Softball season opens Saturday with tournament
2/5/2009 1:00:00 AM | Softball
Sam Houston State begins the 2009 softball season Saturday and Sunday by hosting the Domino's Pizza / Sam Houston Classic at Bearkat Softball Complex.
Texas Southern and Houston Baptist will be the other two teams participating in the tournament. Sam Houston plays HBU at 2 p.m. and Texas Southern at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday. The Bearkats will flip opponents on Sunday, facing Texas Southern at 2 p.m. and Houston Baptist at 4:15.
The Tigers and the Huskies will start action both days of the tournament with an 11 a.m. matchup.
Softball action will continue at Bearkat softball complex on Wednesday when Sam Houston plays host to the nationally-ranked Texas Aggies at 4:30 p.m.
The Bearkats return 15 letter winners including eight starters and both starting pitchers from last year's squad that went 30-31 for the season and 15-15 in Southland Conference action.
Shortstop Hailey Wiginton and pitcher Morgan Mikulin are 2009 preseason All-Southland Conference selections. The Bearkats were tabbed to finish fifth in the 2009 preseason Southland Conference softball poll voted upon by the league's head coaches.
"The team really believes we are going to place higher than fifth," head coach Bob Brock said. "We're going to be a stronger team at the plate this year and we'll have three outstanding pitchers. These young ladies have worked hard during the off season to improve. They're looking forward to starting the season and showing what they can do."
Other top players back for the Bearkats include catcher Casie Everitt, first base Amy Brown, second base Whitney Wilson, third base Sarah Parich and outfielders Lauren Burns, Amanda Lindsey, Janaye Richardson, Kendra Spivey and Alex Survant. All saw action as starters during the 2008 season.
In the pitcher's circle, Mikulin and Brandi Crnkovic return. Both are two-time All-Southland selections. Crnkovic was All-SLC and Southland Conference tournament "Most Valuable Player" in 2007.
Crnkovic begins the season ranked No. 2 in SHSU career strike outs with 426 in 106 games. She will pass Jennifer Delcambre (427 strike outs in 1992-95) as the all-time Bearkat leader with her second strike out this year.
Other returning players include outfielders Krystal Gay and Tffani Woodrum and infielders Holli Hatcher and Ashley Nelson.
The addition of several top newcomers will further strengthen the Bearkat lineup.
Tomi Garrison, a freshman from Garland, gives the Kats a third strong pitcher. Garrison was All-State Tournament and a Louisville Slugger All-America selection on state championship teams in high school.
Other top freshmen include Erin Burford of Austin, Brittany Gutierrez of Wharton, Karneisha Johnson of Lexington, KY, Ashley Newberry of LaPorte, Courtney Shoenemann of Spring and Calli Wood of Bryan. Junior Mandy Gegen, a transfer from Texas A&M, also joins the squad.
"This is going to be an exciting team to watch," Brock said. "We plan to be back in the thick of the Southland Conference race this year."
