FALL BALL BEGINS
9/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Sept. 23, 2006
TYLER, Texas - The UT Arlington softball team begins its fall schedule Saturday when they meet UT-Tyler for three games beginning at 11:40 a.m.
The games are a tune up to the 2007 season and do not count as an official contest by the NCAA. Nevertheless, the games serve as an opportunity for head coach Debbie Nichols-Hedrick to see the improve of returnees from last season and as a first look at the six newcomers on this season's squad.
"(The games) will give us a chance to play everyone as see where we need improvement and who will be able to step up and playa for us right away," said Hedrick.
UTA will have their top three hitters from last season returning in '07 -- Katie Jones, Dee Jay Nelson and Courtni Anderson. Each batted an average of .318 or better and played in at least 50 games this year. Collectively, they tallied 163 hits, 38 extra base hits and 80 RBI. Nelson set the single-season record for home runs with eight as the team set a school record 31 in 2006.
Junior pitcher Laura Jones returns after a successful season where she earned all-conference honors. The Class of 2006 is impressive on paper with the six-member class consisting 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).
The remainder of the fall schedule includes UTA hosting Odessa College Sept. 30 for three, six-inning games, McLennan Community College at noon on Oct. 14 at Allan Saxe Field and Bossier Parish JC for an Oct. 15 doubleheader in Shreveport, La.
