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ahr Sailn ear Mrrl Softball looks to make it to next step Experienced squad eyes Regionals BY JESSE BAUMGARTNER SENIOR WRITER Anderson Stadium, home of North Carolina softball, sits isolat ed along N.C. 54, separated from campus and surrounded by trees. While not conducive for massive student support, the solitary set ting fits the path the program has taken since head coach Donna J. Papa came in 1.986. It took 15 years for Papa’s team even to reach the histori cally West Coast-dominated NCAA Tournament, an unusual occurrence in an athletic department known for its tradition of excellence and nation al recognition in almost all sports. But Papa, like the facility's taxa tion, has been left alone to build the program at her own pace. And despite the decade-plus of mediocri ty, UNC has turned into a consistent NCAA Tournament team with six appearances in the last seven wars. Now, after reaching the national stage with consistency . Papa is faced with making that crucial next step of getting past the NCAA Regionals. On paper, the 2008 squad has some key elements that could help come playoff time. Few teams go deep in the post season without sustained success on the mound, and the Tar Heels have an ace in junior Lisa Norris, alongside an experienced No. 2 in classmate Amber Johnson. “1 don’t know another team in the conference that has a staff as talent ed as we are," said assistant coach Beverly Smith, who also highlighted underclassmen depth with Danielle Spaulding and Faith Sutton. Norris, a second-team All-ACC selection last year, looks to build on a 1.97 ERA and a 236 strikeout sophomore season in which she was forced to throw 237.2 innings. While the Tar Heels hope that Johnson can ease the load with her newly acquired drop ball, the real question is whether the weak Tar Heel offense can produce some runs in order to take a little pressure off the bullpen. Seniors Jennifer Jacobs and Cassie Palmer, along with junior Breanna Brown, figure to lead the offensive charge that the team say will come this season. Palmer and Brown pro vide the Tar Heels with speed, while Jacobs represents some real power, returning as the squads leader in RBIs, home runs (tied with Palmer) and slugging percentage. Jacobs and Palmer were two of the only powerful bats last year in a lineup that managed a mere 34 homers and 71 doubles in a 67- game season. Papa said 80 percent of fall practice focused on offense, and Smith named freshmen Bree Ensminger. Brittany Robinson and Brittany McKinney as key power additions. But of course, the freshmen still are, well, freshmen. “It's really just different in college though, because there’s a lot more movement on the ball." Brown said. “And it just takes a little bit of get f i /fl - •• Kb r VA / i _ ; ——_• j. —I DTH FILE/SARAH RIAZATI North Carolina pitcher Lisa Norris will look to lead the Tar Heels to postseason success and get past the NCAA regionals this season. . X \ CAapel m i DINNER BUFFET j I 59.35 ! ! $14)0 OFF with your UNCstudantK)! 35 Chines* has the best variety of Chinese food around. You can choose from mm SO kerns on our Super Buffet, or order from the extensive menu. Lunch 11am-2:3opm Friday/Saturday Dinner 4:3opm-10pm Sunday-Thursday Dinner 4:3opm-9:3opm CLOSED MONDAY University Square • 143 W. Franklin Street ■ Chapel Hill • 919.968.3488 • www.citysearch.com/rdu/35 Spring Sports ting used to. I hope they’ll be able to help us out l’m sure they will." Above all, the postseason tour naments will define this season’s Tar Heels as they try to finish strong. Last years team reeled off a school-record 28 straight wins midseason but faltered in the ACC and NCAA tournaments. “I think because it was the first time any of us had experienced that much winning, and so when we finally lost it kind of broke our hearts," Palmer said. Papa has to hope that experience FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2008 will help her team avoid such a fate this season. She pointed to mentali ty as key to getting the program past that next hurdle, and the changes she listed from the past few years more days off for rest, no early summer school and no June fam ily trip plans reflect an urgency to get past NCAA Regionals and stick around for those early sum mer postseason games. “If you want to play in the World Series," Papa said, “you’ve got to think June is the end of our season." FS#A. V? y 8 . WT KlMi A Southern Reason University Mali • Chapel Hill 919.929.7133 - southernseason.com Softball Key players: ► Junior Lisa Norris ► Senior Jennifer Jacobs ► Senior Cassie Palmer Key games: ► Feb. 23 at Florida State ► March 15 at Hawai’i ► April 26 at Virginia Tech 3
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Feb. 15, 2008, edition 1
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