The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Softball Season Preview: Pitchers & Catchers
2/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 7, 2011
This is the first segment of a three-part series previewing the 2011 UAB softball team. Monday's segment features the pitchers and catchers. Tuesday, UABsports.com will highlight the infielders.
UAB returns three pitchers from last season in senior Alisha Smith, junior Amber Torres and sophomore Lauren Webster. The trio, which helped lead the Blazers to the program's first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, concluded the 2010 slate with a 2.09 team ERA to rank 30th in the nation.
"We will have a lot of depth this year," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "Having a senior pitcher, along with a junior, a sophomore and then two freshmen pitchers is a great position to be in. They really complement each other and they are working hard together to show improvement."
Webster owned a 17-5 record and was a perfect 7-0 in league play last season. The Mathews, Ala., product recorded a 1.77 ERA in 33 appearances and finished the season ranked 12th in the nation after allowing just 1.16 walks per seven innings. The right-handed pitcher set UAB single-season records for opponent batting average (.200), saves (4) and walks allowed per game (1.16).
After a successful season in the circle, Webster was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division 1 All-Region Second Team. She also was the recipient of Conference USA's Freshman of the Year Award and was tabbed to the All-C-USA Second Team and the league's All-Freshman Team.
Smith made 38 appearances and 26 starts for the Blazers in 2010. The right-handed pitcher finished the season with a 14-14 record and 1.96 ERA. She struck out 168 batters and had two saves. The Springville, Ala., product was named C-USA's Newcomer of the Year and was a second-team All-C-USA selection.
Torres compiled a 6-3 record and posted a 3.13 ERA in 18 appearances. She fanned 50 batters in 71.2 innings pitched.
Last year's experienced pitchers will be joined by newcomers Leigh Streetman and Lannah Campbell in 2011. Streetman led her team to the 2010 Alabama Class 6A title and was named the Class 6A Pitcher of the Year by the Birmingham News and the Alabama Sports Writers Association in both 2009 and 2010. Campbell was selected to the 2010 all-region team by the Mobile Press Register.
"Alisha and Lauren had great success last year and Amber is throwing extremely well," Townsend said. "But then we've got our freshman Leigh, who is one of the top high school pitchers to come out the state of Alabama, and our other freshman Lannah, a left-handed pitcher, so it's going to be exciting.
"The first several outings will dictate the number of innings that they will be throwing, especially when we get to conference," Townsend said. "I don't have a clear-cut frontrunner at this point. We are looking for the most consistent pitcher and one that will shut down the opponent."
Behind the plate, UAB returns last year's starter, junior standout Mandy Lowman. The Huntsville, Ala., product was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division 1 All-Region First Team for the Mideast Region. She was a first-team All-C-USA selection and finished the season ranked third in the league with 44 RBI. Lowman also ranked sixth in batting average (.343) and on-base percentage (.432). She set a UAB single-season RBI record and recorded 15 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games.
Junior Erica Sisson, who typically plays first base for the Blazers, will also serve as Lowman's backup at catcher, along with sophomores Anna Kimbrell and Issa Brown.
"We've got a lot of depth at the catcher position also, but Mandy is clearly the frontrunner," Townsend said. "She's got a quick release, we've been working on her speed, and her bat speaks for itself. She's still trying to improve on various skills, but she's a hard worker and we expect good things out of her."
