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RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky’s softball team will begin its 2008 season on Friday when the Colonels begin play at the K-Club Classic hosted by Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. On Friday, EKU will face Southern Mississippi at 12 p.m., and will battle Kennesaw State at 4 p.m. The Colonels will play Appalachian State at 10 a.m., on Saturday.

Southern Mississippi is 3-2, Kennesaw State is off to a 4-0 start and Appalachian State will open its season on Friday as well.

Eastern Kentucky finished the 2007 season with an overall record of 24-31, but that is a reflection of the strength of the non-conference portion of last year’s schedule. The Colonels posted their best conference record (14-12) and their best regular season conference finish (fourth) since winning the OVC title in 2004. After being shutout in the opening round of the league tournament, EKU posted back-to-back shutouts of their own and was one of the final three teams remaining in the double-elimination event.

Eastern will try to build on last season’s success with the help of six returning position starters and two returning pitchers from last season’s squad.

The 2008 team will be led by the play of sophomore third baseman Shyenne Hussey and senior second baseman Chanze Patterson. Hussey led the team in average, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, total bases, slugging and on-base percentage. After hitting .371 with eight home runs, 43 RBIs and 24 runs scored, Hussey was selected to the OVC All-Newcomer Team and earned second team all-conference honors. Patterson hit .316 with three home runs, 18 RBIs, a team-best 38 runs scored and 13 stolen bases. Patterson was a first team all-conference selection.

“I am expecting our offense and defense to be solid,” EKU Head Coach Jane Worthington said. “Our pitching will be the determining factor on just how far we can go this season. We have a number of quality pitchers on the team; however, many of them are unproven. They have worked hard during the winter and I’m excited to see them perform this spring.”

Worthington returns for her 16th season at the helm of the Eastern Kentucky University softball program. Worthington is the only coach the program has had since its inception in 1993. She enters the 2008 campaign with an overall record of 424-387 and has led the Colonels to a 207-141 conference record, a nearly 60 percent winning percentage. She is among the top-70 winningest active coaches in the nation.

PITCHERS
Kalyn Fox returns to the mound after going 6-10 as a sophomore. In 2007 she struck out 63 batters and walked 34 in 113.1 innings of work. She finished the season with a 3.58 ERA.

“Kalyn has been consistent the last two years and I expect the same this year,” Worthington said. “She’s not going to overpower hitters; however, she is smart and extremely effective.”

Junior Jen Bledsoe made 23 appearances a year ago. She posted a 6-2 record and a 4.16 ERA.

Heather Metzger, Stacye Toups, Jodi Pence and Chelsea Butler will compete for time on the mound as well. Metzger did not play last year because of an injury, but was a NCAA Division III All-Central Region second team selection in 2006 at Transylvania University. Toups, a freshman, set a school record with a 0.51 ERA and struck out 419 batters in 273 innings at Loveland High School.

“I’ve never seen anyone improve as fast as Stacye, she is going to have an outstanding career at EKU,” Worthington said.

Butler joins the Colonel program after spending two seasons at Golden West Junior College. She was a two-time all-conference selection and registered a 1.35 ERA as a sophomore.

That group will have to work hard to make up for departed senior Kelsey Anderson who carried the bulk of the load on the mound last season. She finished with a 12-16 record and a 2.83 ERA. She won 62 games during her four-year career.

“Everyone will get a shot early so we can determine how to utilize each pitcher effectively,” Worthington said.

INFIELD
Technically the entire starting infield returns for the 2008 season, but there will be a few changes. After playing a number of games at shortstop last season, Katie Rolf will move back to the outfield. Worthington will look to a pair of freshmen, Erin Luther and Amber Lenz, to fill the spot at shortstop.

Adriel Foxley, Patterson and Hussey will anchor the infield. Foxley hit .255 with four home runs, 22 RBIs and 14 runs while playing first base. Patterson started 41 games at second base and 14 at shortstop a year ago. Hussey had the third best batting average in the Ohio Valley Conference a year ago and finished seventh in hits and RBIs.

“The infield is solid,” Worthington said. “We have two seniors on the right side and Shyenne at third. It’s a group that is solid defensively and even better with their bats.”

Lenz was a first team all-league selection at Mater Dei High School. Luther was a four-time all-conference and three-time county all-star while posting a .318 career batting average. Freshman Aly Blake will provide depth in the infield.

OUTFIELD
Rolf moves back to the outfield on a regular basis. Junior Pam Webber returns after starting all 55 games last season.

Rolf hit .249 as a junior with three home runs, 17 RBIs and 16 runs. Webber scored 11 times and drove in eight runs.

Freshman Cassi Gibson will get a chance to fill the other starting spot. She was the team MVP as a senior at Brawley Union High School.

Sophomore Michelle Lerner and freshman DeAnn Horswill will also see time in the outfield.

“We have five quality outfielders who will all play early in the season,” Worthington said. “It may just come down to who is more consistent with their bats.”

CATCHERS
Catcher Jena Handley played in 35 games and started 28 times as a freshman in 2007. She finished with 14 hits, a home run and eight RBIs. Freshman Ashley Dollins will see time behind the plate as well. Dollins earned all-state recognition at Rockcastle County High School.