Cooper Heads Up Talented Returning Cast for Rockwood Summit Softball

The Rockwood Summit softball team had a lot of questions coming into the 2010 season.

The Falcons answered most of those with a 20-win season, an undefeated mark in the Suburban South Conference and a district title.

Summit, which lost in the sectional round to Parkway South, once again has some questions entering this fall.

"We are in the same boat as last year with an unknown pitching staff," Summit coach Doug Robinson said. "Last year, we had two girls who never had pitched on the varsity."

Lauren Jameson and Lexi Jackson performed well. They combined for all 20 victories. Jameson was 15-3 with a 1.33 ERA while Jackson was 5-3 with a 3.50 ERA.

Jameson and Jackson both return for their senior season this fall.

"This year, we have the experience on the mound but it is still a question mark," Robinson said. "Lauren did well last year, but she is trying to come up to speed since she did not pitch during the summer."

The offense should be explosive with the return of standouts Ellie Cooper and Megan Bedenikovic.

Cooper was a second-team all-state pick last year after hitting .582 with three home runs. She is switching from third base to shortstop this fall.

Bedenikovic, a senior center fielder, is an offensive catalyst. The speedster hit .450 with 24 stolen bases last year.

Senior outfielder Erin McGinnis (.313 with 20 RBI) and sophomore second baseman Elise Murphy (.294) are other proven varsity hitters.

Senior Shannon Koenigsfeld returns behind the plate while sophomore Talisa Morton returns to the infield, moving from second base to third base.

"We need to get our No. 1 pitcher back to where she was last year," Robinson said. "I like our chances this year if we can do that. We are a team which is capable of competing for a conference and a district championship."