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2008 UNA SOFTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

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SOFTBALL TEAM SEEKING RETURN TO POST-SEASON IN 2008

When the 2008 University of North Alabama softball team takes the field this season, the returning players and coaches will not have to look far to find motivation for the upcoming year. The Lions lost five of the last six games last season, including four straight to close out the year and miss the Gulf South Conference tournament by a half game in the East Division standings.

UNA did finish with its third consecutive winning season at 32-21, but missed the post-season for the first time since the 2004 campaign. Head coach Jeremy Reece said although the late-season slump with no tournament appearance left a bad taste in the team’s mouth, the players still remember the success of the previous two years and have not changed their goals.

“We are looking for the way last season ended to have a positive effect on us,” said Reece. “We came up a little short last year and the players know it, but they still know what it takes to be successful as they have in the past. This team is focused on several goals this season and will approach them one at a time.”

The main goal, Reece said, will be making a return trip to the conference tournament. The season-ending losing streak last year dropped UNA to fifth place in the GSC East Division with an 11-12 league record. With only the top four teams in each division qualifying for the tournament, West Georgia was able to receive the invitation with a 12-12 GSC record. UNA defeated the Wolves three-of-four times by an average score of 9-6.

Staying focused on the goal of reaching the GSC tourney will be one of the main responsibilities of the four seniors on this year’s roster. Reece said that the senior class of Lindsey Bates, Lindsey Greene, Kim Lee and Sabrina Roberts has provided stability to the program that has produced three straight 30-win seasons, including a 40-20 mark in 2006 that included the school’s first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament.

“Our senior class is an unbelievable group of kids that has done everything we have asked them to and has been a huge part of changing this program,” Reece said. “Three of them grew up less than two hours from here in the Decatur area and have stuck together for many years.”

Bates (right field) and Greene (center field) represent two of the three returning starters in the outfield.

Reece said several players on the roster should see playing time in that area.

 “We are very deep in the outfield this year,” said Reece. “Bates and Greene are two very solid returnees, plus we will move Sarah Whitlow back to the outfield this season. She played some right field for us in 2006.

Also, newcomers Allie Peterson and Krystal Elliott have shown promise and will be competing for playing time.”

The Lions will be looking to replace three full-time starters in the infield. The departure of seniors Jessica Liddy (catcher), Amy Goebel (third base) and Emily Beckwith (short stop) left several holes to fill. Reece said he is hoping the fact that several of the current players were able to see playing time last season in the infield at times will pay off this year.

“Kim (Lee) is a fast and accurate senior who split time at second base last year,” he said. “We will be looking at her for stability up the middle. Ally Pridmore also saw a lot of time at second. She is very capable and will be taking over the duties at shortstop. Maggie Eades returns for us at first base and will be backed up by newcomer Amberly South, while Andrea Palmer will see action at third base with freshman Jennifer Sharp backing her up. Kendall Moore will also enter the season as the starting catcher.”

The pitching staff returns two of the three full-time starters with Megan Niesel and Sabrina Roberts coming back. The Lions lost Stephanie Glienke to graduation. She ended her career with the school record for career wins (48) and innings pitched (526.2). Niesel led the staff in appearances with 22 and produced a 9-6 record in 2007. Roberts was 11-9 and gave up a team-best 38 earned runs on the year. The two will be joined in the circle by freshman Anna Ard.

“Our pitching staff has the potential to be pretty good this year,” said Reece. “Megan and Sabrina are solid returnees and Anna should compete for a good bit of time in the circle this season.”

Offensively, UNA returns three of its top four hitters from a year ago, including the two best batting averages on the team in Greene (.393) and Bates (.364). Consistency will be the key for the Lions who at times piled up the runs last year, but also struggled to find hits in key situations late in the season. As a team, the Lions hit .285, down from .319 in 2006. Reece said several players saw action from the batter’s box a year ago, and he is hoping that will now begin to pay off.

“We are returning a lot of players that got a lot of at-bats last year,” he said. “Bates and Greene led the way with the averages with Whitlow (.297) right up there too. Palmer proved she had the power to hit the ball deep (three homeruns) and will be looking to add consistency to her swing.

“The freshmen all had a good fall season. They need to get a lot of at-bats early in the year so they will be more prepared once GSC play begins.”

Once again, the Lions will have a difficult and impressive schedule. Early-season tournaments hosted by West Georgia, Alabama-Huntsville and Arkansas-Monticello have lined up games against some of the top teams from the Sunshine State, Peach Belt and MIAA conferences, as well as the GSC West Division. UNA will also host the regional crossover March 7-8 featuring UAH and Sunshine State Conference foes Saint Leo and Florida Southern.

The Lions will open the season at home against traditional NAIA power Trevecca Nazarene on Feb. 12.

The double-header is set to begin at 2 p.m. against the Trojans, who finished last year with a No. 6 ranking in the national NAIA poll.

“We will have a very competitive schedule this year,” said Reece. “There are a lot of in-region games lined up and we start against a quality opponent. We are looking forward to the three very good tournaments, especially the regional crossover. We didn’t have a good showing at it last year and want to make a better impression now that it’s on our home field.”

The schedule doesn’t get any easier once conference play begins. Traditional East-Division powers Alabama-Huntsville, West Florida and Valdosta State have reloaded for another run, while the West Division’s Arkansas-Monticello will be looking for a return trip to the NCAA tournament.

“The East is loaded from top to bottom,” said Reece. “UAH, Valdosta and West Florida are always going to be tough. West Alabama is much improved and West Georgia got in the GSC tournament ahead of us last year. It is always a dog fight and is unfortunate that two teams get left at home.”

The 2008 GSC tournament will again be held at the Greenbrook Complex in Southaven, Miss., May 1-4, featuring the top four teams from each division. The South Region tournament is slated for the following weekend on the campus of the host institution.

  

   

       

 

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