SB: Freshmen featured as leaders in 2015
4/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 23, 2015
By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike
ARLINGTON, Texas -- With just two Sun Belt series remaining on the UT Arlington softball schedule, the Mavericks freshmen have grown into leaders.
UTA features five freshmen on its roster in 2015, including two pitchers. Despite returning a full lineup from the previous season, four of the freshmen have made their way into regular starting roles after exploding onto the UTA scene with their play.
Sandra Mendoza, a second baseman from Eagle Pass, is in a chase with senior Nina Villanueva for the all-time runs record. The pair are the first UTA players to record over 50 runs in a season.
"It is very exciting," Mendoza said. "Coming out as a freshman and getting to play I am excited to be out here every day. I like to work hard and bond with the girls. It has been very fun out here."
Mendoza doesn't see much difference between playing in high school and college due to her love of the game. The biggest change is dealing with here time off the field.
"It isn't a challenge but more stressful to have to study on your own," Mendoza said. "There is tutoring and the athletic program has provided a lot for us. Having to study on my own time, around practice time and class, it has been a challenge sometimes."
Centerfielder Haley Henson has also made an adjustment going from high school to UTA.
"It is a step up from high school," Henson said. "The pitching is a lot faster with more movement and you have to adjust and work hard to make adjustments."
Henson is hitting .327 and has started in 36 of the teams 49 games, sharing time with sophomore Jolene Schaefer in the outfield.
The pitching staff has been rebuilt with three newcomers. As the season has gone along, the roles have become more defined as each has settled into their strengths.
"It has been a learning process," freshman Taylor Simmonds said. "We have all learned together because we have a new pitching coach, too. We are all paving the way, and we will keep on adjusting and adapting and keep on improving throughout the next few years."
Sophomores Brittany May and Baylor transfer Sam Montes were the lone pitchers with experience in the collegiate level, something that Simmonds said has helped in the growth of the group.
"Sam has been my biggest role model," Simmonds said. "With us both being pitchers we are very close. I look up to a lot of other players, but especially her because she is always there and helping us make any decisions."
In the infield, Mendoza has mentors all around here. Mendoza take different aspects of their games to incorporate into hers.
"Nina's eyes when she bats are awesome," Mendoza said. "Meagan Michele's passion off the field, the way she talks about how she loves the game, I admire that."
As the team prepares to wrap up the 2015 regular season and head into the Sun Belt Championship, leadership no longer comes from just the upperclassmen, but from a young core which carries a bright future for UTA softball.
