The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Ready for Challenging Season
1/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 27, 2009
With an infusion of talented youth and seasoned veterans, the 2009 UAB softball team is poised to surpass expectations and battle for a spot at the top of the conference. Head coach Marla Townsend senses the potential the season holds and can sum it up with one word.
"The keyword would be excitement," said Townsend. "Because of the newcomers we have and what they bring to the table, along with the leadership that we have with the upperclassmen, this season is going to be exciting."
Six starters return for the Green and Gold including two 2008 Conference USA All-Freshman team award winners. Added to the mix will be three other letterwinners along with eight newcomers.
"We are an extremely young team," said Townsend. `"But you couldn't look and separate the freshmen from the upperclassmen. They fit in so well. They are extremely intelligent ladies who `get it'. They understand what we are doing and where we are heading."
Last season was disappointing for the Blazers, but the team has embraced the shortcomings from a year ago.
"They look at last year," Townsend said, "and they have learned so much from it. There is nothing negative that they have taken from it. We are hoping to bring the things we learned last season and strive for excellence this year."
Pitching Staff
The Blazers return one pitcher from a year ago with Kayla Harris. But due to offseason shoulder surgery, Harris' return to the line up will be delayed. Therefore, UAB will have to rely on some fresh new faces to toe the rubber.
Expected to take the pitching duties will be freshmen Lindsay Croft and Amber Torres, along with college transfer Sara Swepston.
"We will be calling on them. But we are very encouraged after the fall that each one of them had. We think we have a rotation that can win."
The pitching styles of each newcomer will make for a useful and unique pitching combination. Croft and Torres complement each other well while Swepston can really mix it up with a variety of pitches.
Catcher
As a staple behind the plate over the past three seasons, Andrea Rogers will once again return to the catcher position. But she will be giving up playing time to freshman Mandy Lowman.
"Mandy came in and with her performance at the plate during the fall, her knowledge of the game and her ability to work with the pitchers will be the reason why she is starting off the season back there."
But there could be multiple faces donning the mask for the Blazers. Four players could be called to fill the role if needed, including Rogers, Lowman, freshman Erica Sisson and sophomore Kayla Orr.
"The depth we have at the catcher position is incredible," said Townsend. "Having four-deep at the catcher spot is a good problem to have."
Infield
UAB's infield will be revamped for the 2009 season. Players have been asked to take on new roles and positions with the results surprising and impressing Townsend and her staff.
"We've got a combination of experience and youth in the infield," said Townsend. "We're really excited about the possibilities."
Some of the possibilities will include Rogers spending most of her playing time at first base. Also, junior Cameron Skates will be sharing time at third base, where she started 56 games last season, and taking on a new role at second base. Kayla Orr will be featured at shortstop, with 2008 C-USA all-freshman Laura Callaway, splitting time at first and third base.
"We've got some exciting possibilities at the corners," Townsend said. "It is something we have not had over the past couple of years. Cameron has handled the transition between the two different positions really well. Andrea and Kayla have also stepped into their new positions and have been quite impressive."
But the Blazers' infield still has a wealth of talent to draw from. Sophomore Amanda Allen will see time at first base. Sophomore Natalie Mitchell and freshman Maegan Hornsby will be battling for playing time at second and sophomore Donna Plath will be in the rotation at third. Freshman Catherine Douglass will provide Orr with a back up at shortstop.
Outfield
The Blazers' outfield will also feature players who might spend time at more than one position. Leading the way will be redshirted junior Martina Landrum in centerfield. Landrum missed all of last season due to injury, but has not missed a beat since returning to the field.
"It's so nice to have Martina back," said Townsend "She'll definitely be the one in charge. She'll be the voice that's heard on the field. She's hungry and ready to get out there."
C-USA all-freshman selection Caley Walden will return to the outfield, but her return could be hampered due to an offseason injury. Douglass will step in during Walden's absence in left field with right field being filled by Allen and freshman Tiffany Smith. But the possibilities don't end there.
"We could see a lot of people playing right field," said Townsend. "If they are going to hit, we are going to find them a spot. Right field could be that spot."
Lineup
The batting order for UAB will be a mixture of speed at top and bottom of the lineup with the middle being field with a variety of power hitters.
"We are going to have some speed up front and where we are at in the middle will probably be the strongest lineup in our history."
Expected to be leading off will be Landrum, followed by Douglass in the two-hole. Slots three through eight will feature a combination of Rogers, Lowman, Skates, Orr, Allen and Callaway. Rogers currently holds the UAB career record for home runs (23), slugging percentage (.482) and on base percentage (.438). If she proves once again to be major threat at bat she could capture career school records in RBI, hits, runs and total bases.
"We are really excited about Andrea," Townsend said. "She had a great fall. Catherine Douglass also proved to be a productive hitter during the fall. She has many dimensions to her game that she can bring to the plate."
In all the Blazers return 59 percent of their RBI and 54 percent of their run production from last season.
Schedule
UAB will play a total of 52 games in 2009 with 22 of those games coming against competition that advanced to last year's NCAA regional field. In all the Blazers will face 10 teams that made it to postseason play, including Hawaii, LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, Chattanooga, Mississippi State and C-USA rivals UCF, Houston, Tulsa and East Carolina.
"This is what we wanted," said Townsend. "We choose to play this level of ball. My challenge has been to them that they rise to that level. It doesn't matter what we did last year. Our results from last year don't affect us this year."
The season will begin with the Blazers traveling to Hawaii to take part in the Hawaii Paradise Classic. They will follow that up with two more non-conference tournaments with LSU's Purple and Gold Challenge and by hosting the 9th Annual Magic City Classic.
"We want to be the first UAB softball team to go to the postseason. We want to face the tough levels of competition, so when we get to C-USA we will have already been there. We know we have to work hard to get to that point but we want to keep playing after the conference tournament. It starts now."
To open conference play UAB will host Southern Miss and also play East Carolina, UTEP and Marshall at home for three-game series. It will travel to Houston, Memphis and Tulsa after opening the road conference season at UCF.
The Blazers will play home and away series with Alabama and Alabama A&M while squaring off in non-conference doubleheaders at home against Saint Louis and Chattanooga and on the road for Kennesaw State and Troy.
"I expect us to compete in every game we are in. With the fall we had, it was a very rewarding. Players stepped it up and rose to the occasion. We want that every game."
