DENTON, Texas (2/10/11) - The North Texas softball team opens its season today when it faces Cal State Bakersfield in the Kajikawa Classic at Arizona State in Tempe Ariz at 5 p.m.. The Mean Green will play six teams over four days, including No. 20 Stanford and No. 14 Oregon.
THIS WEEK'S SOFTBALL ACTION
Tournament: Kajikawa Classic
Dates: Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 10-13
Location: Tempe Sports Complex, Tempe, Ariz.
Host: Arizona State University
Website: www.TheSunDevils.com
Mean Green Tourney Schedule (All Times Central)
Cal State Bakersfield - Thu. (2.10), 5 p.m.
Appalachian State - Fri. (2/11), 10:30 a.m.
No. 20 Stanford - Fri. (2/11), 3:30 p.m.
Oregon State - Sat. (2/12), 12:30 p.m.
No. 14 Oregon - Sat. (2/12), 6 p.m.
Northwestern - Sun. (2/13), 10 a.m.
North Texas will travel to Arizona for the second time in school history. In its inaugural season in 2004, North Texas faced Arizona in the Hillenbrand in Tucson, Ariz. The Mean Green went on to face Oregon State the following week. North Texas is playing all the teams except Oregon State for the very first time.
West Coast natives Caitlin Grimes and Megan Rupp will be playing in front of numerous friends and family at this weekend's tournament. Grimes hails from Arcadia, Calif., and Rupp grew up in Beaverton, Ore. Both players will be playing against numerous former teammates from high school and club ball.
The Mean Green is returning all but three starters to the 2011 squad. Third base is open after Rebecca Waters concluded her four-year career, and the pitching circle is missing two experienced lettermen.Head coach T.J. Hubbard has numerous options at third base and has a staff of four pitchers.
Mallory Cantler will be seeing action in the circle for the first time in her collegiate career. Freshman Lauren Poole joins the pitching staff, and Ashley Kirk will also be making her first appearance for the Mean Green after redshirting her freshman year. Brittany Simmons is the only returning pitcher with collegiate experience.
The Mean Green had the most successful season in school history in 2010. North Texas set records in wins (29), conference wins (12), conference finish (3rd) and conference tournament finish (3rd).
Click here to read this week's game notes
Click here for live stats against Cal State Bakersfield
Click here for live stats against Stanford
