlay Marietta,Ga. TBA Sun. Mar.24 ChampionshipBracketPlay(cont.) Marietta,Ga. AllDay Sun. Mar.24 ChampionshipCame Marietta,Ga. 1 p.m. Tue. Mar.26 atGeorgiaTech(DH)* Atlanta,Ga. 2p.m. Wed. Mar.27 atGeorgiaState(DH) Atlanta,Ga. 5p.m. Fri. Mar.29 BROWN(DH) CollegePark,Md. 2p.m. atGeorgeMasonSpringClash,Host:GeorgeMason Sat. Mar.30 vs.Siena Fairfax,Va. 11 a.m. Sat Mar.30 atGeorgeMason Fairfax,Va. 1 p.m. Sat. Mar30 vs.Brown Fairfax,Va. 5p.m. Sun. Mar.31 ChampionshipBracketPlay Faifax,Va. AllDay atUNCTournament,Host:NorthCarolina Sat. Apr6 vs.Virginia ChapelHill,NX. Noon Sat. Apr.6 vs.GeorgiaTech ChapelHill.N.C. 2p.m. Sun. Apr.7 atNorthCarolina ChapelHill,N.C. Noon Sun. Apr.7 ChampionshipBracketPlay ChapelHill,N.C. TBA Wed. Apr.10 atTowson(DH) Towson,Md. 3:30p.m. Wed. Apr.17 atGeorgeMason(DH) Fairfax,Va. 3p.m. Sat. Apr.20 VIRGINIA(DH)* CollegePark,Md. 1 p.m. Wed Apr.24 ST.JOSEPH'S(DH) CollegePark,Md. 2:30p.m. Sat. Apr.27 atNorthCarolina(DH)* ChapelHill,N.C. 2p.m. Thu. May2 FLORIDASTATE(DH)* CollegePark,Md. 5p.m. Fri.-Sun. May10-12 ACCChampionship Tallahassee,Fla. TBA Thu.-Sun. May16-19 NCAARegionals CampusSites TBA Thu.-Mon. May23-27 Women'sCollegeWorldSeries OklahomaCity,Okla. TBA *DenotesACCGames ©O00(a " This Maryland Softball Is WHat They "Wearecommittedtoprovidingthebest possibleresourcesforallofourathletics programs, andthenewsoftballcomplex willbeoneofthe finestin thecountry.' — Deborah A. Yow, DirectorofAthletics Thenewcomplexwillhelpusstaycom- petitiveinboth theconferenceandthe nation. Itisanexciting time tobeapart oftheMarylandsoftballprogram. — Cina LaMandre, Maryland Head Softball Coach Thesetworenderingsshowanoverviewofthepressarea,seatingareaandconcessit'onstands. I Thisrenderingshowstheentrytothene*wsoftballcomplex. The University of Maryland is in the fi- Amenities at the state-of- nalstagesofa$3.0millionsoftballcom- the-artfacility will include: plex,projectedforcompletioninspring • Stadiumseatingformorethan 1,000fans 2002. The facility will be the latest im- • Undergrounddugoutswith restrooms provementtoa Maryland athleticspro- • Two bullpen areas gramthatalreadyranksamongthetop • Fourbatting cages 10 institutions in the nation forfemale • Lighttowers athletes, according to the 2001 fall is- • Concessionsarea sueof SportsIllustratedFor Women. • Ticket booth • Pressbox Located adjacent to Maryland's future • Natural Bermuda grassoutfield Comcast Center on the north side of • Electronicscoreboard campus, student-athletes will have ac- • Ampleparking cesstolockerroomandweighttraining t. facilities,anindoorpracticegymnasium, athletic department offices and the academic support and career development unit This Is Maryland Softball Tournament e 2002 Terrapins Tfi d Softball Guide ThenewseasonbringsmuchtobeexcitedaboutfortheMarylandsoftballsquad.Eight newnamesdottheTerrapin roster. Anewfacilityison itsway. Andwith a coreofveteran pitchers returning, tremendousdepth atevery position and newheights reached interms ofteamspeed,the2002Terrapinsmaybereadyfora newlevelofsuccess. Withnewness,however,cancomegrowingpains.Nooneknowsthatbetterthaneighth- year Terp head coach Cina LaMandre, who began Maryland's program in 1995. Thethree- timeMid-AtlanticCoachoftheYearisfamiliarwiththechallengesthatlieahead,butalsocan envisiontherewardsiftheTerrapinscanovercomethem. "Ithinkweareverytalented,buthowourfreshmenadapttothecollegegameisgoing to