Softball: Bulls glad to get Ecks, Spence back

Six months before softball season, USF coach Ken Eriksen has good reason to be excited, knowing that two of his most experienced arms -- seniors Cristi Ecks and Bree Spence -- will return to the Bulls after missing part or all of last season.

The biggest news is the return of Ecks, who collapsed during a practice on March 31 and had to be resuscitated -- literally saved -- by team trainers. She missed the rest of the season after having a cardioverter defibrillator implanted, but has since been cleared by her doctors and USF to return.

"It's real exciting," Eriksen said. "To have her deemed healthy was a mental boost for this team's impetus into this year. Everybody's question has been 'Where is she at? What's going on?' She's a big part of the team, as a person and a pitcher."

Eriksen said Ecks' priority now is getting back in shape physically, but he's confident she can work her way back to the dominating form she showed in her first three seasons.

"It's status quo, as March 31 was," Eriksen said. "No limitations, no over-exuberance by trainers asking her every day how (she's) feeling. She's passed stressed tests, all this other stuff, with flying colors."

Spence missed the entire 2008 season recovering from surgery on her left (non-throwing) shoulder, but has also been cleared to return, Eriksen said. Spence won 44 games in her first two seasons at USF, and Eriksen is hoping to see junior Kristen Gordon return to her dominating 2007 form after she struggled through her sophomore season.

"Kristen Gordon worked really hard this summer to get back where she was effective," Eriksen said.

Eriksen also returns sophomore Capri Catalano, who went 17-1 with a team-best 176 strikeouts in a dominating freshman season, and has another ace-in-waiting in freshman Candace Howell of Bartow. Again, with five arms available, Eriksen should have ridiculous pitching depth as a team strength.

"Needless to say, I'm sleeping very well at night," Eriksen said. "Where I'm at on Feb. 5, I couldn't tell you right now. We have three proven starters and two people who pitched very well at the Division I level."

Another key veteran who missed last season on a medical redshirt, first baseman Ashley Bullion, is making good progress following surgery this summer on her hip labrum. Eriksen put her at 80 percent in her rehabilitation and said she is expected to be fully recovered by December. Catcher Liz Howell, recovering from rotator cuff surgery in spring, is also expected to back by December.

A third player who missed last season, outfielder Carly Griffin, a key bat in USF's lineup in 2005 and 2006, has graduated and will not use her final year of eligibility, Eriksen said. Junior infielder Brittany Villa, who played sparingly last season, will also not be playing this season.

Eriksen said he expects immediate impact from several freshmen, part of "what might be the best blue-chip class we've ever had." In addition to Howell, there's  centerfielder Janine Richardson, shortstop Laura Fountain, infielder Alexis Nowell and speedy outfielder Gina Kafalas. "Every one of them has a chance to make an impact," Eriksen said. "The future bodes well."

Individual workouts start Aug. 25, with the first fall team practice coming Sept. 9, a day that will bring Ecks back to the team in a more tangible way.

"That's the first day that we're all on the same field together," Eriksen said. "I think that first day, everybody's going to breathe a lot easier."

Comments

[Terry Lucas]

If our bats ever come along consistently, we will have a very strong season and a long run into the post season. I wish Coach E would just stick to his dominant horses game in and game out like teams in the PAC-10 do... but there's a reason he is the coach and I'm a spectator. Here's hoping Capri has no sophomore slump, Ecks dominates her final season, and Bree worked more strength into her throwing arm while she was out. High hopes for Gordon... but that is a tough rotation to crack. Maybe the frosh should redshirt if she is not on the same level as Spence or Ecks. Too many arms can be a waste of talent when there's only one ball in the circle to be thrown. Let the frosh develop physically... it could pay huge dividends.

Regardless... the last couple of seasons, USF has always had a star pitcher... we just need consistent batting from top to bottom across the order. I don't care if a girl is batting at the Mendoza line as long as she is making contact. A ball in play is an opportunity for a hit, out, or an error. Striking out though, well...

Let's go girls... saw most games over a crappy USF internet feed (which will hopefully get better for the money we pay). High hopes for this season!

[Dave W]

Does USF have any Olympic ties is softball this season? Have we ever had a player on the team? I ask because I wonder if any of those pitchers had a shot this year before the injuries. And softball is gone for 2012, right?

[Terry Lucas]

I personally believe Mo would have been our best shot, but she played back when the UCLA's and UA's were powerhouses and loaded across the board (Mo was playing pro-fast pitch when the league first started in the late 90's with an All American shortstop we had - name slips me, who got drafted in 2000 or 2001). Since then, I believe our best pitcher to date had been the transfer from Tennessee (forgot her name - but she dominated in the circle for USF - LeAnne Ellis I think). Unfortunately, she was one of the top ten in the nation for college, but ahead of her, you had a young Cat Osterman starting at Texas and dominating, as well as Jenny Finch finishing up at Arizona (and everyone knows her story). Funny thing is... Coach E is their personal pitching coaches. Coach E was also on the Olympic team as the pitching coach four years back.