Team opens season earlier than usual

The bats cracked in John Mellancamp Pavilion with a little more emphasis this January. Unlike in years past, the women's softball team only had three weeks of practice after Christmas break to prepare for their opener Friday. \nBut, far from fretting the earliest start in school history, IU looked forward. \n"People are taking it upon themselves to push themselves," said senior pitcher Alison Cooke, who cited the weight room as ground zero. "Everyone's come in aggressive, confident, and goal oriented." \nThe trip to the University of New Mexico Diamond Invitational ended with a 1-1-1 record for the Hoosiers.\nThe first game of the trip matched IU against New Mexico last Friday. After playing to a 2-2 tie, the game was called because of darkness. \nThe team resumed play the next day, and was able to pull out a win against New Mexico, defeating the Lobo's 5-4.\nAfter jumping out to a positive start, the Hoosiers faced a setback against Mississippi, losing 9-1. The game was called after four and a half innings, because the Rebels had built an eight-run lead.\nDespite having a mixed weekend, the Hoosiers are confident about the season.\nCooke is one of the key component's in IU's mix this year. In the past three seasons she notched 70 starts, including starts in roughly 60 percent of the 52 games last season. \nAnother crucial player is 2001 All-Big Ten selection senior Brooke Monroe. Monroe, who has started each game in her IU career, is co-caption on Hoosiers' squad. Last year, she led the team in eight categories, including batting average (.338), home runs (8), and slugging percentage (568).\nThe other co-captain of this year's squad is junior Stormy Hanson -- the only other player on the team with over 50 starts last spring. Hanson, a power hitter, tied for second in RBIs on IU's squad last year with 11. The third baseman joins a host of veteran infielders this year that should give IU's defense a boost.\nAnd a boost is certainly what IU needs. After going 16-36 last year, and a dismal 4-16 in the Big Ten, IU coach Diane Stephenson's club has some work ahead of it. But for a squad that returns eight starters, the outlook may not be as bleak as it seems.\n"Our confidence, experience and communication are all up this year," Monroe said. \nThe team's focus is communication. Given the number of veteran starters this year versus in years past (in 2000 there were five freshman starters), communication should improve. \nThe lack of experience in the outfield is expected to be picked up by 2001 starters Monique Bullock and Katie Joy.\n"We're solid throughout," Monroe said, addressing whether or not the outfield was capable of the same high caliber of play expected of the more experienced infield this year.\nAs for the goals on the season, the Hoosiers separated them into three categories.\n"The season is divided into three (parts), with the first third being the preseason (or pre-Big Ten season), and that is our primary focus right now," Stephenson, who could reach the 400-career win mark this season, she said. \nClearly, though, the IU's focus is on their first opponents. \n"No long term goals right now, just focusing on the preseason," Cooke said.