2014 SOU SCHEDULE
CCC PRESEASON POLL
NAIA TOP 25 POLL

ASHLAND – Southern Oregon University softball coach Kim Fritts could do without any surprises as the Raiders begin the 2014 season Friday and Saturday in Irvine, Calif.

She believes the Raiders could possess the Cascade Conference's strongest pitching staff. She believes the lineup has more pop than the one that collectively hit .257 last season.

She also knows that her thin roster may provide little margin for error. That's why Fritts, in her eighth season with SOU, has plans for all 14 players at her disposal.

"It's going to be interesting to see how it plays out, but I know this is a very talented team and I believe the sky's the limit," she said. "Every player out there is fighting for playing time right now, and that's encouraging. It's a good problem to have."

The Raiders, looking to improve on a 20-21 showing in 2013, were picked to finish fifth in the CCC. They went 16-12 in the conference and are working on a string of five straight seasons at .500 or better.

No piece was of greater importance to continuing that trend than sophomore pitcher Sydney White (Clovis, Calif./Clovis West), who as a freshman compiled a 14-8 record with a 3.32 earned-run average in 154 innings pitched. She had 76 strikeouts compared to 36 walks in CCC play on her way to collecting all-conference accolades.

With 112.1 innings logged in the conference, White handled about 60 percent of SOU's workload. Fritts plans to lessen that number with the services of Karlie Stephens (Eagle Point, Ore./Eagle Point), Cheyenne Bricker (Bieber, Calif./Big Valley) and Brianne Craig (Rialto, Calif./Etiwanda H.S.). Stephens, one of SOU's four seniors, went 4-5 with a 4.13 ERA in the CCC.

"We have an excellent group of pitchers and we're very fortunate we don't have to rely on just one," Fritts said. "Our staff is deep and it's athletic, so they can help us in the field, too."

Julia Willison (Reno, Nevada/McQueen), the other half of the Raider battery, provides stability behind the plate and has been one SOU's best assets with the bat the last two seasons. She hit .343 in 2012 and .326 in 2013 while posting a team-best .475 on-base percentage.

Megan Scherer (Oakland, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd), a junior first baseman, should solidify the lineup after previously slugging her way to a league MVP at Monterey Peninsula College, where she hit .435 and drove in 50 runs. She and freshman Kassie Smith (Fontana, Calif./Summit) will help replace the production of Jessica Flores (Corning, Calif./Corning) – SOU's first baseman and leading hitter last year.

"(Scherer) had a phenomenal sophomore season at the junior college level," Fritts said, "and we're just hoping for her to be a consistent presence for us."

At second and third, the Raiders feature proven seniors Sierra Anderson (Portland, Ore./Sunset) and Ashley Lowe (Sacramento, Calif./Ck. McClatchy). Last year, the sure-handed Anderson batted .279 with a .366 OBP and a team-high 25 RBIs in the middle of the order. Lowe tallied a team-best 33 hits at the top with a .273 average.

"They were both keys to our offensive success, and as seniors I think they can take that next step for us," Fritts said.

Alexa Gonzalez (Menifee, Calif./Heritage) started all 41 games in left field as a freshman, getting on base at a .347 clip with 10 extra-base hits, and has moved primarily to shortstop. Fritts also expects to get help up the middle from Gina Ayala (Norwalk, Calif./Santa Fe), a junior transfer from Cerritos Community College, and both she and Gonzalez may see time in the outfield.

Three Raiders will get the chance to prove themselves as outfield regulars. In left and right, sophomore Sulie Augustine (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) and junior Alyssa Fielding (Novato, Calif./San Marin) are both improved after playing sparingly last year. Tyler Burke (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood), a speedy left-hander, is expected to take over center as a true freshman and perhaps bolster the top of the order.

The Raiders' first doubleheader is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m. against Biola University. At noon Saturday they'll play two against defending NAIA champion and top-ranked Concordia-Irvine, which hasn't lost since falling to the Raiders, 4-3, last Feb. 9.

"We'll go down there with a list full of things to work and expecting to win four games," Fritts said. "The girls put their hearts and souls into the preseason, and I don't expect us to be perfect but I know we'll give 100 percent."