2005 BYU Softball Season Outlook
The Cougars enter the 2005 season with great anticipation. BYU softball continued its winning ways with a 34-18 record last season, showing consistency with a win streak of six games and three 4-game winning skeins.
BYU returns 11 letter winners after losing seven players, but welcomes five newcomers that include two transfers and three freshmen.
"Our focus this year was to strengthen our defense and shore up our pitching, with the depth in our pitching staff and overall experience on the team, our defense should be much more sound. As a team we have great balance. With a blend of speed and power, and so many starters returning, we should continue to stay strong. Right now we have great team chemistry and look forward to an exciting season.
-Head Coach, Gordon Eakin
HISTORY
The softball program which was upgraded to NCAA division I status in 2000, has continually made positive strides towards excellence. In only the second season of the programs existence, the Cougars won both the MWC regular season and tournament titles and made its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, as well as winning conference, regional and national accolades.
Since the BYU environment attracts many student athletes for reasons other than just sports, the program has been able to draw from a gifted pool of athletes who want the whole package.
"We're recipients of good softball talent," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We have the advantage of the draw, which has helped us get out to such a quick start."
With a talented team returning and the high level of talent coming in, the Cougars will continue to refine their excellent reputation in the softball world.
PITCHING
Head softball coach Gordon Eakin said he believes that the depth and experience BYU is bringing to the mound this year will make the Cougars as strong as they have ever been. With a combination of youth and experience the team should be able to keep opponents on their heels. Senior Niki Anderson and junior Brook Boyce are the BYU veterans. Anderson finished last season with an 18-7 record posting a 2.14 ERA with Boyce having a 13-8 record posting a 1.73 ERA. Cougar newcomer Summer Tobias, a transfer from the University of Nebraska, posted impressive numbers there. Tobias, a junior, comes to BYU as one of the top pitching prospects out of high school 2 years ago. Also new this year is freshman Daniella Urincho. In Coach Eakin's opinion, Urincho was the top pitching prospect coming out of high school last year.
INFIELD
This season, the infield is anchored on the corners by returning junior starters Neta Le`i at first base and Ashlyn Russell at third. Sophomore walk-on, Ranae Clarke looks to backup Le`i and Russell. Sophomore Jodi Norton, with a year under her belt, will start again at shortstop. Her experience will enhance the Cougars up the middle. Senior Debbie Dodds will handle second base. Dodds, who started at centerfield last year has worked hard and acclimated herself to second base. Junior Paige Paramore will have some time at second early in the season, but Dodds looks to take the primary role. Senior Lauren Watson-Perry, and Paramore have great experience behind the plate at catcher, which is necessary to manage the excellent pitching staff. Freshman Emi Snow shows great promise and will get some experience at catcher as well so she will be ready to go next year.
OUTFIELD
There is great depth in the outfield. Sophomore Jennifer Whiteley will be the starting centerfielder with sophomore Krystle Chamberlain and senior Ariel Capra primarily in left field. Chamberlain has game-changing speed, ideal for a left fielder. Capra, who up until this year has been a pitcher for the Cougars, but after rotator cuff surgery has made the transition to the outfield. Freshman Lindy Kennedy will spend time in right field with the team looking for big things from her in the future. Periodically throughout the season, Urincho when not pitching will work the outfield along with Watson-Perry and Paramore when not catching. They will be needed in the lineup for their offensive ability. Senior Milli Jones will also use her speed, versatility, and experience to bolster the Cougar outfield.
OFFENSIVELY
Coach Eakin said he expects the team to be great offensively this year. "We have always been powerful offensively. "We expect to score runs, and this year is no different. However, this year with added experience at the plate we expect to be even more potent on offense,"
STADIUM
BYU houses the one-of-a-kind mirrored-image softball/baseball complex that was made possible by primary donors Larry and Gail Miller, together with Sy and Betty Kimball.
Gail Miller Field is one of the top softball facilities in the nation, measuring 210 feet down the left and right lines and 220 feet in centerfield. The 2,100 capacity softball stadium is the fourth-largest-on-campus NCAA softball facility in the country, behind Fresno State (5,767), Oregon (3,000), and Arizona (2,500).
The stadium features all stadium seats, a press box, locker rooms, laundry issue rooms, training rooms, indoor batting cages and state-of-the-art scoreboards.
"Our stadium is the nicest facility in the country," Eakin said. "Not only is everything state-of-the-art, but everything is in-house."