January 15, 2007
The Texas A&M softball team reported for team meetings on Monday and is scheduled to begin practice for the 2007 season at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
?I?â„¢m really excited to start practice tomorrow,? commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. ?It?â„¢s going to be challenging with it being so cold and not being able to be outside in the first couple of days, but our indoor facility is terrific and we?â„¢ll get the work done in there that we need.?
The Aggies return 12 letterwinners from the 2006 squad that went 34-19 overall and 11-6 in Big 12 action. Included in the letterwinners are eight returning position starters and three pitchers.
Atop the list of returnees are NFCA All-Americans Megan Gibson and Amanda Scarborough. Gibson has racked up 30 home runs, putting her third all-time in the Aggie career record book. During her sophomore campaign, Gibson led the team in batting average (.311) while driving in a team-best 37 RBI off 10 doubles and 12 home runs. She was named to the 2006 Midwest Region All-Region and the All-Big 12 Conference teams. Gibson posted a 2.55 ERA with a 17-4 record in with circle.
Scarborough was selected to the All-Big 12 first team last season. She held the team lead in doubles (13), was second on the team, behind Gibson, in batting average (.305) and drove in 23 RBI. On the mound, Scarborough struck out 136 batters during 158.2 innings of work in 28 appearances. She had an overall record of 15-11 with a 2.47 ERA.
Sharonda McDonald who has patrolled the Aggie outfield for the past three seasons, is one of six seniors on the ?â„¢07 team. McDonald tied the NCAA?â„¢s most consecutive stolen base record last season (73). She is currently in the lead in the Aggie career record books for most stolen bases (116) and is third in runs scored (135).
Other seniors on this year?â„¢s squad include pitchers Lisa Gorzycki and Christina Smith, catcher Beverly Rowan and infielder Joy Davis.
Returning infielders include juniors Jamie Hinshaw, an All-Big 12 and all-region selection, Jami Lobpries and sophomores Holly Ridley and Patti Wunderlich. Joining McDonald in the outfield is last year?â„¢s left fielder Ronda Smith and Kristine Test.
?Our upperclassmen showed great leadership during fall workouts,? Evans continued. ?I think their leadership will serve us well in playing the difficult schedule we have lined-out.?
Coach Evans will look to five freshmen, Mandy Gegen (Houston, Texas), Macie Morrow (Missouri City, Texas), Alex Reynolds (Tomball, Texas), Bailey Schroeder (College Station, Texas) and Emily Shadow (Bellville, Texas) to replace the holes left by Rocky Spencer, Lindsay Park and Jill Weynand.
?With these five we add speed to our line-up, more power at the plate and overall athleticism to our team,? Evans said.
The Aggies kick-off the ?'07 season at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Friday, Feb. 9 when they meet Northwestern at 10 a.m. at the Tempe Sports Complex. A&M?â„¢s home opener takes place on Friday, Feb. 16 against the Arkansas Lady Backs in the opening round of the Aggie Classic. First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m. at Aggie Softball Complex.
A&M will host 23 of its 47 games in the friendly confines of the Aggie Softball Complex. Thirteen of the Aggies?â„¢ opponents this year made the NCAA Tournament in 2006, with four teams, UCLA, Texas, Northwestern and Arizona advancing to the Women?â„¢s College World Series in Oklahoma City. Arizona was crowned national champion.
?We have an incredibly demanding schedule,? Evans continued. ?It?â„¢s going to challenge us to say the least, but I think we have the talent to compete with anyone in the country. It?â„¢s exciting for our program to be able to match athletic ability with the best teams in the nation.?
Evans, who owns a 366-209-2 record heading into her 11th season at the helm of the Aggie softball program, is joined by associate head coaches Joy Jackson (10th season) and Mary Jo Firnbach (first season).
?I think its going to be a great season,? Evans concluded. ?We have a lot of talent and great depth at all positions. We have players competing really hard against each other for positions; which is only going to make our team better.?
For season or individual ticket information, please contact the 12th Man Ticket Office at (979) 845-2311 or (888) 99-AGGIE. Fans can also purchase tickets by going to the official website for Texas A&M Athletics, AggieAthletics.com.