With starters back from injuries, Softball is optimistic

It is time for the fortunes of Penn's softball team to change. Beset by numerous injuries, questionable umpiring calls and overall bad luck, the Quakers have struggled to a frustrating 7-22 record, including two losses in last Saturday's Ivy League openers at Princeton and a Sunday split at home against Butler. Of the nine position players who took the field last weekend, only third baseman Kristin Richeimer was playing at her natural spot. Injuries to key players this year have been the norm rather than the exception, and the Quakers have suffered. But a new stretch of the season may begin when Penn squares off against crosstown rival La Salle (18-20) in a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader today at Warren Field. With the exception of outfielder Abby Shore, all of the Quakers are healthy and ready to see how their team can do with its normal lineup. The returning players will be a welcome boost to a squad that has been forced to play people at unfamiliar positions almost since the start of the season. That has led to frequent physical and mental errors that have cost Penn more than a few games. "We really have a great bunch of players, it's just that a lot of the time we've beaten ourselves because of the position shuffling," said Shore, who should return to action this weekend when Penn takes on Yale and Brown. "Having everyone healthy should help stop some of the mistakes." Trying to stop the Quakers today are the Explorers, who have suffered through their own troubles this year. Powered by the effective pitching of hurlers Heather Sudul and Lori Congdon, who have combined for 15 of La Salle's 18 wins, the team began the year 8-3 -- including a 4-3 win over Penn in Florida. But a recent eight-game slide that started with losses in six straight Midwestern Collegiate Conference games has dropped the Explorers to a sub-.500 record. Errors have plagued Penn's opponent as well -- La Salle has committed 53 miscues this season. Helping the Quakers take advantage of this liability will be catcher Sam Smithson, who was batting nearly .400 before being sidelined with a broken thumb two weeks ago. The recent hot hitting of Vicki Moore, Dawn Kulp and Laurie Nestler has helped Penn through Smithson's absence. Moore and Kulp have also been behind Penn's strong pitching this year. Those two, along with emerging freshman Jen Strawley, will attempt to douse the potent La Salle offensive attack in the twin bill. Part of the Quakers' problem this season has been their inability to combine effective play on both the offensive and defensive ends. If they can manage to do that tomorrow, the desired sweep should become a reality. Victories over the Explorers will not only serve to put an end to Penn's current 2-10 rut, but they will also give much-needed confidence as the team heads into the heart of the conference schedule beginning Friday versus Yale. The players agree that a respectable league record can partially redeem what has happened thus far this season. They feel they deserve a few good breaks, for a change. "This team has a lot of perseverance. We've given everything we've had and have never given up, but things just haven't gone our way yet," Moore said. The Quakers can only hope all that bad luck is finally over.