University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Softball Opens 2005 Season This Week
1/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The 2005 Mean Green will have a different look in its second season in the new era of North Texas softball. A new coach, nine newcomers and a new approach to the game has been added to the mix. These ingredients combined with 12 returning letterwinners equates for a promising spring season.
Head coach Kelly Burns has a long-term season goal for the team to win the Sun Belt Conference Championship after last year’s squad finished fifth. With the introduction of mental training this past fall, Burns also has short-term goals for the players.
"We are going to play the game one pitch at a time," said Burns. "We are going to try to win the battle at the plate one pitch at a time, then one at-bat at a time and one inning at a time. If you win every inning, you can win the game. The key to my philosophy is to teach the players how to stay under control. Control the controllables."
In addition to the mental aspect of the game, Burns also changed up the team’s hitting style. "Hitting is going to be the No. 1 difference in our game this year," said Burns. The coaching staff switched the player’s batting style to a rotational approach, giving the players more power. At the last fall tournament, the team posted 28 hits, five of which were singles. The others were extra-base hits.
Four seniors will lead this spring’s team. Brittiny Chapman, Stephanie Cranmer, Mandy Hacker and Nicole Rodriguez represent the softball squad’s first graduating class at North Texas. All four played a valuable role in NT’s first year of softball. Cranmer was named all-conference after getting a hot bat late in the season, Hacker handled a bulk of the pitching duties and Chapman and Rodriguez helped anchor an infield that turned 30 double plays last season.
"I have been very fortunate to come into this program and have a great group of student-athletes," said Burns. "Not just good athletes but good people. That makes a world of difference. They are very coachable and eager. The seniors are a big part of that because they are leaders. They are always wanting to hit more, field more and just do that extra bit on their own. You can tell they have that desire and that drive to be better."
INFIELD
The Mean Green returns an infield that is almost completly intact from last year, depending on the return of Chapman from a knee injury. The infield is bolstered by a crop of freshmen who will push the upperclassmen for quality time at all the positions.
Sophomore Heather Bostic returns as the veteran at first base. The Oklahoma native can scoop anything out of the dirt and also has a powerful bat, according to Burns. Bostic led the team last year in fielding percentage (.988) and was second behind Cranmer in most offensive categories, including batting average (.274) and hits (59).
Burns is excited about freshman Kristina Fowler who had a tremendous fall season. She is a talented corner, said Burns, who can play first or third. Fowler will also see action on the mound for the Mean Green.
Rodriguez will hold down second base for North Texas. A vocal, upbeat player, Rodriguez was part of an infield last year that turned 30 double plays. NT finished 17th in the nation in double plays per game average (.38).
Chapman started 74 games at shortstop last year. After sustaining a knee injury, she is expected to return in late Februay. Freshman Katya Muller played a lot of short during the fall season and did an outstanding job, according to Burns.
Sophomore Susan Waters is rock solid at third base, said Burns. "She has more determination in her eyes than I have seen in a ballplayer in a long time. She is tremendous at the plate and will hit in the four spot for us."
Waters recorded NT’s first hit in the new era of softball last year with a long ball against Texas A&M. The Oklahoma native led the team with nine home runs.
Sophomore Maureen Kelley returns as a valuable versatile player for the Mean Green. She saw action last year at the corners, the designated player and was successful as a pinch hitter.
OUTFIELD
Burns will have many options with this year’s outfield. She has a pool of nine players to choose from for a lineup. "The outfield is going to be a battle. A lot of the student-athletes are fundamentally sound, and I would be comfortable with several mixtures in the outfield. What it is going to come down to is who is getting the job done at the plate."
Cranmer, a first-team All-Sun Belt selection, started 71 games at left field. Cranmer led the team in batting average (.287) and hits (66) last season."Stephanie has a great arm, does a great job at the plate and runs the bases very well," said Burns.
Junior Kelei Walker has all the tools, according to the head coach. She has speed. "She will make catches that you would think no one would make." She can hit. "At the plate, she has the ability to lay the ball down as well as hit the ball out of the park." Walker is also a good, vocal leader in the outfield after starting 71 games last year at centerfield.
Sophomores Monica Garcia and Katy Maxey both saw action in right field last year. Burns has seen a vast improvement in Garcia’s hitting and will look for her to hit for some power this season. Maxey saw action in the outfield and on the mound in 2004. "Katy is a smart ballplayer," said Burns. "She is one of the best utility players I have ever had the privilege of working with."
Katy was named second-team All-Sun Belt last year. She also was named to the conference all-tournament team and was selected to three all-tournament teams during the regular season.
Sophomore Danielle Rupp adds support to the outfield after walking onto the team last year. As a utility player, Rupp will see action in the outfield and as a catcher.
Burns also has three newcomers to choose from, including two transfers. Adams, a transfer from Texarkana, brings a lot of speed to the lineup. "She made catches last year at Texarkana that I didn’t think anyone could get," said Burns. Her best attribute is that she will sprint to every ball. She will not slow down."
Junior Katie Pauley practiced last year with North Texas but was not eligible to play. She started her collegiate career with Indiana State. Pauley is hitting with much more power this year, according to Burns. "She can play the short game and can now hit for power."
Jonna Williams, a freshman out of Fort Worth, and Taylor Johnston, a freshman from Carrollton, will also figure into the outfield mix. Burns also sees Williams with pinch hitting and designated player duties, while Johnston will see time as a designated player.
CATCHERS
The catching position returns an experienced veteran and adds much-needed depth. Jonse saw most of the action last year behind the plate, starting 70 games. A lefty, Jonse hit a few home runs during the fall season and Burns expects big things from Jonse at the plate as well as behind the plate.
Sophomore Cristy DeLaRosa will compete for quality minutes. A transfer from Texarkana, DeLaRosa also has the potential to hit for power and does a nice job picking runners off. Burns believes the more vocal leader who is getting the job done at the plate will win the battle.
Rupp and Johnston will also help out with catching in addition to their other roles.
PITCHING
Hacker and Maxey return to the mound for the Mean Green. The duo pitched the majority of the games last year and will be assisted this season by three newcomers. Hacker started the team’s opening game against Texas A&M and went on to win six games in the circle. Maxey secured the victory in NT’s first win of the season against Northwood. She helped the Mean Green to an opening win in the SBC tournament with a complete-game shutout, 2-0, against Western Kentucky.
Freshmen Fowler and Morgan Monte are expected to make an impact. Monte will be a huge help to the staff in relief. She came in relief several times during the fall and shut teams down, said Burns. Annalyn Hollingsworth, a transfer from Arizona, is a finesse pitcher and will move the ball around a lot.
Burns plans on each of the five pitchers playing a role in the spring season. Hacker and Maxey will provide the leadership with help from the other three.
The upcoming schedule is once again filled with some of the top teams in the country. The Mean Green faces three teams that were ranked in the 2004 USA Today/NFCA Final Top 25 Poll and five teams from the Big XII.
"I think it is important to play top teams," said Burns. "I think that is how you get better. We are lucky where we are located we can play a tough schedule and not have to do a lot of extensive travel."
North Texas opens the season with a scrimmage against Texas Woman’s on Feb. 3 and will start its regular season at Texas A&M on Feb. 4 for the second straight year. The Mean Green will participate in four tournaments, including the second annual Betlin Mean Green Classic on Feb. 25-27 at Denia Park, which is also NT’s home opener.
