2010 Prospectus

The 2010 Wayne State Warrior softball team has all of the ingredients needed to have a memorable season.

WSU features a returning All-American pitcher and another quality senior throwing behind her. Nine players return from an offense that ranked first in the GLIAC in batting average (.302), and second in runs (240) and RBI (215). Five newcomers who have played at highly competitive levels prior to Wayne State also enhance what was already a talented roster.

Add that to the veteran leadership of head coach Gary Bryce, who enters the season tied for sixth on the Division II all-time wins list, and assistant coach Pat Kent and WSU looks ready to make a run at a 16th GLIAC title with a fifth-straight appearance in the NCAA tournament a definite possibility.

Despite the team's talent base, Bryce knows that his team can't just show up and expect to win games and skate to a conference championship in the always competitive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Not with teams like Ashland, Ferris State and Saginaw Valley also primed to make runs of their own.

In the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Division II Preseason Top 25 poll, WSU was tabbed as the No. 20 team in the nation. Saginaw Valley was ranked No. 10 with Ferris State and Ashland also receiving votes.

“You never know how things are going to turn out,” Bryce said. “On paper we're good, but in reality we have to prove it.

“Our goal every year is to win the GLIAC. I think it's very important to win your league. Second of all is to win the Nationals. Do we have a shot? Yes we have a shot, but I think everyone has a shot starting out.”

A pair of reliable seniors will be tossing the majority of innings this season for Wayne State as Second Team Daktronics All-American Casey Hanes (Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman) and GLIAC Honorable Mention honoree Nicole Abel (Kitchener, Ont./St. Mary's) will look to finish their respective careers on high notes.

Hanes, who had the third lowest ERA in Division II in 2009, pitched in 46 games a season ago with 36 starts and a total of 274 innings pitched. The end result was a season to remember as the southpaw posted a 30-9 record with a 0.79 ERA and 283 strikeouts. Opponents seldom got to Hanes as evidenced by their .167 batting average.

Thanks to her dazzling 2009 performance, the reigning GLIAC Pitcher of the Year's name can now be found throughout Wayne State's record book. She is first in wins in a season, saves (4) and innings pitched. Her strikeouts, 13 shutouts and 46 games played are all the second highest marks at WSU in a single season.

“She's definitely a premier thrower and anytime you can put a thrower on the mound that's really good you'll have a chance to win,” Bryce said.

While overshadowed by Hanes' 2009 numbers, Abel more than held her own on the mound as well with a 9-4 record and 1.51 ERA in 83.2 innings of work. The right hander also struck out 84 batters and held the opposition to just a .185 batting average. Abel, who will enter the season on an eight inning streak without allowing a run, has lowered her ERA each of the past three seasons.

“Nicole Abel has had one of the lowest ERA's in the GLIAC the last few years, but has not won a lot of games. She should be able to pull it all together.”

Sophomore Sam Cain (Taylor, Mich. /Kennedy) is be back to spell Abel and Hanes. As a freshman in 2009, Cain split time between pitching and the field to compile a 1-3 record in seven appearances on the mound and a .385 batting average with one RBI in 13 at-bats. In addition to her pitching duties, Cain will also see some time at first base in 2010.

“I think Sam has a bright future here,” Bryce said. “She's matured quite a bit since her freshman year and has the capability to be a really good pitcher.”

The trio of junior Rachel Spaccarotelli (Ray, Mich./Romeo), sophomore Dani Williams (Monroe, Mich./Jefferson) and redshirt freshman Brittany Omelanchuk (Brooklin, Ont./Wilson S.S.) will patrol the backstop for Wayne State this season. A year ago, Spaccarotelli and Williams shared the duties behind the plate and posted fielding percentages of .978 and .984 respectively.

Omelanchuk returns to the WSU lineup after having to redshirt last year when she was hurt just seven games into the season. Prior to the injury Omelanchuk was having great success at the plate, hitting .444 with five runs and two RBI in 18 at-bats including a four-hit day against Lewis on Feb. 22, 2009.

