The North Texas Softball Preview: The Outfield

DENTON (2/5/08) - The North Texas softball team opens its fifth season of play on Saturday, Feb. 9 with the Quality Inn &

Suites/Point Bank Invitational at Lovelace Stadium. The Mean Green will host Creighton on Saturday at 3 pm in its season opener.

The Outfield

While the infield is experienced, the outfield is a little green. Two freshmen, Renae Bromley and Mariza Martinez are hoping to be mainstays in right and center field this spring after an impressive fall. Martinez stood out offensively as a good candidate for the lead-off position. Both Bromley and Martinez add speed and arm strength to the outfield as well.

A graduated Monica Garcia has opened a spot in leftfield where senior Lauren Bergstrom, who became the starter in centerfield the second half of last season, spent most of her time in the fall. Her fellow senior Jonna Williams, who saw time in the outfield the past two seasons, will be working for a more consistent spot in both left and right field.

Junior Kadie Platt spent the majority of her time in right field in the fall but could be seeing more time at second base in the spring after head coach T.J. Hubbard made the move in the late fall.

For the first time, the softball team has a full-time outfield coach, and the difference was evident in the fall. Former Oklahoma standout Erin Evans is one of NT’s two new assistant coaches. She has taught a mentality and aggressiveness to the outfielders, and Hubbard said he saw a take control’ attitude from the outfielders in the fall.

The Schedule
For the first time, North Texas is starting its season at home. The Mean Green will host the Point Quality Inn & Suites/Point Bank Invitational at Lovelace Stadium. NT will start its second season at Lovelace Stadium in the Mean Green Village.

North Texas will compete in two more tournaments: the Texas A&M Invitational and the OU Residence Inn Invitational. In addition to Big 12 opponents Oklahoma and Texas A&M, North Texas will play home and away contests with Oklahoma State and will face Texas Tech at home after beating the Red Raiders on the road last year.

The Mean Green will open the Sun Belt Conference portion of the schedule on the road against Louisiana at Monroe on March 8 and 9. North Texas will return home to play South Alabama and Florida Atlantic.

The Mean Green has tabbed the March 12 contest vs. TWU (Strikeout Breast Cancer) and the April 2 game vs. Northwestern State (Play for Kay - Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) as two fundraising games. The team is selling T-shirts to help sponsor each event with all proceeds being donated to the respective organizations. Admission is free for both dates and donations will be accepted at the gate.

Troy will host the eight-team Sun Belt Conference Tournament on May 7-10. The top eight teams will compete for the championship in the double-elimination tournament.

Return to MeanGreenSports.com on Wednesday for a breakdown of the 2008 Catchers.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Players Mentioned

Lauren Bergstrom

Renae Bromley

Monica Garcia

Mariza Martinez

Kadie Platt

Jonna Williams

Upcoming Events

University of North Texas Athletics