After winning 56 games and finishing as the runner
up at last year’s national tournament in just her first season, UM head
coach Becky Clark will expect nothing less of her team this season than
what she got from her team one year ago.
“I expect the same thing from this year’s team that
I got from last year’s team,” said Clark looking ahead to the 2004
season. “I want them to play hard, play smart and play together. I
stressed those three things to our team last year and I am convinced
that is the formula for success.”
After losing the bat of Maria Soto and the arm of
Missy Passley after the 2003 season, coach Clark knows it will be hard
to replace those two All-Americans. However, this year’s group presents
a new challenge and coach Clark is confident that this year’s squad will
have their own players that step us and rise to the occasion.
“I don’t like to use the word replace when talking
about the players we lost,” Clark said. “My job is to concentrate on
the present and get the most out of my current players.”
Back roaming the outfield from a year ago’s
national tournament tested team is Brenda Box, Molly Walker and Christie
Jackson.
Box batted .330 in 64 games last season for the
Rams starting in every game. Walker registered 64 put outs in 67
chances and was fourth on the team with a .413 on base percentage.
Finally, Jackson maintained a .267 batting average for the Rams in 46
appearances.
Ask any softball coach and they will tell you that
you must be strong up the middle. According to coach Clark, she is
positive that her team will again be strong in that category.
“Our middle infield will consist of Denisse
Fuenmayor, Sylvia Bedgood and Haley Nelson,” said Clark. “With Meredith
Tanner back behind the plate, I feel like we should be strong up the
middle again this year.”
Fuenmayor is a veteran who made 61 starts for the
Rams a year ago and hit for a .321 average. She was second on the team
in RBI with 39 and was third overall with a .419 on base percentage.
Moving around the horn, Bedgood made 56 starts a year ago and finished
the season fourth on the team in batting with a .324 average. Nelson,
saw limited action in just fourteen games but took advantage of her time
finishing with a .333 batting average.
Behind the plate is the experience of Meredith
Tanner. Last season, Tanner hit for a .303 average while putting
together .994 fielding percentage in 353 chances. Tanner also threw out
30 percent of all runners who dared attempt a steal on her.
On the mound, sophomore Kirby Baxter returns after
putting together an impressive freshman season where she finished 26-1
with a 1.05 ERA.
However, coach Clark isn’t big on predictions and
has yet to single either of the three pitchers out just yet.
“Right now, I have three pitchers who are working
very hard to prepare for this season,” said Clark. “All three of them
want to contribute to the success of this team and all three understand
the importance of their position.”
As was the case last season, coach Clark knows a
return trip to the national tournament won’t come easy.
“This year will be another dog fight,” said Clark.
“We are playing a very tough schedule with several ranked teams in the
mix and so we better be ready to play each time we step on the field.
Spring Hill and Thomas are very strong programs and promise to be great
games. We’ll be seeing both of them several times throughout the
season.”
