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SPORTS
| UPDATED JAN. 29
Softball
Team adds 10 freshman to roster
The Lady Mavs say their success
depends on low ERAs, getting runs across the plate and teamwork.
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| The Shorthorn: Brandon Wade |
| Freshman Jill Garro winds up for a pitch
Tuesday afternoon at Allan Saxe Field during the softball
team’s practice. |
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by Dustin
Eberhart
The Shorthorn staff
After an off-season of recruiting, heavy practicing and lifting
weights, softball coach Debbie Nichols-Hedrick believes her team
is ready for the season.
“The team has worked hard in the weight room, making them a
whole lot stronger than before,” Hedrick said. “I think
that will pay off when we start the season.”
Returning starting pitcher Katy Cox said workouts this year have
been the most strenuous. She said the team has had longer practices
so the team gets everything done.
“We have twice as many people this year compared to last year
— which allows us to do more things,” she said.
Hedrick said that as of right now, she doesn’t think the team
has any weaknesses.
“I can honestly say that for the first time in the last three
years, our offense, defense and pitching are all strong,” Hedrick
said. “In addition to that, we are deep.”
In addition to Cox, the Lady Mavs will showcase three freshmen pitchers
who were recruited in the off-season. According to Cox, left-handers
Falon Kwasnick and Jill Garroand, and right-hander Autumn Petrino
will lighten her pitching load.
“The three freshmen are going to step up and help us a lot,”
Cox said. “Hopefully, it will not just affect the team positively
but my pitching as well by taking some pressure off me.”
She said the success of the team depends on teamwork, getting runs
across the plate and the pitchers keeping their ERAs low.
“As long as we’re not giving up runs, I don’t think
there is anyone who can beat us,” Cox said.
The team as a whole brought 10 freshmen to add to the eight returning
from last season’s 16-30 team.
“With all the new people in, we mainly tried to work together
and get adapted to each other during the off-season,” freshman
Beverly Rowan said. “We are trying to work together and establish
a solid hitting game and a defense. I think that’s the key.”
The team is set to start it’s 2003 season this weekend in the
Getterman Classic in Waco put on by Baylor University. Its first
round game is set for 1:30 p.m. on Friday against the University
of Florida.
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