be important," said LaMandre. "But it's an exciting situation to have this depth and this much versatility. We can mix it up, and our speed gives us the opportunity to create on offense." FourseniorsleadtheteamfromdifferentpartsoftheSoftballdiamond.Theirleader- ship, byword andexample, will be necessarytosetthetonefortheseason and ingratiate thenewcomersintotheMarylandprogram. Itstartswiththepitchingstaff. in The Pitcher's circle One of the top returning hurlers in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Mid-Atlantic All- RegionselectionAmandaBettkeranchorswhatcouldbeMaryland'smostcompletepitching stafftodate.Ahard-working,smartandintensecompetitor, Bettkerrankedamongleague leadersineverypitchingcategoryasajuniorin2001.Thefireballer'sbrillianceshonethrough at lastseason'sACC Championships, where she posted a 0.58 ERA in a weekend-most 24.0 inningstoearnall-tournamenthonors. Maryland'schiefdouble-threat, sophomoreMonicaCyphert,fitswellintotherotation behindherseniorcounterpart.Reliableandpowerfulonthemoundandattheplate,Cyphert postedninewinsasafreshmanpowerpitcherandalsofinishedsecondontheteamwith 11 doubles. Hard-throwingrookieJessicaAditays,whose"limitlesspotential"impressedthecoach- ing staff in the fall season, should figure into the rotation immediately as another right- handedstarter.SophomoreLizGallroundsoutthestaffafterregisteringa 1.31 ERAinrelief lastseasonandcombiningwithCyphertforthefifthperfectgameinTerrapinhistory.Both shouldalsoseetimeintheTerpoutfield. "Wehavealwayshadgoodpitchers,andwe'vehadgoodpitchingstaffs,"statedLaMandre. "Butthisseasonwehavethedeepest,strongestpitchingstaffinprogramhistory.Ifourpitch- ersliveuptotheirpotential,theyhavetheabilitytobeananchorforthisteam." Behind The Plate Depthondefensebeginsbehindtheplate,whereseniorBethRadfordandsophomore CaseyLeiterformanathletic, two-catchertandem. Radford, the program's career home run leader and a two-time all-region selection, shouldered much of the catching responsibility in 2001 and gunned down nearly half of opposing base stealers. The slugger also engaged in a year-long home run racewith class- mateKieshaPickeralinwhichbotheventuallytied Maryland'ssingle-season record,andfin- ishedsecondontheteaminrunsscored(27)andRBI(31).Radfordwillalsoseetimeatthird baseandatthedesignated hitterspotinthelineup. Leiter,whologgedmoreplayingtimethananyotherfreshmanin2001,willsplittimeas the Terps' backstop and third baseman. The intelligent, versatile sophomorefinished third onthesquad in runsscored. Freshman Lindsay Reed, who possesses a powerful throwing arm, will be a capable reserveafterrecoveringfrominjury. Around Horn Tfte LaMandrelookstostalwartfirstbasemanPickeraltobeananchoramonganarmyof infielders.Enteringherfourthyearasastarter,Maryland'stopreturningbatsmanprovides afamiliarfaceontherightside,andshouldcontinuetoclimbintheTerrapinrecordbooks and figure among ACC leaders. Last season as a junior, Pickeral led the Terps in RBI and sluggingpercentagewhileracingRadfordforthesingle-season homerun mark. CyphertanddynamicjuniorJillianCallawayshouldalsofactorindownthefirstbase line.TheenergeticCallaway,whobatted.361 withrunnersinscoringpositionin2001,can andwill playmostinfield positions. SophomoreJenPeel madeafull recoveryfrom lastseason'sillnessand movesback intoherstartingspotatsecondbase.The"naturalhitter"withgreatrangestartedoffhot