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get to the game? Don't worry, we've got ya covered.
Tiger softball begins season Friday on road
2/7/2008
By RANDY GONZALES
Hays Daily News
Fort Hays State University softball coach Tonja Hadley doesn't mind the underdog role.
Coming off a 22-35 season, the Tigers will look to surprise some teams in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
"Last year, we got decimated by injuries," Hadley said. "We don't look at our 22-35 record as indicative of what we can do."
Fort Hays opens the season Friday in Colorado Springs with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. On Saturday and Sunday, the Tigers will play five games in Pueblo, Colo., in the CSU-Pueblo tourney.
Fort Hays will open the season with at least 16 games on the road before its home opener, Feb. 29 against Oklahoma-Panhandle State,
"It is what it is," Hadley said of the schedule. "We are a road program."
Fort Hays, which went with three pitchers last year, will go with four this season, the three returnees and freshman left-hander Kayla Rupa. Back for the Tigers are senior left-hander Emily Rockefeller (8-15, 4.87 ERA) and sophomore right-handers Jessica Hamilton (3-8, 5.53) and Adrian Mohr (11-12, 3.89).
The Tigers had a team ERA of 4.66 last season, which Hadley attributed to a slow start and never catching up.
"I think we got off to a sluggish start as a staff," Hadley said.
Rockefeller is being counted on to lead the way.
"She is a senior this year, definitely has the most game experience," Hadley said. "When she's on, she's tough to beat."
Hadley planned to move Hallie McMillen from catcher to third base last year, but when Jessika Anastos was injured, McMillen stayed behind the plate. With Anastos now healthy, McMillen will move to the hot corner.
"We're thrilled to have her at third base," Hadley said of McMillen, now a junior who last year batted .357 with two homers and 57 RBIs.
Anastos, now a sophomore, batted .403 with two homers and 43 RBIs despite missing 21 games due to injury.
"Jessika will be behind the plate," Hadley said. "She's ready to go."
Rockefeller and Hamilton could see some playing time at first base when not pitching, and the Tigers also have back senior Alyson Garmatz, who batted .423 before a season-ending knee injury after 16 games last year.
Senior Emily Herl moves from shortstop to second base this season, while her sister, senior Ana Herl, will start in the outfield. Both are former standouts at Hays High School.
Despite playing with a bad back, Emily Herl led Fort Hays with 10 homers and 42 RBIs and batted .384 last season. She also led the team in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored, total bases and walks.
"She's just a kid dedicated to hitting," Hadley said. "She understands hitting, knows how to make small adjustments."
Herl will be adjusting to second base, with freshman Mona Booco at shortstop.
"She's an excellent athlete," Hadley said of Booco, adding that in a tuneup game against Dodge City Community College, the new Tiger shortstop hit one of the longest home runs the coach had ever seen hit out of Tiger Stadium.
Anna Herl will play in either left or right, depending on the lineup the Tigers use. Last year, she batted .302 with five homers and 39 RBIs.
Another newcomer, freshman Sara Tani, will patrol in center.
"A very athletic kid, very strong arm," Hadley said of Tani, a left-handed hitting slap hitter.
Among others expected to see time in the outfield are junior Terra Fraser, freshman Savannah Hall, senior Jennifer Parks and Mohr and Rupa when they aren't pitching.
Last year's final pitching numbers are part of the reason why the Tigers might be lightly regarded by some entering the season.
"One of the things they look at is the high ERA last year," Hadley said.
But being the underdog against MIAA opponents is not all that bad a thing.
"That's the role I like," Hadley said. "Fine with me."
Sports editor Randy Gonzales can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 137, or by e-mail at
rgonzales@dailynews.net.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 5/11 | Central Missouri | L 4-2 |
| BB | 5/10 | Missouri Western | W 4-3 |
| BB | 5/09 | Emporia State | L 6-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | W 17-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | L 4-3 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 15-7 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 5-4 |
| SB | 5/02 | Central Missouri | L 3-1 |
| SB | 5/02 | Missouri Western | W 3-2 |
| SB | 5/01 | Pittsburg State | W 6-0 |
