SOFTBALL NEWCOMERS BRING CRED
8/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Aug. 3, 2006
UT Arlington Head Softball Coach Debbie Nichols-Hedrick will look at six freshman during the fall to find replacements in key spots - primarily the loss of three-time all-Southland Conference pitcher Jill Garro.
Although only on paper, the class of 2006 appears ready to make an immediate impact after completing solid prep careers.
The six-member class consists of all-state pitchers Cara Hulme (Van, Texas), Heather Fortenberry (Mesquite, Texas) and Casey Clifton (Longview, Texas), catcher/third baseman Heather Collie (Richland Hills, Texas), catcher Samantha Chumchal (Brazoswood, Texas) and outfielder Brittany Washington (Mesquite, Texas).
"We are going to give the young players plenty of opportunity to come in and work their way into the lineup," said Hedrick who needs seven victories to overtake Randy Porter (248-168-2) for the most coaching wins in UT Arlington history. "Our new pitchers will have the fall to adjust to the Division I-level of pitching. It is a tough transition, but I think we have some mentally tough kids who can take the next step."
Fortenberry was named to the 2006 Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) Class 4A All-State Team after compiling a 15-4 record and an 0.57 earned-run average. She also hit .430 with 10 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 10 RBI for the District 11-4A champion Mesquite Poteet High School. In her prep career, she compiled a record of 71-27 with 854 strikeouts in 656 2/3 innings pitched. Offensively, she is a career .357 hitter with 40 extra base hits and 76 RBI.
Hulme was on the Class 3A first team of the Collin Street Bakery/Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) 2006 All-State Softball Team. She was named the 1-3A Softball Athlete-of-the-Year by the TGCA, to the All-East Texas Softball Team "MVP" by the Tyler Morning Telegraph and the District 15-3A MVP for the second straight season after a 28-6 record, an 0.47 ERA, 361 strikeouts, three perfect games, five no-hitters and 20 shutouts in 252 innings. She also batted .323 with eight doubles, two home runs and 17 RBI.
Clifton was named to the Class 5A Honorable Mention list on the TSWA All-State Softball Team. She was named the District 12-5A Pitcher of the Year and the All-East Texas second team by the Tyler Morning Telegraph after an 8-10 record with a 1.63 ERA, 177 strikeouts in 110.3 innings. As a junior she went 15-15 with 265 strikeouts and an 0.90 ERA to be named to the all-East Texas team. She was named all-state at third base following her sophomore year and all-state at first base her freshman season for the Longview Lobos.
Chumchal helped Clute Brazoswood to a 31-4 record and to the school's second state tournament appearance. She was named first-team all-district and second-team all-County by the Brazosport Facts after batting .253. She was a member of the Brazoswood High School Powerlifting Team and finish second in the state at the 175-pound class.
Collie was named the District 5-5A Catcher of the Year as a senior and Washington is an athlete who hit a lead-off home run in Mesquite High's 3-2 win over North Mesquite in the Class 5A Region II quarterfinals.
UT Arlington is coming off a 32-22 campaign and a third-place finish in the SLC. The Mavericks advanced to the championship game of the SLC Postseason Tournament before falling to Texas-San Antonio.
UT Arlington opens the season Feb. 9, 2007, at the University of Houston Tournament. The home opener at Allan Saxe Field is Feb. 24, 2007 versus Pittsburgh.
- utamavs.com -
