Softball Season Preview: Q+A with head coach Steve Crook

The Concordia University Wisconsin Softball team opens its 2016 season this weekend with four games at the Finlandia Dome Tournament. Head coach Steve Crook recently sat down with CUWFalcons.com to preview the upcoming season for the Falcons. 

Q: You are coming off a 28-15 season, despite being a very young team last season. What are the expectations coming into 2016, especially with several returners back in the fold?

A: It's always an interesting transition from being really young (last year) to having sophomores and saying expectations are high. We caution ourselves as coaches to say improvement comes in many ways. We saw that throughout last year, if you look back at our Finlandia Tournament from a year ago, we made lots of mistakes. Those mistakes got cleaned up as the year went. We expect to start stronger, but we continue to preach to our players to play to the speed of the game, playing with intelligence, and playing with a level of confidence. Our quality of opponents is going to be high right out of the shoot so we are going to have to jump right into that level of competition.

Q: You mentioned the schedule, and it is very challenging in the non-conference, both this weekend and on the Florida Trip. Is that part of the plan, to challenge your team early so they are ready come conference season?

A: It is. As a coach I believe it is important to play those good teams for two reasons. Number one is to see how well we have prepared them. The second reason is if you need to make some changes, you are able to do so. Some years we have to do that. We won't learn as much about our team if we aren't being challenged. For us we want to play quality opponents but we need to make sure we are prepared for it.

Q: This year's team has one senior on the roster, an important one in starting pitcher Melissa Perkins. Explain her importance both in the circle and as a leader for the Falcons?

A: Melissa has been the athlete you always hope you are going to get. In growing, being coached, changing her game and all of those things have happened. She has pushed herself and worked hard with the coaches to do the things it takes to become a truly outstanding player. A player of her ability, to be in the middle of a younger team, is very important.

Q: In looking at the roster, you have five pitchers. Explain the added depth at that position and what you are looking for from that group?

A: We have a pitching staff this season. Emily Brekke and Christine Sharon are returning and we have other girls who are going to throw for us this year in Kendra Little and Heather Justus. The group that we have is balanced. Melissa is going to have to be big for us, and Emily will need to throw a lot of innings and the rest will have to play a role. They are five pitchers who will definitely balance each other out.

Q: We can't mention the pitching staff without the catcher, Carly Sobrilsky. Explain her role and importance both behind the plate and in the middle of the lineup.

A: Carly came in and impressed us immediately and we haven't looked back. She has been an important piece to what we are doing. She is a gifted player who can impact the game in so many ways. Last season she shut down baserunners in a way no one has in program history. She impacts the game mentally and physically. Her offseason work has been outstanding and we look forward to watching her continue to elevate her game this season. We've also added some depth to the position with freshmen Samantha Schumacher, Emma Fullenkamp and Delaney O'Keefe.

Q: Going around the infield, there are three players who return as starters (Christine Sharon, Deidra Weinberger, and Jamie Reiser). What are you looking for from those three and the rest of the infielders this spring?

A: Those three came into our program last season and immediately made us better at three positions. Something we are going to bank on is being a great defense and they are going to help lead us there. We've added depth with Kendra Little, Courtney Kinney and Maddie Zazas defensively and will also look for Andrea Thiry to continue to make a difference offensively for us. The biggest thing with our infield is it has been good competition but I would expect to see a lot of that same equation to success in solidifying the infield.

Q: Moving to the outfield, Lexi Holsten returns as an All-NACC performer last season. What are you looking for from her and who else can we expect to see contribute in the outfield?

A: Lexi came in as a utility player who played shortstop, third base, and first base throughout her high school career. So of course that means we turned her into an outfielder. She has really settled into right field and I think that will do nothing but help her both offensively and defensively. We have a couple of returners out there in Lauren Sulikowski and Allison Peters who are two of the hardest working players on our team. Delaney is an outstanding athlete who could see some time in the outfield, while Sara Rosenow is a player who has for now solidified herself in center field. She is a gifted athlete who just floats to the ball. Becky Bonnin should add depth as well, especially offensively. As the year goes, our outfield group is going to get a lot better and will be a group that makes plays for us.

CUW Falcons By the Numbers
2015 Record: 28-15 (16-6 NACC) – Second Place at NACC Tournament
Head Coach: Steve Crook (17th Season) Career Record: 326-291
Returning Starters:
- Melissa Perkins (P) – 146.1 IP, 16-8, 3.11 ERA, 79 K
- Carly Sobrilsky (C) - .319 AVG, 10 HR, 34 RBI, .630 SLG
- Christine Sharon (3B/P)- .319 AVG, 33 R, 24 RBI, .434 OBP
- Jamie Reiser (1B) - .331 AVG, 5 HR, 31 RBI, .551 SLG
- Lexi Holsten (OF) - .348 AVG, 15 R, 18 RBI, 11 2B
- Deidra Weinberger (SS) - .276 AVG, 12 R, 12 RBI
- Andrea Thiry (UT) - .353 AVG, 24 R, 14 RBI
- Emily Brekke (P) – 91 IP, 8-4, 2.92 ERA, 61 K