University of North Texas Athletics
Softball Hosts Sleep Inn Classic This Weekend
2/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DENTON, Texas (2/19/09) - The North Texas softball team opens the home portion of its schedule when it hosts the Sleep Inn Classic this weekend at Lovelace Stadium. Games are also being played on the campus of TWU at Pioneer Field.
The Mean Green will begin play on Friday, Feb. 20 against Iowa State at 12:30 pm. NT continues action with its second game of the day at 3 pm against Missouri State. The six-team tournament includes Iowa State, Missouri State, Central Arkansas, Wichita State and Butler. Iowa State and Missouri State kick the tournament off with a 10 am game at Lovelace Stadium.
North Texas is off to a 4-3 start with wins against Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Detroit Mercy, Indiana State and UTSA. Integral to the Mean Green’s success has been the performances of the three pitchers. All three pitchers have at least one win already and look to be a force this season.
After suffering injuries the past couple seasons, the North Texas pitchers are healthy and full of positive energy.
“I think we have worked really hard in the off season, and it has showed,” said junior pitcher Kayla Lawson. “I am really excited for our season because it is feels as if we have a brand-new team. We have a lot of new players and they are a great group of girls: intense and great ballplayers.”
Lawson had an injury-plagued freshman year, but came back to record nine wins as a sophomore and was very strong down the stretch. She started in the circle for the Mean Green’s first game and picked up the win.
“I was relaxed and ready for that first game,” said Lawson. “We had been practicing for so long; I was ready to have a different team up there. I was excited more than anything.”
Ashley Lail was the starter for the second game against Detroit Mercy and she had a little bit of a reason to be nervous. She had sat out the 2008 season with a knee injury and was making her first appearance in over a year.
“I was a nervous,” said Lail. “But no matter if you are freshman or you are playing your 15th game of the season, you are always going to be a little nervous at the beginning.”
With a seven-inning, three-hit shutout performance, one could not have scripted a better beginning for the junior. Lail was happy with her performance but knows the things she has to work on.
Lail looks back at her redshirt year and said she had mixed emotions about not being able to play but also says there were positives.
“Not many players get to sit back and watch how it is from the outside,” said Lail. “I sat with Coach Cody every game and we would talk about the pitches and I learned a lot from that standpoint. I think being able to see from a different perspective how everything works will help me this year. It did get frustrating because there were moments where I knew they could use my help and you feel helpless. But that just makes me work harder. Now, where there is that situation, I can help.”
Lawson, Lail and sophomore Jennifer Smith all bring a little something different to the table when they go out to the circle, but the three complement each other very well.
“We work really well together,” said Lawson. “If I don’t have a good game, I know the other two will have my back. Off the field, we are all best friends, like sisters. We relate to each other.”
”We are all working on our individual goals the best we possibly can,” said Lail. “I am working hard, and I know they are working hard. You push each other and you push yourself and it makes the pitching staff a lot better.”
Starting this weekend, the Mean Green is home for the next 18 straight games, including two straight tournament weekends.
“It’s not new being at home, but I haven’t done it in awhile,” said Lail. “It’s exciting. Every game and every tournament is just an opportunity to show how good we can be and how good we expect to be this season.”
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