Feb. 8, 2008

SAN MARCOS - After a run all the way to the Southland Conference Tournament Final last season, Texas State gears up for a return trip in 2008 with a squad that features all but one starter returning. Despite the graduation of 2007 Preseason All-SLC First-Team outfielder Amy Krueger, the Bobcats still feature 2007 SLC Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year Ragan Blake and the return of a veteran infield behind her.

"We are going to put quite a few juniors and seniors on the field along with a couple of sophomores who started last year as freshman," says Head Coach Ricci Woodard. "Experience wise, I told this group that this is the deepest team I've had because even the people on the bench have experience playing."

Nearly all of the returning starters are juniors and sophomores, but Woodard believes finding team leaders will not be a problem.

"I think the players in the junior class finally feel like they are in a spot where they can have a little bit stronger leadership roles, and I think you will see that class step up and become better leaders because they have more experience behind them," says Woodard.

While experience and leadership play to the team's strengths, the question mark heading into the 2008 season once again falls on the hitting, as Texas State hit .222 as a team in 2007, the second-worst average in the conference. However, in the five games at the SLC Tournament the Bobcats upped that mark to .281 with 12 of the team's 34 hits going for extra bases.

THE CATCHERS

Catcher is the most experienced position on the Bobcat roster, with a pair of upperclassmen ready to split duties behind the plate. Senior Ashton Peters returns while junior Jetta Weinheimer joins her after switching to catcher from the outfield during SLC play last season.

Weinheimer tied for the team lead in long balls with six and also led the Bobcats in runs with 24. Peters is the most experienced of the two, so it is likely that whoever is not catching will slide into the designated player role.

THE INFIELD

The infield should be a strength of the 2008 Bobcats since every starter returns in 2008. The duo of juniors Ryan Kos and Alex Newton up the middle is one of the most formidable in the conference, while Leah Boatright returns her big bat to first base after leading the `Cats in home runs and RBIs and being one of only two players to start every single game in 2007.

"The good thing about Alex and Ryan is that they are not just great players they're great leaders," says Woodard. "Now that they have started a couple of years together they know what they have to do to help this team be successful, and we are in a great spot with them there for the third year in a row."

Tamara Keller and Ali McCormack each return with the ability to play third base, but freshman Jenna Emery has also emerged as a potential starter. McKenzie Baack also joins the group and will back up Boatright at first.

THE OUTFIELD

The loss of Krueger and the moving of Weinheimer to behind home plate leaves the Bobcat outfield without two of its three starters from 2007, but there is still plenty of talent available to fill the openings.

Sophomore Kristina Tello is the lone starter back after playing both left and center field as a freshman and should get the nod in center with her speed and range in the outfield. Senior Jill Kloesel holds the inside track to one of the other starting spots after a great fall, and senior Kelsey Cammarata and sophomore Lacey Duncan also return. Additionally, Texas State added Taylor Hall from Temple College and freshman Allyce Rother to the outfield ranks, and Weinheimer could also see action in her old role if necessary.

THE PITCHERS

Three pitchers are listed on the Texas State roster, but none are more important than senior Ragan Blake, who returns after leading the Southland in wins, strikeouts and ERA in her first season in San Marcos. Blake went 26-15 with 242 strikeouts and a 1.60 ERA in 258.2 innings, throwing 30 complete games and 10 shutouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .191 average.

"You put Ragan Blake in the circle and you have a chance to beat anybody in the country," says Woodard. "When she is on she's as good as they come. The key is going to be keeping her healthy throughout the year."

Sophomore Elizabeth Dennis also returns after going 2-0 with a 3.91 ERA in 34 innings. She will be joined by junior Katie Garnett, who helped lead Temple College to a 55-5 record in 2006, to help lighten Blake's load.

THE SCHEDULE

The regular season also hopes to serve as preparation for the 2008 Southland Conference Softball Tournament, which the `Cats will host in San Marcos for the first time since 2004. Texas State first must navigate through a regular season that begins Feb. 9 against Creighton and Tulsa at the Quality Inn and Suites Tournament hosted by North Texas.

From there the Bobcats return home to face Texas in the home opener on Feb. 13 before heading out west to the prestigious Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State, which annually draws the top teams from around the nation. The Bobcats' opponents include the host Sun Devils and Washington, who each participated in the 2007 Women's College World Series.

The final non-conference tournament sends the `Cats to Houston for the Marriott Houston Classic before Southland play kicks off at home against Texas-Arlington Feb. 26 and 27. Texas State will play Houston and Cal State-Northridge, who each made the NCAA Tournament last year, along with Kansas, Centenary and Boston University.

"The parity in the Southland is better, so we schedule February as tough as possible to prepare us to win a conference championship," said head coach Ricci Woodard.

Games at Texas and Baylor along with a home series against New Mexico at the end of March help break up the conference schedule for the `Cats, who also travel to Texas Tech and Texas A&M in April.

The Bobcats wrap up their regular season in San Marcos with a series against defending SLC Tournament champion Sam Houston State Apr. 26 and 27. The Bearkats beat Texas State on the final day of the SLC Tournament last year to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

A trip to McNeese State closes out the regular season May 3 and 4. The Bobcats hope to return home to play some more in the SLC Tournament, which also lets Texas State showcase the renovations to Bobcat Field that include a new video scoreboard, a new outfield fence and bullpen additions.