Rounding the bases with Marcus Johnson

February 25, 2009

Columbia
Last season’s record: 42-12 (12-2)
The Columbia Cougars come into this season ranked #10 in the preseason polls. With 11 returning players including All-American pitcher Valerie Teter, they are poised to placed higher than their 9th place finish from a year ago.

William Woods
Last season’s record: 31-22 (10-4)
The Owl’s bring back two AMC all-conference sophomore 3B Zoroya Brittan and senior outfielder T.J. Quick. Freshman pitcher Kelsey Schulte will give the Owls plenty of help in the pitching rotation that ranked 7th in the conference last year in walks allowed per game.

Missouri Baptist
Last season’s record: 28-17 (9-5)
Sophomore Lauren Scovill and her .368 batting average from last year's team, is returning to a team that placed 3rd in the AMC last year. They bring back a bulk of their squad from last year and with this team chemistry, they hope to take 1st place this year.

Williams Baptist
Last season’s record: 32-10 (7-7)
Williams Baptist brings in a ton of freshman in from their 32-10 team from last year. They also bring back their best hitter in sophomore outfielder/pitcher Kim Emmons. With so many new faces this year, there is no telling if they can do better or worse from last years.

MeKendree
Last seasons record: 24-18 (7-7)
Last year’s season was and disappointing season for the Bearcats of McKendree. But they come back this season with a core of experience players like three-time all-conference pitcher Amy Quirin and senior catcher Angie Maue. They also have brought in three junior college outfielders that look to help out immediately.

Harris-Stowe
Last season’s record: 6-24 (4-10)
This year’s team is completly different from last year’s 6-24 team. With nine new players this season, it looks like coach Tony Moody is trying to use this year as an rebuilding one. Pitcher/infielder Rebecca Rhode is back for her senior season and hopes to make with a good one. She led the team with a .479 batting average last year.

Hannibal-LaGrange
Last season’s record: 10-30 (1-13)
Last teams cellar dweller doesn’t seem as if they will get any better this year. They have one senior on the team in Tamara Whitney. So we will see the majority of this team again next season.

Stephens College
Last season’s record: 0-17
This newcomer to the AMC will be sitting in last place once the season is over with.