DRC-Notebook..softball quotes/schedule

OldTimer · April 5, 2003

UNT notebook

Softball coach looks forward to tough 2004 opponents

04/05/2003

Staff report

North Texas softball coach Stacey Segal doesn’t want anything to come easy for her program in its first season of competition.

The Mean Green’s 2004 spring schedule, which was released Friday, nine teams that are currently ranked in the top 25 of the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll. UNT’s opponents have combined to win 19 of the 21 NCAA championships.

"The only way we’re going to be the best is to beat the best," said Segal, whose previous head coaching experience is at thehigh school and junior college levels. "It’ll really give us an opportunity from the first day we step on the ballfield to compete against top 25 and even top 5 teams.

"I don’t believe in playing an easy schedule to get wins. That’s never been my philosophy. It’ll give us the opportunity to see the type of program we want to be from Day 1."

UNT will open the seasonFeb. 10 at Texas A&M, where Segal played from 1990-93. Itis one of five matchups against Big 12 opponents. Other per-ennial powers UNT will encounter include No. 3 Arizona and nine-time national champion UCLA.

Botello nearly breaks school record

Junior Ben Botello scored 6,595 points in the decathlon at the Texas Relays, falling just shy of a setting a new North Texas school record.

Botello’s total is the second-best in school history. Teddy Sondota scored 6,722 points on May 24, 1997.

Lupe Florez also turned in a solid performance in the decathlon as he put up 5,987 points, the sixth most in school history.

On the women’s side, Ananka Clark just missed an NCAA regional qualifying mark in the 100-meter dash. She finished in a season-best time of 11.82, only .02 away from earning a spot in the regional meet.

The women’s 4x400 relay team finished with a time of 3:45.73, which is the fifth-fastest in school history. The Lady Eagles time is also just .23 away from the NCAA regional qualifying time of 3:45.50.

The Texas Relays wrap up Saturday with the finals in the men’s and women’s university divisions.

Dale Brown to speak at basketball banquet

The North Texas basketball banquet, which has been rescheduled for April 22, will be highlighted by the appearance of coaching great and motivational speaker Dale Brown.

"I think it will be a great experience for not only our players, but our fans as well," said UNT men’s basketball head coach Johnny

Jones, who played for and coached under Brown at Louisiana State. "I think the people in attendance will be moved as they witness one of the great motivational speakers in the country. Not only is he a renowned basketball coach, but he also delivers a tremendous message."

Jones played at LSU from 1980-84. He served as an administrative assistant, assistant coach and associate head coach under Brown from 1984-97.

The banquet will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information or to order tickets, call 940-565-2527 or visit http://www.unt.edu/meangreen.

Sun Belt honors Carrothers

Senior Jerome Carrothers was named the Sun Belt field athlete of the week for his performance at the Dr Pepper Invitational.

Carrothers had an NCAA regional qualifying mark in the shot put with a toss of 53-8.25, which won the event March 22. It is the best throw in the Sun Belt this season.

Carrothers’ toss in the shot is the eighth time in his career that he has a had a throw of 50 feet or more. Carrothers also won the discus event with a throw of 144-0.

2004 North Texas softball schedule

Date Opponent

Feb. 4 at Texas A&M

Feb. 6 at Baylor Tournament

Feb. 7 at Baylor Tournament

Feb. 8 at Baylor Tournament

Feb. 10 Northwood

Feb. 11 at Texas

Feb. 13 at UTSA Tournament

Feb. 14 at UTSA Tournament

Feb. 15 at UTSA Tournament

Feb. 18 at Oklahoma

Feb. 20 North Texas Beltin Roundup

Feb. 21 North Texas Beltin Roundup

Feb. 22 North Texas Beltin Roundup

Feb. 25 Centenary College

Feb. 27 Frost Cutlery Classic

Feb. 28 Frost Cutlery Classic

Feb. 29 Frost Cutlery Classic

March 2 at Oklahoma State

March 5 Hillenbrand Tournament

March 6 Hillenbrand Tournament

March 7 Hillenbrand Tournament

March 11 Hedrick’s Hallowell Chevrolet Classic

March 12 Hedrick’s Hallowell Chevrolet Classic

Date Opponent

March 13 Hedrick’s Hallowell Chevrolet Classic

March 14 Hedrick’s Hallowell Chevrolet Classic

March 16 at Cal State-Northridge

March 20 Northwestern Oklahoma State

March 23 Texas-Arlington

March 26 Mean Green Wells Fargo Classic

March 27 Mean Green Wells Fargo Classic

March 28 Mean Green Wells Fargo Classic

April 2 Stephen F. Austin

April 3 at Wichita State

April 10 at Florida International

April 11 at Florida International

April 12 Texas-San Antonio

April 17 at Louisiana-Lafayette

April 21 at Texas-Arlington

April 24 at Middle Tennessee

April 25 at Middle Tennessee

April 28 at Baylor

May 1 New Mexico State

May 2 New Mexico State

May 8 Western Kentucky

May 9 Western Kentucky

May 14 Sun Belt Conference Tournament

NT80 · April 5, 2003

That's a pretty tough schedule, especially some of those OOC games. The conference schedule looks like only nine games, four at home? I thought Ark. St. was going to field a new team next year too? It will be good to have a spring team sport.