When the Chattanooga softball team steps on the field for the 2009 season in hopes of winning another Southern Conference Title, it will have to do so without the aide of two-time Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year Brooke Loudermilk.
The pitcher is expected to miss the entire 2009 campaign after having surgery on her shoulder last week. The surgery went as expected and the pitcher is back in Chattanooga attending classes. She will redshirt this season and will be classified as a junior for the 2010 season.
Loudermilk is just coming off a record-setting 2008 season where the sophomore went 18-8 with a 1.87 earned run average. She also recorded 242 strikeouts and threw 15 complete games.
“It is always devastating when you lose a pitcher like Brooke, or any player, and have to replace them,” Head Coach Frank Reed said. “Not many people know about this but she pitched through a lot of pain last season all while being as effective as she was. That just shows a lot about whom she is and of much she cares about the success of this program.”
The Lady Mocs will now look to three sophomores to help the team repeat its success from last season. Kandice Irwin, Kaity Holloway, and Michelle Fuzzard will be called upon to help fill the void left by Loudermilk. Last season, the three combined for a 3-3 record and had an ERA of 2.42
“Now we start the process of looking around and find the person that is going to be able to fill her shoes, Reed said. “It will difficult but we feel like we have the capabilities to be just as good as we were last year with our three sophomores.”
The Lady Mocs are currently holding fall practices with the Blue-Gold Intersquad game set for Saturday, Oct. 11 at Frost Stadium. The ceremonies will begin with a ring presentation to the 2008 Southern Conference Champions at 11 a.m.