NT Softball

NT80 · January 29, 2005

Softball team prepares for upcoming season

Dustye Howard

Daily Reporter

January 26, 2005

Head coach Kelly Burns expects a more prosperous year in softball than last year. She expects her team to express more confidence and aggressive play on the field, so the team can win the Sun Belt Conference.

"I felt good about the fall," Burns said. "We changed the way they were hitting, went to a rotational swing instead of a linear swing, so it took some time ... [but] with every game, they performed better and better,"

In a recent game in Spring Klein, Burns said, the team had 28 hits, proof the new style is clicking with the team. Burns also talked about how the players looked on the field.

"We are deeper on the mound with five pitchers, whereas last year they only had two," she said. "We will be deep at the plate." Burns, however, knows that she has some obstacles ahead.

"It's my job to teach them how to win again," Burns said. "Winning is a habit, as is losing." Returning players include third baseman Susan Waters, catcher Christen Jonse, first basemen Heather Bostic, pitcher and outfielder Katy Maxey, leftfielder Stephanie "Buffy" Cranmer and outfielder Kelei Walker.

Newcomers are shortstop Katya Muller, third basemen and pitcher Kristina Fowler, outfielder Marquita Adams, and catcher Cristina DeLaRosa. "Senior Mandy Hacker on the mound will be solid and freshman Morgan Monte will give us a strong reliever," Burns said. She expects a lot of defensive and offensive strength from all these players. NT is scheduled to play on Feb. 2 at TWU in a scrimmage.

"We are going to use that game to evaluate our progress and see where we are standing and gel as a team," Burns said.

Burns anticipates facing her old alma mater, Texas A&M University, in College Station on Feb. 4. "I'm excited, of course." said Burns "It's always good to go back. They are a high quality program and will be a challenge. A&M, in any sport, is tough at home, but we are excited for the level of competition."

Texas A&M is not the only Big 12 team NT will be facing this season. They are scheduled to play the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, UT-Austin and Baylor University as well as other highly competitive programs.

"We have to have strength of schedule in order to get into the playoffs because winning conference isn't an automatic qualifier," Burns said.

"We play teams that are tough to learn and grow and become better competitors."

JayDub · February 3, 2005

Because of the weather (and because everyone thought there would be snow on the ground), the Mean Green Softball game has been MOVED to:

Thursday, Feb. 3rd at TWU @ 4:30

Edited February 3, 2005 by JayDub

UNTFan23 · February 3, 2005

Because of the weather (and because everyone thought there would be snow on the ground), the Mean Green Softball game has been MOVED to:
Wednesday, Feb. 3rd at TWU @ 4:30

Dub, so which was it ... the 3rd or Wednesday???