Clay, Horiuchi, Griffin leave Lady Vols

The Tennessee Lady Vols softball program continues to evolve with the loss of a starter and valuable pinch-hitter, and the addition of a strong prospect out of New Jersey.

Two-year starter Liane Horiuchi and pinch-hitting freshman Alexia Clay have told UT they are transferring out and catcher-designated player Jennifer Lapicki will join the Lady Vols as a transfer.

Fans already knew UT would have a different look without 6-foot-3 All-American Monica Abbott on the mound and speedy All-Americans Lindsay Schutzler and India Chiles at the top of the lineup.

The additional attrition provides opportunities for returning players and a talented incoming recruiting class, said Ralph Weekly, who along with his wife, Karen, serves as UT’s co-head coach.

“We’ll still have great catching, great defense and great speed, but the key is our pitching,’’ Ralph Weekly said. “We have three kids who can all pitch, but can they pitch at the highest level?

“Our goal is to protect the tradition. We’ve been to the Final Four three straight times and we want to go back again.’’

Lapicki, a 2007 USA National Team invitee, was recruited by Georgia, Michigan, California and Washington before signing with Virginia to play for Karen Johns.

Johns, however, resigned to take a position with the U.S. Olympic team and Lapicki was granted a release.

Ralph Weekly said Horiuchi and Clay are leaving on good terms.

“Karen and I enjoyed having Alexia Clay and Liane Horiuchi play for us,’’ Weekly said. “They told both of us they wanted to go to a school with less emphasis on softball where they could graduate in four years without going to summer school.’’

Horiuchi has yet to decide where she’ll pursue her studies in pharmacology. Clay is a pre-med student headed to Notre Dame.

Horiuchi’s glove will be missed, as she started as a freshman at second base before starting at shortstop last season. Horiuchi batted .189 in SEC games.

Clay started 32 games for the Lady Vols (63-8), who finished as SEC regular season champions and Women’s College World Series runners-up. Clay batted .176 against SEC competition but delivered a clutch home run in a 3-0 win over Arizona in the first game of the WCWS championship.

Jennifer Griffin and Tiffany Baker are two other players who won’t be back with the team.

Griffin, a third baseman who was dismissed for violations of team rules, batted .189 in SEC play and started 38 games last season. She missed 18 games because of a suspension. Griffin is reportedly headed to Long Beach State.

Baker, the 2006 Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year at East Ridge High School, redshirted last season and is transferring to Chattanooga.

“Tiffany’s situation is related to her father passing away last year,’’ Ralph Weekly said. “She wants to be with her mother on a daily basis, and Karen I support her decision and her family.’’

Horiuchi was expected to compete with incoming freshman Kelly Grieve and sophomore Anita Manuma for the starting shortstop position.

Grieve is a slap-hitting speedster from Asheville, N.C. The Weeklys believe Grieve has the potential to remind fans of former UT All-American and Maryville star Sara Fekete.

Manuma, a shortstop in high school, is a line drive hitter who batted .308 in SEC games and delivered clutch pinch-hits in postseason play.

“We’ve got 18 kids, 13 of them returners, and they are all very committed to Tennessee softball,’’ Ralph Weekly said. “We’re excited about that, and I think we’ll be exciting to watch.’’

Future Stars: UT has more recruits — four — on the first team of the EA Sports high school All-American team than any program.

Pitcher Cat Hosfield, from Murfreesboro Riverdale (verbal, class of ’08), pitcher Ashton Ward, from Butler High in Charlotte, N.C. (incoming freshman), Infielder Brittany Arredondo from Smithson Valley High in Spring Branch, Texas (verbal, class of ’08) and infielder Jessica Spigner, from Valencia (Calif.) High (verbal, class of ’08).

Outfielder Chandra Mogan, from Fontana, Calif., was a second-team pick who has signed and will play next season.

Mark Your Calendar: The U.S. Olympic team will play UT in the Lady Vols new stadium in an April 14 exhibition game. ESPN is expected to television the event, and Abbott is expected to pitch against the Lady Vols.