asarookie,anddisplayedthosetendenciesagainwithanexcellentfallseason. SolidfreshmandefenderChristenCuozziandjuniorAmandaKipnis,whoprovedher- selfin limitedtimein2001,willadddepthupthemiddle Formerfour-yearstarterJenniferPotzmangiveswaytopromisingnewcomerMalissa Moczulski at the shortstop position. Her range, throwing arm and quick bat provide the freshman with ample tools to take over for the long-time incumbent, who finished as Maryland'sall-timegamesandstartsleader. FellowrookieNnekaCardoza,whopossessestheabilitytoplayshortstop,thirdbase and in outfield, will likely see time on the left side. The strongest Terp according to the coachingstaff,Cardoza'sversatilityandathleticismwillresultinplayingminutesatallthree positions, especiallyatthehotcorner. Radfordand Leiterwillalsoplaythirdbasewhennotbehindtheplate. fit Tfte Outfield With the graduation ofall-region and AII-ACC standout Michelle Burrell and veteran AnnmarieBrowne, theTerrapinoutfieldissuretotakeonanewlook. Oneexperienced returnee, however, issenior DanielleCarpenter. Aftermaking the transitionfromthe pitching stafftoleftfield in 2001,theTerps' pure lefty inthe lineup bringsa.957fieldingpercentagebacktotheoutfieldgrass. Aftermissingall oflastseasonduetoinjury, speedyredshirt-sophomoreSamantha Sweeneyshould play a key role in LaMandre'soutfield in 2002. In limited time asafresh- man,Sweeneybatted.297andposteda .398on-basepercentage. Four oftheTerrapinfreshmen will competeforplayingtimein theoutfield aswell. Withatremendousnaturalswingandtheabilitytohitforaverageandforpower, Lauren Pollockcouldseegameactionimmediately.Anathletewithastoundingspeed,CrystalTweedy has excellent range for the outfield and is a threat to slap-hit and steal bases. Another quickTerprookie, LauraAngle, shouldfigureintothemixaswell,whileMandyAllendorfer willalsoroamtheoutfieldgrassafterrecoveringfromashoulderinjury. The Schedule TheTerrapins, who ranked 24th in lastseason'sfinal RPI (ratingspercentage index), mustonceagainrisetothechallengeofanarduousschedule.Marylandsquaresoffagainst someofthetoughestteamsinthecountry,participatinginsixnationaltournamentsthrough thefirstsevenweeksofthe2002season. Six of Maryland's scheduled opponents were ranked in the final 2001 USA Today/ National Fastpitch CoachesAssociation Top 25, including No. 10Alabama, whothe Terra- pinsfaceonthefirstdayofthe 2002 season. Non-leaguecompetitorsSouth Florida(No. 21),Massachusetts(No.25)andHofstra(RV)werealsolistedinthepoll,aswereACCrivals FloridaState(No. 15)andNorthCarolina(RV).Alloftheabove, inadditiontoCoastalCaro- lina,PennState,SetonHallandTexasTech,wereNCAAparticipantslastyear. "The schedule is very competitive," said LaMandre. "The upperclassmen know that theyhave toadjustquicklyand playsometough gamesbeforewe getto practice much outside.Weareayoungteam,andouryoungerplayershavetogetintoitrightaway.They be'baptizedbyfire.'" IJJ. When headcoachCina LaMandrewashired in 1995toconstructMary- land Softball "from the ground up," it was her intent to build a first-class program. Nowentering hereighth season, LaMandre hascertainlyachievedthatgoal, establishingthe Terrapinsasaforceinthecollegiatesoftballworld. Thisseason,asconstructiononanewstate-of-the-artSoftballcomplexinCollegeParkcontinues, LaMandre'sTerrapinsaddeighttalentednewcomerstoasolidfoundationfromlastyear's 39-23team. Seven startersreturnfrom a 2001 