“If we were to play today Brittany would start, but we would rotate Dani and Rachel in as well because I think it's important that everybody gets experience,” Bryce said. “I think you have to have a good catcher to be ultra successful. All the positions are important, but the pitcher-catcher relationship is a big part of it.”

The Warriors feature a deep infield that has numerous interchangeable parts that will afford WSU the opportunity to play players at several different positions if needed.

As she has for the past two years, senior Jaci Banton (Richmond Hill, Ont./Cardinal Carter (IUP)) will be the Warriors' shortstop for one more season. Banton led Wayne State in assists (140) and stolen bases (7) last season while hitting .284, driving in 23 runs and scoring 23 more on her way to being named Second Team All-GLIAC.

“I think Jaci is probably one of the better defensive shortstops in the Midwest” Bryce said. “Right now, she'd probably bat second for us. She has power, speed and can bunt. We really just need her to be consistent; Jaci was a streaky hitter last year.”

Filling out the left side of the infield is sophomore Rebecca Stanley (Waterloo, Ont./Waterloo C.I.). As a freshman, Stanley performed admirably and earned Second Team All-GLIAC honors after leading Wayne State in batting average (.361), hits (61), doubles (12), RBI (30) and on-base percentage (.403).

As a freshman, Becca Ryan (Westland, Mich./Dearborn Divine Child) was predicted to be just a spot player. However, she ended up playing 55 games, starting 48 times at first base. In addition to her .991 fielding percentage, Ryan was second on the team with a .345 batting average while also scoring 19 runs. Her season culminated with a spot on the All-GLIAC Second Team.

“Becca's one of those players that doesn't look like she does anything right, but always makes the plays that she needs to,” Bryce said. “She's a gamer.”

Sophomore Lauren Histed (Shelby Twp., Mich./Utica), one of five newcomers to this year's squad, could start at either second base or center field depending on where the speedy Ohio University transfer is most needed. A former three-time all state selection in Michigan, Histed played in 29 games with the Bobcats last season.

“Lauren has great quickness and great ball sense,” Bryce said. “If everyone was eligible to play, she would probably start at second base.”

The corner outfield spots figured to be played by one of the team's best sluggers from a season ago and one of the most reliable players in recent history.

Senior Stephanie LeClair (Kitchener, Ont./Forest Heights C.I.) has played in every game for Wayne State in her career and will start out the year in left field. LeClair, a career .300 hitter, set career-highs last season in hits (54) and runs scored (25).

Right fielder Alison Allen (Redford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) provided the Green and Gold with a big-time power hitting threat as a freshman. Allen led the GLIAC with 11 home runs while also pacing WSU with 61 hits, 30 RBI, 106 total bases and a .570 slugging percentage. Her home runs and total bases were GLIAC bests.

“She just hit the stuffing out of the ball last year as a DH,” Bryce said. “But we don't just want to make her a DH because she has capabilities of playing in the field.”

Freshman Steph Foreman (Cambridge, Ont./Preston) hopes to be ready to start the season in center field. Foreman, who helped lead Team Ontario to a silver medal at the 2009 Canada Games, is waiting to be cleared to play by the NCAA.

“If Foreman's eligible, NCAA wise because she is certainly eligible academically, she'd be our starting center fielder.”

Providing additional depth for WSU are freshmen Makelle Barski (Trenton, Mich./Trenton), Bailey Reid (Guelph, Ont./Ross Collegiate V.I.), Kassie Snyder (Marine City, Mich./Marine City) and sophomore Kristina Susalla (Garden City, Mich./Garden City). Susalla, a second-year walk-on, can play either corner infield position. Reid and Barski can play in the infield or outfield with Snyder being able to play virtually every infield spot.

“Bailey Reid is a third baseman and a very good one at that. She's just somewhat stuck behind Stanley,” Bryce said. “Barski has great quickness and does a nice job; we have to find some time to play her. Kassie is a tremendous athlete and you win with athletes.

“We have 17 players who are all fairly talented. I think the big question that we'll have is how we will get everyone in to play.”