DENTON, Texas (1/29/10) - In less than two weeks, the North Texas softball team will open the 2010 season on the road against Mississippi Valley State. Head coach T.J. Hubbard previews the season with Mean Green Insider this week.
All but two starters are returning to a team that reached 20 wins faster than any other Mean Green squad and despite faltering down the stretch, finished with the second-most wins in school history last year. The Mean Green is also returning all three pitchers that combined last year for the lowest earned run average and lowest opponent batting average in school history. NT is adding two freshman pitchers that will give the 2010 team its largest and healthiest pitching squad ever.
With healthy and experienced players returning, North Texas is excited about its 2010 season. As a team, North Texas posted its second-best batting average in school history in 2009. With all the experience from last year, Hubbard sees the offense being even better in 2010. The formula, however; will not change from last year.
“You will see the same things from last year,” said Hubbard. “There will be speed on the bases and the offense will be spread out. One of our successes last year was getting production from all areas of the lineup.”
Headlining the returning starters is Mariza Martinez, who turned in one of the best seasons ever by a player in a Mean Green uniform. She led the Mean Green in 2009 with 11 home runs, 34 RBI and 33 runs scored. The outfielder was named a Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Central Region First Team honoree and second-team All-Sun Belt.
Classmate Mallory Cantler joined her on the All-Sun Belt team with first-team honors at first base for the second year in a row. She started 2009 on fire but was sidelined with a broken hand for the second half of conference play. Cantler still led the team with a .404 batting average.
For the first time ever, North Texas has two senior pitchers on its roster. After pitching a bulk of last year’s innings, Ashley Lail and Kayla Lawson return healthy for their senior seasons. Lail set a school record last year, posting a 2.83 ERA, and Lawson pitched the best season of her career.
The Mean Green has another competitive schedule with a combination of local Texas schools, Big XII opponents and a home tournament. North Texas won the Sleep Inn Classic last year and looks to defend its title against Drake, Arkansas, Colorado State, Buffalo, Missouri State and Sam Houston. North Texas is bringing some other big schools to Denton: Texas and Oklahoma.
North Texas opens its season against Mississippi Valley State, a SWAC school that has won the last seven conference titles and competed in the NCAA Tournament last year. The Mean Green is venturing into Mississippi for the first time in school history and will play in the Bulldog Round Robin at Mississippi State for its first tournament of the year.