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April 9, 2000
Expectations high for GreyhoundsBy DAVE CLARK Journal Sports Writer NEW ULM - Sometimes it's amazing what a couple of defeats will do. The New Ulm Cathedral Greyhounds girls softball team has eight 1999 letter winners on the 2000 squad who spent the winter thinking about the Hounds final two games of the last century, when they were beaten 13-0 and 8-0. The bar of expectations has been raised. NUC coach Bob Mertz returns for his 21st year to guide a team that not only expects to win, but is improved over last year's edition in two fairly important categories: hitting and pitching. "We'll be a much better hitting team this year," said Mertz. "The seniors have really stepped their game up. It's a big plus. I'm not used to having six seniors. They really all feel very comfortable. We are going to score more." In fact, instead of going outside the first two weeks of practice, Mertz kept the team inside to work on hitting mechanics and watching hitting tapes. "We needed to work on that.' The mound will be occupied by senior Andrea Dittrich, who had 108 K's in 105 innings last year while compiling a 2.33 ERA, and may be a case study in the Hounds high hopes. "Dittrich has improved her control, and her location is so much better. She's developed a nice change-up, and has more confidence in her ability to throw certain pitches. She's more relaxed. She wants the ball this year," said Mertz. Backing up Dittrich will be junior Dee Wilfahrt, who threw 22 innings last year and averaged a strikeout per inning. Leading the hit paraders will be 1999 All-State outfielder, senior Laura Hazuka, who led the team last year with a .507 batting average and .594 on-base percentage. "She is physically stronger this year, and has really improved her hitting," said Mertz. Completing the outfield will be senior Brittney Hillesheim and the team's lone sophomore, Kristin Beranek. Anchoring the left side of the infield will be seniors Andrea Haala and Natalia Haala, who batted .339 and .345 last year respectively, with junior Chandra Petersen backing up Andrea at third. Second base will be held down by junior Kari Franta, a .321 hitter in 1999, backed up by junior Cathy Boettger, while first base will find senior Jenny Helget and her .407 OBP backed up by junior Tessa Hodapp. The most interesting position to watch will be catcher, where juniors Brittany Rieger and Bryanna Balbach will be battling for the starting catcher's job. Mertz said both players have "really improved their hitting." The Hounds main concern is defense, where Mertz is well aware of the danger lurking in four or five out innings. Mertz said it will be important for the team to lock someone into catcher and second base, because they are such important defensive positions, along with tightening up the play everywhere else. The Hounds committed 50 errors along with 50 wild pitches and 45 passed balls last season, numbers Mertz knows have to be cut in order to be successful. Mertz sees defending state champ Wabasso and McLeod West the teams to beat in the Tomahawk Conference, with Sleepy Eye Public a sleeper choice to surprise. So the high expectations are set for 2000 with Mertz' one sentence formula for winning. "Keep the bar up and hang the carrot out there."
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