The Clarke College softball program begins the 2008 campaign with a new national affiliation, a new conference and a new head coach. But there’s one thing that will carry the Crusaders through this period of change, and that’s team chemistry.

First-year Head Coach Liz Garthright will direct the Crusaders’ transition back into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Midwest Collegiate Conference. And the former University of Sioux Falls assistant softball coach says her squad is anxiously awaiting the challenge.

“Clarke softball has a lot of things to prove this year,” said Garthright. “It’s our first year back in the NAIA and the MCC and we’re ready to go out and make a name for ourselves. We are both excited and ready for the season to start.”

Clarke’s team chemistry and the players’ willingness to work hard have caught Garthright’s attention.

“It’s really rare that you have a team with this amount of team chemistry,” said Garthright. “The girls are constantly supporting and challenging each other on and off the field. And the newcomers and returnees all feel comfortable around each other and are really starting to play as a team and play for one another.”

Clarke posted a 23-18 record last year and finished second in the Association of Division III Independents Midwest Softball Tournament held in Dubuque.

Heading the list of returning players from last year’s squad are senior Cali Arundel (2B/OF, Orland Park, Ill.); juniors Chelsea Bettcher (3B, Dubuque, Iowa) and Dani Carter (OF/P, Fairfax, Iowa); and sophomore Colleen Dansart (1B, Oak Lawn, Ill.).

Carter hit .343 with 13 stolen bases in 2007 and was a second-team D3 All-Independent selection, while Bettcher carried a .330 batting average and earned third-team D3 All-Independent honors.

Dansart hit .318 in her first year at Clarke and was named the school’s Female Freshman Athlete of the Year. Arundel was voted the recipient of the squad’s Hustle Award last year.

Also returning are seniors Sarah Bradford (2B/SS, Big Bear, Calif.), Erin DiGangi (OF, Elmhurst, Ill.) and Marisa Lingl (OF, New Lisbon, Wis.); and junior Heather Steele (C, Bellevue, Neb.).

Key newcomers on the Crusaders’ 17-player roster include sophomore Katie Michael (OF, Hawkeye, Iowa), and freshmen pitchers Nicky Newhoff (Cedar Falls, Iowa) and Caitlin Woods (Maryville, Mo.).

Michael is a 2006 graduate of North Fayette High School, where she earned second-team All-Conference honors as a senior.

Newhofff, a 2007 graduate of Cedar Falls High School, earned first-team All-Mississippi Valley Conference, first-team All-District and second-team All-State softball honors following her senior season.

Woods is a 2007 graduate of Maryville High School where she earned second-team All-Conference honors and set school record for innings pitched as a senior.

Garthright’s list of hopefuls also includes freshmen Brandi Edwards (2B/SS, Homer Glen, Ill.), Samantha Johnson (SS/OF/UTL, Rockford, Ill.), Jessica Lippens (3B/1B, Goose Lake, Iowa), Jodi Muth (SS/P/UTL, Onalaska, Wis.), Kayla Sullivan (OF, Bellevue, Iowa) and Gabrielle Sullivan (3B/C/UTL, Bellevue, Iowa).

“We are going to face some tough competition in the MCC,” said Garthright. “While we are the unknown team to all of our opponents in the conference, every single one of those teams is an unknown for us. We are simply going to go out every game and prove ourselves by playing our kind of game.”

Clarke will open the new season at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Florida.

-Crusaders-