Softball starting up.
The Oregon State softball team begins the 56-game season Thursday in Tempe, Ariz.
Coach Kirk Walker has 15 returners that includes the entire pitching staff and much of the offense. Check out his press conference previewing the season below.
Expect to see a lot of junior pitcher Tina Andreana (6-16, 3.39 ERA), while Paige Hall (6-6, 2.80) and Marina Demore (7-6, 91 strikeouts) create depth in the circle.
Senior 1B Erin Guzy (.259) and junior 3B Desiree Beltran (.248, 14 RBIs) are the team’s top two offensive threats last season.
Maggie Doremus and Nikki Chandler are both returning after forming a formidable double-play combo up the middle a season ago, starting all but seven games combined.
All-conference honorable mention Lea Cavestany, Mary Claire Brenner (.244, 20 RBIs) and Hannah Bouska are all back in the outfield.
Another grueling schedule awaits the Beavers with 31 games against teams that advanced to the NCAA championships a season ago, including 18 matchups against six of the national seeds. The Beavers have 28 games against teams are ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA or ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason polls.
1 comment
Ron Comber says:
Apr 22, 2012
Maybe I am overly critical, but seeing the pictures of the softball team in todays paper ( 4/22 ) and a few past ones pictures, some of the team looks out of shape at minimum and obese in some cases. These represent a sports team, of athletes.. is the correct example / standard being set? In football at least there is some need to be “big and heavy”, Some of these softball team members do not look the part of healthy athletes.