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Texas Softball: Season Preview

Junior hurler Meagan Denny boasts a 27-8 career mark. The righthander will be called upon to shoulder the pitching load for the Longhorns in 2007.

As the 2007 softball season nears, the Texas Softball team is hard at work preparing for a run at its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Women’s College World Series. After posting a 55-9 record a year ago, the Longhorns will utilize a seasoned group of veterans and a talented cast of newcomers this season, as they once again set their sights on Oklahoma City.

Texas returns 10 letterwinners and six starters from last year’s team that set a school record for wins in a season. Anchoring that group are Texas’ tri-captains, junior pitcher Meagan Denny, junior shortstop Desiree Williams and senior catcher Megan Willis. Williams and Willis garnered Easton-Bell All-America honors last season, while Denny is charged with filling the shoes of three-time National Player of the Year Cat Osterman.

The Horns also return starters at each of the infield positions with power-hitting senior Jacqueline Williams returning at first base after making the move from catcher last season. Sophomore Shannon Thomas is back at second base, where she started 42 games during her freshman campaign. Joining Desiree Williams on the right side of the infield are sophomores Kelly Melone and Crystal Saenz, who combined for 63 starts at third base last year.

Twelfth-year head coach Connie Clark looks to replace her outfield from a year ago with Thomas, who started 19 games in left field in addition to her second base duties, junior MicKayla Padilla, who totaled 21 starts in the outfield last year, and a cast of newcomers. Freshman Kori Cook looks to fill the void left in centerfield by the graduation of four-year starter Tina Boutelle, while fellow freshman Torrey Schroeder and Brittany Chalk add depth in the outfield.

Newcomers Tallie Thrasher and Loryn Johnson add power to the Texas lineup and strengthen the Longhorns veteran infield. Thrasher will compete for time at the corners and Johnson has the versatility all around the infield.

Schroeder and freshman right-hander, Erin Tresselt, give the Longhorns pitching staff depth behind Denny and sophomore catcher Kacie Gaskin and 2006 Big 12 Defensive Player of the year, Willis, provides UT with an outstanding battery. Gaskin saw extended time as the team’s designated player in 2006 and will see time in the outfield and behind the plate this year.

Texas opens the 2007 season on Friday, February 9, when the team travels to Tempe, AZ, for the annual Kajikawa Classic, hosted by Arizona State. The Horns kick off their home calendar the following weekend when they host the Texas Softball Classic, February 16-18 at Red and Charline McCombs Field.

Get your tickets now for another exciting season of Texas Softball. Tickets can be purchased online at TexasBoxOffice.com, by calling by 1-800-982-BEVO or 512-471-3333, or in person at the UT Athletics Ticket Office (Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.)

Texas Softball • February Schedule