After a disappointing 2010 season, a more experienced Lady Lions softball team is set to begin the 2011 season with strength.
Last season, the team finished the season with an 11-37 record overall and a 3-25 record in Southland Conference play.
The 2011 team will have more experience with five starters returning to go along with four returning pitchers. In addition, the team will welcome 10 newcomers. The five returning starters compose a group that includes three 2010 All-Southland players, senior shortstop/outfielder Katie Duhe, junior outfielder Jordan Logan and junior catcher Meghan Gomez. Logan led the team with 50 hits and six stolen bases. Gomez led the team with seven home runs and 25 runs scored and Duhe led the team with a .363 batting average.
Duhe was recognized as one of the conference’s best returning players when she was named to the 2011 Preseason All-Southland Conference team. This follows a 2010 season in which she had a .363 batting average, 23 RBIs and five home runs. In addition, she tied a school record by recording a hit in 14 consecutive games, a streak she will carry into the 2011 season.
“We should be much improved offensively, simply because we have so many more options this season,” stated Head Coach Pete Langlois in a press release. “If someone’s not getting it done at the plate, we’ll have someone we can replace them with. That’s a luxury we honestly haven’t had the last year or two.”
Due to the Lady Lions record last season, they were chosen to finish last in preseason polls conducted by coaches and sports information director at www.southland.org. Last year’s regular season champion, Texas State, was tied for first with Stephen F. Austin in both polls. 2010 Southland Conference champion McNeese State was picked to finish third in both polls. Which Polls?
The Lady Lions will begin the season when they host the seventh annual Lion Classic. The team’s first game will be against Akron on Friday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at North Oak Park. The team will play 13 non-conference games before their first conference series begins on March 5 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas. The team’s first home conference series will begin on March 12 when the team plays UT Arlington.
Notable out-of-conference games include two games against LSU, a game against Ohio State on Feb. 19, a double-header at home against Louisiana Tech on March 19 and a game at Southern Mississippi on May 4.