squadthatboastedthesecond-mostwinsandsecond-highestwin- ningpercentageinMarylandhistory.Experienceinthepitcher'scircle,amajorboostinteamspeedand depth ateverypositioncouldbethecombinationthatsendstheTerpstowardastellarseasonin2002. In 1999 - only the fifth season of the team's existence — LaMandre guided the Terrapins toa school-record 51 wins, garnering the school's first invitation to the NCAA Tournament and riding the wave ofsuccess all the way to the Region 2 final game. LaMandre's effort was rewarded as she was named ACC Coach of the Year for the first time in her career. LaMandre and assistant coach Rachel LawsonweretabbedNFCAMid-AtlanticCoachingStaffoftheYear,markingthethirdtimeLaMandrewas honoredwiththatdistinction. The 1999Terrapinsexperiencedthemostprolificseasontodate, makingtheschool'sfirstNCAA TournamentappearanceandfinishingtheseasonrankedNo.12inthenation.Thisrankingwastheteam's firsttop 25 citation in the program'sshort history. TheTerrapins set a numberofteam recordsthat season, includingvictories(51), atbats (1,940), hits(507), runs(316), doubles(88), home runs(39), RBI (277)andwalks(205).SevendifferentTerpsweresingledoutforpostseasonhonorsthatyear. Intheprogram'sfourthseason,the1998squadfinished28-22,postinga.560winningpercentage. Strides were made in conference play as well, as the Terrapins were also able to mark a 4-4 record againstACCopponents. In1997,theTerrapinstookatremendoussteptowardbecomingarecognizableprogram.TheTerps, inonlytheirthirdyearofexistence,capturedashareofthe1997AtlanticCoastConferencechampion- shipwithdefendingchampionFloridaState.Marylandfinishedtheregularseasonat26-23,anduseda3- 1 ACC Tournament mark to claim a share of the title. LaMandre was rewarded by her peers, for the secondstraightseason,astheNFCACoachoftheYearfortheMid-AtlanticRegion. WhenLaMandrebeganherassaultonconstructingtheMarylandprogram,shewashandedaroster thatincluded16underclassmen,andnoaidofathleticscholarships.Despitetheshortcomings,Maryland finisheditsinauguralDivision I campaignwitha 15-33 record. ThesecondseasonunderLaMandrewasevenmorepromising.TheTerrapinsimprovedfromtheir modestbeginningstoa33-24-1 markin1996.TheMarylandpitchingstaffcombinedforanational-best 0.82 ERA, withthen-freshman KellyShipman posting thesecond-best ERAinthenation (0.51).Theef- forts paid off in the end with LaMandre garnering NFCA Coach of the Year accolades, and Shipman earningACCRookieoftheYearhonors. BiggerstepsfollowedwiththeACCTournament run in 1997, followed byathird straightwinning seasonin 1998. Priorto her arrival in College Park, LaMandre was an assistantcoach at Massachusettsforeight seasons. Herprimary responsibilitiesincludeddevelopingthepitchingstaffand recruitingstudent-ath- letes. During her time with the Minutewomen, the mentor also earned a master's degree in exercise physiology. LaMandre'sinvolvementinsoftballdatestoherplayingdaysatTrentonState(nowtheCollegeof NewJersey)whereshewas atwo-timeAll-America pitcherin 1984and 1985, andwasnamedTrenton Ugntn Season State'sFemaleAthleteoftheYearin1985.ShehelpedleadTrentonStatetoanationalchampionshipand wentontoserveaspitchingcoachandstrengthandconditioningcoachforoneyearbeforetakingajob Maryland asanassistantcoachatMassachusetts. LaMandre is a memberoftheNational Fastpitch CoachesAssociation, the National Strengthand ConditioningAssociationandtheAmericanCollegeofSportsMedicine. Si* % 8 • 2002 Maryland Softball Guide