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SU SOFTBALL IN FULL SWING |
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January 15, 2009 - Baton Rouge, LA
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The road ahead for the Southern
University Lady Jaguars softball team is not getting any
easier. In a game that is now rich in parity and features
competitive teams from all over the Southwestern Athletic
Conference, the quest for a third SWAC championship will
take more than dedication and hard work. It will take the
right attitude, consistency, and most importantly, trust. |
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The 2009 softball season saw some record-breaking
performances by a number of the Southern student-athletes,
but head coach Nancy Marshall was quick to point out that
the best teams will win, not the best players. |
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"Last year, we had to put numbers up to win, and we did to a
point. But as we seen when we got to the SWAC Championship,
for you to win those games, you have to be able to play
great defense and match opposing pitchers pitch for pitch to
give yourself a chance for that timely hit." |
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In 2010, the Lady Jaguars will employ a mix of power and
speed that could send their offensive numbers through the
roof. But, as last season showed, the game of softball is
like a puzzle. All of the pieces must come together in order
to play a complete game. |
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With seven returning starters, five high-school standouts, a
junior college transfer and a red-shirt junior this is one
of the most heralded recruits in Blue and Gold history and
their ready to take the field.
This Lady Jaguar
roster may have all the tools necessary to bring home their
third SWAC Championship. |
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OUTFIELDERS |
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The Lady Jaguars outfield will consist of returners from
last year's squad:
Kesha Tauriac and Victoria Stewart. |
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All-SWAC first-teamer Victoria Stewart completed her
sophomore season with a .373 batting average in 41 contest.
The Texarkana, Texas native also collected 48 hits last
season, and cemented her name on the SU single-season
doubles list with 13 to lead the team. |
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Tauriac saw action in 36 games and ended the year with a
.283 batting average while tallying 30 hits near the bottom
of the batting order. |
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Newcomer Amy Orender the junior college transfer from Wabash
Valley Community College will join the outfield this season
while freshman Gailyn Thibeaux a freshman from Lafayette, LA
will look for time in the field while adjusting to the
collegiate level. |
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INFIELDERS |
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The infield is what helped the Lady Jaguars advance to their
fifth championship game appearance in six years.
The infield will see Brittany Hymes, Chastoni Jones,
Audrey Phillips, April Augustine, and Jasmine Tillman. |
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Hymes batted .344 in 2009 and finished second on the team in
stolen bases with 15.
The senior collected 21 runs off of 33 hits in 33 contest
played. |
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Jones was second on the team in games played with 40.
Her 27 runs, 32 hits, five doubles and 15 RBI’s are a
career high. |
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Phillips enjoyed a career year being named SWAC Freshmen of
the Year in the conference.
The Mansfield, Texas native led the team in batting
with a .380 average.
The super freshman finished in the top ten in 10 different
categories in the conference. |
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Senior April Augustine played sparingly due to injury.
The Laplace, Louisiana native saw action in 18 games
for a .120 batting average. |
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Tillman was named to the All-SWAC Academic team in 2009.
The
Massaponax
high school graduate posted a .277 batting average with 20
runs, 28 hits, eight doubles, and 10 RBI’s. |
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Freshmen Shawntall Steamer, a switch hitter from Freeport,
Texas and Brazosport high school graduate looks to learn
more before hitting the field for her first collegiate
match. Another
freshman, a 5’8
right-hander from Houston, Texas, Kiah Williams, will look
for action at first base. |
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PITCHERS AND CATCHERS |
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The pitchers and catchers carried the Southern University
Lady Jaguars all season long.
Pitchers Lanaya Jenkins and Caroline Myers and
catchers Aruba Nicholas and Kasha Tauriac will see most of
the action in 2010. |
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Nicholas has been the starting catcher for the last two
seasons. The senior
played 37 games and finished third on the team in batting
with a .348 average.
The Georgia peach connected on 40 hits, 29 runs, 11 doubles,
and 24 RBI’s. The
second-team all-conference player finished with 153 putouts,
a team high, and 30 assists.
Aruba also threw out 14 players trying to steal
second or third base. |
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Senior Lanaya Jenkins enters the season as the most
experienced pitcher on the team. The 2009 All-SWAC
first-teamer provided invaluable support as a stop-gap
pitcher in her sophomore campaign, and then rose to become
the team's ace last season. The Seattle, Washington native
compiled a team-low 4.94 ERA with a team-high 108 strikeouts
in 176 innings. |
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Kasha Tauriac led the Lady Jaguars in fielding percentage
with a .980 average.
The one half of the only set of twins in Blue and Gold
posted 135 putouts and 10 assists.
She also batted .224 with 22 hits, 16 RBI’s and 13
runs. |
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Sophomore Caroline Myers posted a 7.33 ERA during her
freshman year. In her
20 appearances and 16 games started the Westwego, Louisiana
native recorded 84 innings pitched 27 strikeouts and one
shutout. |
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Freshman Joei Glynn from Houston, Texas will look for
opportunities to learn the college game while adjusting
during her freshman campaign while Shana Burton will look
for time behind the plate. |
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The season starts on February 12, 2010 when the Lady Jags
travel to Shreveport, Louisiana to participate in the
Centenary College Spring Tournament. |
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