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FEB. 15 vs SIMON FRASER: LIVE STATSLAS VEGAS, Nev. – Coming off an 11-39 season (7-30 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference), the Cowgirls softball team will look to move forward and challenge for a conference tournament berth this season.
"We're just looking forward to playing and seeing what we can do as we have a lot of new faces this year," second-year head coach
Karin Gadberry explained. "We have seven or eight returners, but we also have junior college players that will come in and make an immediate impact. I think that is the most important factor. We have Jacki and Jessica, who pitched fine last year, but we had too many errors and defensively did not do our job. I think that will help out Jacki and Jessica with the addition of Michelle, and we also have Gabi who could also see time on the mound. That will help our defense as it is a lot more solid. We have Kay-Kay as the anchor in centerfield, Nalani and Marissa will be up the middle. Jacki Solis will be able to play on the corner and we have Dekota returning back, so we have a big bopper in the lineup as well as Katelyn behind the plate.
"That is all really good mix to go out there. I think we will be able to play later in the game as we lost some games late last year," Gadebrry added.
Senior pitcher/utility player
Jacquelyn Wood will see time in the outfield, but it will be almost an entirely new outfield and infield. Junior
Dekota Monarrez will see time at first after switching from third last season. In 2014, she led the team in home runs with 11.
"We recruited Kay-Kay out of Midland, Texas, and is a true outfielder. Nalani and Marissa are middle infielders. Jacki Solis has played on the corner the whole time so it allows us to anchor Dekota over at first. Jacki Wood will pitch, but will still be a utility player as she will see time in the outfield, as well, to give us a fast outfield. Alysia has played in the outfield for a year, so she is getting the hang of it and will be a good addition to the outfield contingent as well.
Destiny Navarro will come in and be a true utility player as she can play in the corners, can play in the middle and also play in the outfield," Gadberry explained.
Sophomore
Katelyn Bates and freshman
Megan Thursby will hold down the catching duties. However, the Cowgirls will utilize the two catcher system thanks to two players who have different strengths.
"Katelyn and Megan will be our catchers. They are two different types of catchers and bring two different aspects to the game," Gadberry explained. "One is better at blocking while the other is better at throwing. One is more of a power hitter while one is more of a contact hitter.
"They are complete opposites, but yet, bring a good mix to our pitching staff," Gadberry added.
The infield will be young in 2015 as Monarrez, who went from third to first last season, will keep her first base duties. However, Cowgirls will be new at every other infield position with the additions of juniors
Nalani Hernandez and
Marissa Valencia. Junior
Jacquelyn Solis, Monarrez and freshman
Destiny Navarro will take the corners.
"The infield will be a staple with Nalani and Marissa up the middle," Gadberry said. "Jacki, Dekota and Destiny will all see times at the corners. Destiny may find herself playing up the middle depending on the situation. Besides Dekota returning, we have new infielders."
The outfield will also have a new flair to it with a mix of returners, notably pitcher
Jacquelyn Wood may see time as a utility outfielder.
"Kay-Kay will play centerfield, there is no doubt in my mind about that. We also have Destiny and Alysia and Jacki Wood. With the addition of Ashton, who is new and came from Luna, she and Destiny will switch between right field and left field. We're going to put out the best productive line-up we can in terms of speed and bats.
Amber Cordero is back and provides some pop in the lineup, which is good. Again, we have a really good mix that we can throw at a lot of teams."
As young as the team in in certain areas, the Cowgirls see plenty of experience in the circle in a four-year starter, senior
Jessica Brink, and senior
Jacki Wood, who transferred prior to last season and was named All-Conference Third Team as a utility player. Brink is 27-43 as a pitcher, including a 22-24 mark her first two seasons. Other players who may see mound time is freshman
Michelle Brincefield, sophomore
Gabby Hansell and junior
Isabel Villalobos.
"Our returning pitchers in Jacki and Jessica had a good fall. With those two, I think they are going to take up a lot of innings, but give Michelle an opportunity to go out there in situations where she can be successful," Gadberry explained. "She is a down ball pitcher so we have three different types of pitchers. Isabel is new to the team as she transferred from Salem International so she has experience in the postseason and being a starter. She can be in a multitude of roles. If we want here to start a game or if we want her in relief, I think she can do all those things.
"Gabi could pitch, but she is a utility player, so it is unlikely to go out there and see her pitch. Gabi adds another bat to the lineup. With our staff, it depends on who were playing who will go out there and pitch," Gadberry added.
The Cowgirls went the unusual route of just one week of competition before Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play begins next weekend.
"We decided to go to Vegas and then play at Eastern New Mexico as we would like to keep the midweek series with them, home and away every year," Gadberry explained. "We actually play a four game series at Oklahoma Panhandle so we are returning the visit from last year. Our schedule just works out with the weather because playing the first week in February is not always the best choice. We decided to not play the first weekend and play the four-game series over spring break against Oklahoma Panhandle instead of missing class and trying to play when it is 30 degrees outside."
After the five games in the other Vegas, the Cowgirls play a doubleheader at Eastern New Mexico Wednesday.
