Softball Preview: The Infield
1/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 25, 2010
No single part of the team will look more different than the Crimson Tide infield this season. "In one game this fall we had five of the six infielders that were all brand new," said head coach Patrick Murphy. "You could definitely hear it because no one talked much, but I think once everyone gets comfortable that will improve."
The Tide have a wide variety of options at first base this season in sophomores Cassandra Reilly-Boccia, Amanda Locke, and seniors Charlotte Morgan and Alex Blewitt. They are all players Murphy said that will see playing time at first base, also throwing in the possibility of Catherine Dozier, Whitney Larsen and Jazlyn Lunceford making an appearance at first in certain situations.
"I think at first base you might see kind of a revolving door and all of them will do fine, it just depends on who is the hot hitter."
The question of who takes over duties at second base for former All-American Lauren Parker remains to be seen. Murphy said the position is currently up for grabs with Dozier, Larsen, and newcomers Jackey Branham and Kayla Braud all being candidates to snag the starting job at second before the season starts.
The battle for starting shortstop is not quite as wide open. Larsen and Branham are the two most likely to emerge as the starter at the position because of their defensive skill at the position and the fact that both have very strong arms.
During the fall Courtney Conley shined as the Alabama third baseman, both offensively and defensively, but Murphy stressed that there is a great need to find a specific backup for Conley at third.
Murphy has been very pleased with the job Kendall Dawson and Olivia Gibson have done at catcher thus far.
"Kendall and Olivia have done a really good job at catcher," said the Alabama skipper. "A lot of people have said that would probably be the toughest spot to fill with the loss of Holcombe. I think either way we go we're going to have a good spot and it's just like every other spot that has been filled for the last four years, it is going to take time to get that game action."
