PROVO -- Optimism rings loud for BYU softball as the Cougars enter the 2006 season coming off their best year in program history.
Champions of the Mountain West Conference regular season and tournament, the '05 squad recorded a program-best 45-14 record while going 16-2 in conference play. BYU earned a trip to the NCAA Regionals and recorded an upset victory over No. 2 California.
The Cougars enter this season determined to be even better in 2006. BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said this year's team is special.
"This team knows they belong among the best teams in the nation now," he said. "They are fearless and want to show they are for real."
Having only two starters graduate from the 2005 team, BYU will enter the season with an experienced and talented squad. The Cougars have a unique mix of speed and power coupled with a strong defensive squad and possibly their best pitching rotation ever.
"Certainly we have the core of last season's team back," Eakin said. "This is the deepest team we've ever had as far as speed, power and depth are concerned."
BATTING
BYU lost its most efficient hitter of '05 with the graduation of Lauren Perry. Perry posted a .421 batting average, good for 14th best in the nation. Also gone is Debbie Dodds who finished the season hitting .392 in MWC play. Dodds and Perry will contribute to the 2006 team as graduate assistants.
"We can't replace what those girls brought to our team," Eakin said.
Fortunately for the Cougars, the well isn't dried up when it comes to good hitting. The nation's sixth best scoring team (5.88 runs per game) in 2005 will have an arsenal of offensive weapons in 2006. Ianeta Le`i, 2005 second-team Easton All-American, returns for the Cougars. Le`i batted .346 with 10 home runs and 53 RBI. She was 25th in the nation with .93 RBI per game.
Not far behind Le`i in RBI production, Paige Paramore drove in 50 runs while posting a .348 average. Paramore's batting average is the best among all BYU returners. She also led the Cougars last season with 13 doubles.
BYU will have plenty of power with the return of Le`i, Paramore and slugger Ashlyn Russell. Russell led the Cougars with 17 homers last season, good for 27th in the nation. Russell also was third on the team in RBI, driving home 47.
In front of the power and run production, BYU also returns good speed and experienced base runners. Jennifer Whitely led the Cougars in triples with four and successfully stole eight bases in 11 attempts. Krystle Chamberlain was 11-for-13 in base stealing attempts.
"Krystle and Jennifer are productive left-handed slap hitters and add excellent speed to our team," Eakin said.
PITCHING/DEFENSE
"We have always been a good hitting team," Eakin said. "But, this season our strength will be our pitching."
BYU returns its best three pitchers from last season. Summer Tobias, who transferred to BYU from Nebraska last season, led the Cougars in wins (19), ERA (1.73) and saves (5). Tobias best demonstrated her dominance when she hurled a perfect game March 30, 2005, against Utah Valley State.
Tobias is joined by veteran Brooke Boyce Humbert and sophomore Daniella Urincho. Humbert holds many of the Cougars all-time pitching records. She is coming of a solid season where she went 8-4 with a 3.57 ERA.
Urincho is the reigning MWC tournament MVP. She had the best winning percentage (.842) among BYU pitchers last year, posting a 16-3 record. Urincho also struck out 81 batters in 125.2 innings while sporting a 1.89 ERA.
"Dani (Urincho) was dominant at the end of the season last year," Eakin said.
Eakin said defense will be another stronghold for the '06 Cougars.
"This year's team will be probably the best defensive team we've had here," he said. "We have a lot of speed in our outfield and a lot of experience in the infield."
NEWCOMERS
As if having a plethora of experienced talent returning wasn't enough, BYU has a number of incoming prospects with a lot of talent and bright futures. Topping the list are transfers Tracee Hoch and Cortney Nix.
Hoch transferred to the Cougars after a stellar junior college career. Hoch was a junior college All-American who will likely make an immediate impact playing second base. Hoch will replace the departed Dodds. Nix transferred from the University of Arizona and will team up with Paramore to fill the void left behind the plate with the graduation of Perry.
BYU also welcomes one of the most highly recruited high school players in infielder Andrea Ramirez. Ramirez was the Los Angeles Times high school MVP last season while playing at Royal High School in Simi Valley, Calif.
Monica Gonzales, also from Southern California, looks to contribute to the Cougars early and often. Gonzales will battle for playing time in the outfield and adds excellent speed and slap hitting ability.
"Andi (Ramirez) has the potential to be one of the best players in collegiate softball," Eakin said. "And Monica led our team in hitting in the fall and will see significant playing time right away."
SCHEDULE
BYU opens its season with tournament trips to Honolulu, Las Vegas, Houston, College Station, Tex. and Palo Alto, Calif. Eakin said it will be another season full of quality opponents.
"We have another challenging schedule this year," he said. "We will play a lot of Top-25 teams and our conference will have more parity."
Included in the Cougars' schedule are perennial powerhouses like Texas A&M, Stanford and Oregon State, all three of which Eakin feels will be ranked in the Top-10.
The home schedule begins March 30 for BYU when the Cougars welcome conference foe UNLV to Gail Miller Field. BYU will play 15 home games, including contests against in-state opponents Utah, Utah State, Southern Utah and Utah Valley State.
The Cougars expect an exciting season while looking to win the conference and make a return trip to the NCAA Regionals and beyond.
"This is a determined bunch of girls, they will be a fun group to watch," Eakin said.