Season Preview: St. Louis

St. Louis Billikens
Record (A10 Play): 30-26-1 (12-7-1)
Coach (Record): Christy Connoyer, 1st (0-0)
Returning Starters: Kristin Nicoletti OF, Tori Holland OF, Kelly Flanagan IF,Caitlin Trevillyan OF, Laura Bohning 2B, Alyson Brand C, Rachel Faletto 3B, Jessica Buschjost OF, Kelcie Matesa P, Hannah Huebbe P
Other Returnees: Liz Jones C/UT, Kerri Dockins 2B, Kristain Burger 1B, Erin Cejka 1B
Key Losses: Nicki Jost C, Brittany Schmidt SS, Rachel O'Connell OF
Newcomers: Julian Austin P, Kelsey Biggs IF, Caitlin Santefort P/1B, Jessica Van Nostrand SS

Outlook:

Kristin Nicoletti

Former Coach John Conway hit the road to go to St. Leo University after being fed up with the lack of funding available to his squad. Conway transformed this squad into a contender in the A10, but the administration showed him little love, so he decided to hit the road. Coach Christy Connoyer comes in after serving as an assistant coach at SIU for many year. She inherits a quality squad in 2011 that may be the best in program history. Coach Conway created a squad built for speed and quite a bit of that speed is back in 2011. Coach Connoyer should continue this aggressive style of play, as it has served SLU very well.

For the Billikens, it all starts at the plate with speed and power. St. Louis is a very efficient team at the plate, making the most of the runners they get on base. They only hit 0.250 as a team last year, but with 50 HR and 114 SB the Billikens were able to score 234 runs. Kristin Nicoletti is the table setter for St. Louis, leading the squad with a 0.348 BA with 3 HR, 24 RBI, and 40 SB. Nicoletti was a nightmare for A10 pitchers and catchers alike. Also returning for SLU is last year's HR leader Caitlin Trevillyan and she will once again be called on to hit in the speedsters at the top of the order. Tori Holland and Kelly Flanagan are also back and they will be counted on once again in 2011. It is reasonable to expect that the pitching for SLU will improve in 2011, but if the Billikens want to make some noise in 2011, they need to improve offensively.

Both starting pitchers are back for St. Louis in 2011 and they will be joined by two freshmen pitchers. Kelcie Matesa is a hard throwing pitcher who led the Billikens in strikeouts in 2010, who improved by leaps and bounds from her freshman campaign. Maybe part of the reason for her improvement in 2010, was that she was joined by Hannah Huebbe. Huebbe offers a very different look in the circle, as she does not throw quite as fast as Matesa, but she does possess an outstanding changeup. Huebbe and Matesa will be pushed even more in 2011, as they will be joined by freshmen Julian Austin and Caitlin Santefort. This will be the best group of pitching St. Louis has had since joining the A10 and it should show in the results. The best part about having four pitchers is that it will create a competitive environment which will push pitchers to perform well.

Kelcie Matesa

Hannah Huebbe

The Billikens were a solid defensive squad in 2010, which is impressive considering the lack of continuity in the lineup. Just about everyone on last year's team saw action in the starting lineup that is something that I am not expecting Coach Connoyer to continue this season. I fully expect her to put the best lineup on the field every game and I do not see her varying the lineup to the same degree that Coach Conway did. There is so much potential for this squad in 2011, but the theme for them needs to be taking care of business. The need to win the games that they are expected to.

Schedule:
While it is tougher than previous editions, St. Louis' schedule is built to produce wins, not an at-large bid. There are some tough games with Missouri, Radford, Lipscomb, and San Diego State that will give the Billikens a good idea of what to expect against UMass, Fordham, and St. Joseph's. I think St. Louis could have scheduled even tougher in 2011, but they have to take care of business. This schedule sets St. Louis up to have an even better season than last year. One of the best things is that all four Billiken pitchers will be back again next year. In A10 play, St. Louis will see Fordham and St. Joseph's at home, but they will have to hit the road to face UMass and Charlotte. The two series with Charlotte and St. Joseph's will be absolutely crucial for St. Louis this year. If the Billikens can take care of business, finishing 3rd or 4th in A10 play is a very realistic possibility.