Lyon College Tournament Game Notes
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Opening day for the 2013 softball season is this week and we take a position by position look at the Lady Panthers over the next few days. Today we highlight the pitchers and catchers as head coach
Ronda Varnesdeel returns two 1
st Team All-WHAC performers including the 2012 WHAC Pitcher of the Year
Sam Cole. Behind the plate is
Debra Burton while the Lady Panthers also welcome in freshman
Kyleigh Linebaugh on the mound.
The 2013 season will be the last for one of the most decorated softball players to ever put on a DU uniform as
Sam Cole will be the lone senior on the roster. Cole, a right-handed pitcher from Belleville, Mich., is on top of almost every pitching record at the school and last year was named the WHAC Pitcher of the Year after posting a 1.83 ERA and a 21-10 overall record.
Cole will have the task of leading a pitching staff that features one freshman in
Kyleigh Linebaugh (Belding, Mich./Belding) and a pair of players who will spend time between the varsity and junior varsity programs. Linebaugh was an All-State standout at Belding High School where she was named the Belding High Female Athlete of the Year in 2012. Kyleigh served as the team captain for all four seasons and will gain valuable experience this year under Cole on the mound.
Behind the plate is another familiar face to the softball program as
Debra Burton (Cassopolis, Mich./Cassopolis) returns for her junior campaign. Burton, a 1
st Team All-WHAC selection a year ago after batting .326 while collecting 24 RBI and 27 runs scored, has started 102 games in two years at catcher. Behind Burton in the lineup is sophomore
Tami Weber (Clio, Mich./Clio) who will also see time in the infield after gaining valuable experience as a freshman in 2012. Weber finished with a .232 batting average while recording 19 hits.
Joining Burton and Weber in splitting duties behind the plate is freshman
Sarah Schneidenbach (Portage, Mich./Portage Central) who also will see time in the outfield. Sara was a 1
st Team All-State performer at catcher during her senior campaign and led them to four consecutive conference titles and also an MHSAA Final Four in 2009.
The 2013 season is scheduled to begin on Friday when DU will face Lyon College (Ark.) at 9am in the Lyon College Tournament. Other teams DU will face are Blue Mountain (Miss.) and Ashford (Iowa).
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