Softball focuses on leadership, defense
A year removed from a semi-final finish at the NCAA II World Series, the softball program found themselves in unfamiliar territory last year, finishing 26-25 overall with a 15-12 Lone Star Conference record.
Rather than making a repeat of 2011’s success with a trip to the College World Series, the 2012 season ended with a 6-3 loss to Incarnate Word in the LSC semi-finals.
“Our season did not end the way we wanted by no means,” head softball coach Brady Tigert said. “This program has always been one of the top contenders in the conference. Last year wasn’t our typical season, and we honestly didn’t like it very much.”
A Transition Year
Tigert said part of last season’s sub-par finish stemmed from the loss of instrumental players due to graduation and other reasons.
“It was a transition year,” he said. “We didn’t lose but five players, but two of those are the top pitchers in the country. With our sport, whoever you bring in has to contribute immediately. For whatever reason, last year wasn’t that year for us.”
Tigert still saw last season as a positive experience for his team, though, citing the team winning 13 of its last 17 games to close out the season and finishing with a win more than 50 percent of the time.
This season has a similar transition story for the Lady Mustangs on paper. Out of the 15 players on the roster, eight are incoming freshmen. However, Tigert does not see this revamped team as one that will repeat last season, but one that will get the softball program back on track and ready to be fierce competitors. Tigert also sees an increase of desire to win this season.
“This is a very talented squad,” Tigert said. “The seven that have been here before are very good and the eight freshmen we brought in are really talented and can play. They want to compete. It’s hard to say, but I felt like there were some of us on our team last year that didn’t want to compete. At this level, you have to learn to compete each and every day.”
Strengths and Weaknesses
The relative youth of the team does point to the Lady Mustangs’ biggest weakness this year. Tigert said the biggest concern for the team is adjusting the newcomers to the college game and allowing them to learn the ropes.
“The biggest concern we have is our two freshmen pitchers,” Tigert said. “They’re the only two pitchers we have this year, so they’re lacking that experience. They’re talented, but there’s a learning and maturity process with this sport.”
Aside from pitching, though, Tigert sees no true weaknesses for the Lady Mustangs this season. He believes they will need to get better defensively, but that all depends on the success of the pitchers.
“The better your pitching is, the better your defense will be,” he said. “We’re not asking [our pitchers] to carry us, but we are asking them to keep us in the ball games.”
While defense will be a primary focus of improvement, Tigert believes the Lady Mustangs to be offensively centered this season, claiming just about every one of the players on the roster can hit very well.
Leading the Team
Filling out the leadership positions for the team this year will be senior outfielders Elena Bennett and Courtney Bingham and junior catcher Kim Jerrick. The three women have racked up numerous awards and tournament team honors. Bennett was a NCAF DII second team All-American in 2011, while Bingham received the same honor last season, as well as being included into the LSC’s inaugural Golden Glove team. Jerrick was an all-LSC pick last season.
“Those three can literally stand out by themselves if they have the years they’re capable of having,” Tigert said. “All three of them together could make for a heck of a year. The whole team can be very good, but it’s all a matter of who will step up and stand out.”
Playing in a Tough Conference
The Lady Mustangs will need to step up greatly when taking on a stacked LSC. A recent preseason poll predicted the team to finish fifth in the conference, tied with Incarnate Word and behind Angelo State, Texas Woman’s, West Texas A&M and Abilene Christian.
“The LSC is tough year in and year out,” Tigert said. “It’s one of the toughest conferences in the country, so you always have to be prepared. As far as the preseason rankings, we’re a lot more talented than we were last year. They don’t like at the players we have now and brought in. I’m not worried about the ranking whatsoever.”
Starting the Season Off Right
The Lady Mustangs season kicks off Feb. 1 as the team travels to Phoenix to play a three-game series with both Grand Canyon and Western New Mexico. Tigert believes the game will be a good warm-up game for the ladies, and hopes to shake off last season’s 6-14 road record.
“Playing on the road is always tough,” Tigert said. “Last year was not the regular team that we have; we usually win most of our games. With that being said, we have to do a better job on the road, but that has to do with who we are as a team.”
The Lady Mustangs’ first home stand will be from Feb. 15-17 during the Holiday Inn At the Falls Invitational Tournament. This season will also mark the first time that the softball team will be able to play night games thanks to newly installed stadium lights.
“We hope to have a lot of fans come out and support us,” Tigert said. “We think the lights allowing us to play in the evening instead of the afternoon will give our students and anyone else more access to come watch us. I think we’re going to do very well. It’s just a matter of how much we can mature in a short period of time. I think we have the capability of winning 40 games this season.”