Pitching for a winning season
After making it out of the first round of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Championship Tournament last year, the women Javelinas softball season got cut short by No. 1 West Texas A&M. The Women Javelinas ended the season 30 – 22 overall with a 22 – 20 conference record.
Heading into his third season, Head Softball Coach Orlando Salinas said he is optimistic this year of the team’s success.
“This is really our first season with 100% of players that we brought in as a coaching staff, and we have a combination of transfers and young freshmen.,” Salinas said. “So, our goal now is to get the two groups to mesh together as one unit.”
To help build the bond, sophomore Dakota Martinez said the team is supportive of one another.
“We had some players that were injured and we all came together to get them some gifts. There was also an instance where one of them needed to be taken to the hospital at three in the morning. So, some of the girls took her and stayed with her till 7 a.m. So, I’d say we have pretty good chemistry,” Martinez said.
Some key transfers for the Javelinas have been three-year UTSA transfer Sophie Campbell and two-year TAMUCC transfer AJ Jasso. Jasso was selected as an LSC Preseason Player to Watch. Returning for the Javelinas are graduate student Lindsey Evans and Senior Kaylynne Ruiz.
“Those four right there are going to be our RBI girls, and so we’re super excited for them,” Coach Salinas said about his key offensive weapons.
Evans was recognized over the winter break at The South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet. The recognition comes from her outstanding performance in her first season with the Javelinas being ranked within the Javelinas top three leaders in nearly all offensive categories, including a 1.003 OPS.
Going into the season the Javelinas were predicted to finish eighth in the LSC preseason poll. Evans discussed what success looks like for her and the team this season.
“Honestly, if we just keep playing for each other. I think we can make it super far. I think we have a chance to win this whole thing, too. Because of all the passion we have, the bond we have and the culture we have with everybody,” Evans said.
The women Javelinas started the season at the Mardi Gras Invitational where they won two of their six games. The women are now off to the West Texas Invitational followed by the Western New Mexico for the start of their regular season conference play.