Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team will open defense of its American Southwest Conference West Division title with a pair of road doubleheaders this weekend. The Cru will open the 2012 season with a 1:00 PM doubleheader at Southwestern University in Georgetown on Friday before closing out the first week of action with a 1:00 PM doubleheader at U.T.-Tyler on Saturday.
UMHB returns nine letter winners, five starters and two pitchers from a team that finished 28-14 overall last season. The Cru posted a 21-3 record in ASC play to win its fourth West Division title in the last five years and the Cru has won six West Division crowns overall. UMHB will have six All-West Division selections returning to form the nucleus of the team. Third baseman
Caitlin Bollier (Jr., Kerrville Tivy), second baseman
Kaysie Creech (Jr., Brazoswood) and designated player/pitcher
Hannah White (Jr., Robinson) were all First Team All-West Division picks. Outfielder
Caitlin Wells (Sr., Spring) was a Second Team selection and catcher
Chandler Henson (So., Van Alstyne) and pitcher
Ariel Kemmerer took Honorable Mention All-West honors.
White and Kemmerer are the top returners on the pitching staff. Kemmerer went 8-5 with a 2.76 ERA while an injury kept White out of the circle for much of last season.
Kirstie Curry (Sr., Friendswood) pitched well in relief duty and will join newcomer
Rebekah Ragsdale (Jr., West Orange-Stark) in helping replace departed ace
Erica White.
Bollier, Creech, White and Wells should once again highlight the offense for the Cru. White hit 10 home runs and batted .372 last season. Bollier will likely move to shortstop this season after hitting .365 with 30 RBI as a third baseman last year. Creech batted .313 while Wells hit .359 and tied for the team lead with 13 stolen bases. Henson is an outstanding defensive catcher and also hit .241 last season.
Ashton Feight (Sr., Robinson) is a versatile player who batted .214 last season and could play her way into the starting line-up at a variety of positions.
Laura Sotiropoulos (Sr., Houston Waltrip) can also play multiple positions and has a chance to play a larger role after batting .385 as a reserve last season. The Cru will also rely on a deep and talented class of newcomers to fill holes in the starting line-up and provide depth off the bench.
The coaching staff of head coach
Larry Hennig and assistant coach
Julie Norris returns for a second season after earning ASC West Division coaching staff of the year honors last season. Possibly the biggest newcomer to the UMHB softball program is the addition of lights at Dee Dillon Field. The Cru will open the home schedule and play the first on campus night game in school history as part of a 4:00 PM doubleheader against East Texas Baptist University on Thursday, February 23
rd. UMHB will open ASC West Division play with a home doubleheader against Concordia Texas on March 9
th at 4:00 PM.
