KENT: Kent State softball had a down year last season with a 20-31 record. Now despite the loss of two key offensive contributors, the Golden Flashes are thought of highly enough to be voted as the second-best team in the East Division in preseason polls.
KSU opens the season today against California State University Bakersfield in the first of five weekend games at the UNLV Invitational in Las Vegas. The Flashes have to prove that all the early love is based on more than just reputation.
“I still think our strength is going to be our offense, although we lost two key players in [Dalton’s] Jess Carmichael and [Hudson’s] Beth Cinadr,” KSU softball coach Karen Linder said.
“Jess hit in our three-hole and tied the career home run record. Beth hit in the five-hole and led the conference in doubles, so we’re losing a lot. But we still have a lot back offensively.”
Linder is in her 16th season as the coach of the Flashes and recently signed a contract extension through the 2016 season. In the past six seasons, she led the Flashes to five MAC division titles, three MAC regular-season championships, two MAC Tournament championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Since taking over the program in 1996, Linder has helped produce one All-American, 14 All-Mid-East Region selections, 22 Academic All-District IV honorees, 48 Academic All-MAC picks, 42 All-MAC players, 16 MAC All-Tournament Team members, four MAC Pitchers of the Year, two MAC Tournament MVPs and a MAC Player of the Year.
“We continue to grow and improve,” said Linder, who owns a 428-350 (.561) record at KSU and has been honored three times (2004, 2008, 2010) as the MAC Coach of the Year. “I really do think in all phases we’re going to be better this year.”
One area of expected big growth is pitching. Sophomore Lauren McNeil (Archbishop Hoban) and junior Danielle Abernathy have more experience and will be joined in the starting pitching group by talented newcomer Emma Johnson.
“The other two have been there, but while Emma is just a freshman, she’s definitely going to contribute in a big way on the mound as well,” Linder said. “She’s that good.”
Handling the pitching staff is senior catcher Jess Blanton, who threw out 20 would-be base stealers in 51 starts last season and whom Linder calls “the best catcher in the league in my opinion.”
Basketball
The men’s Feb. 18th BracketBuster game against the College of Charleston will be broadcast on SportsTime Ohio at 6 p.m.
At the game, the Flashes will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 2002 Elite 8 team. As a part of the celebration, former All-American Antonio Gates and others from the team that produced the best record in conference history will be in attendance and honored at halftime.
Football
Former KSU quarterback Julian Edelman became the third member of the Flashes’ 2006 football team to play in a Super Bowl.
Two years ago, Usama Young (Saints) and Danny Muir (Colts) played against each other in Super Bowl XLIV. The three are among the 13 players from the 2006 roster who signed NFL contracts.
Other members who signed NFL contracts include: Jack Williams (Broncos/Lions), Jameson Konz (Seahawks), Colin Ferrell (Colts), Rico Murray (Bengals), Shawn Bayes (Raiders), Kirk Belgrave (Falcons), Brian Lainhart (Bengals), Brian Bell (Redskins), Andre Kirkland (Rams) and Augustus Parrish (Saints/Bengals).
A former player or coach has represented Kent State in the Super Bowl for 11 of the past 12 seasons.
Baseball
Eighth-year baseball coach Scott Stricklin (signed through the 2016-17 academic year) and 15th-year associate head coach/pitching coach Mike Birkbeck (signed through 2014-15) also received contract extensions last week.
Stricklin’s tenure features a winning percentage of .648 (267-145 in seven seasons), four NCAA Regional berths, four MAC Tournament titles and three regular-season conference crowns.
On the field, 22 players have gone on to be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft under Stricklin.
Birkbeck has mentored 22 players who have gone on to the major leagues. The 2011 campaign was perhaps the best for a KSU pitching staff under Birkbeck. The Golden Flashes occupied all four pitching spots on the NCAA Mideast Region First Team after finishing sixth in the nation in team ERA (2.66).
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow Stephanie on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/sstorm13. Follow Beacon Journal sports on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
