Feb. 6, 2006

By all accounts, the 2005 season was one of disappointment, as the team finished 29-32. Even though the team caught fire late, winning 10 of its final 14 games, including nine-of-11 entering the Conference USA Tournament, the end result and feeling was one of letdown.

That result wasn't expected, especially after the team won the 2004 Conference USA regular-season title and advanced to a fourth NCAA Regional, returning six position starters and two starting pitchers from that team. But the season went south, and the sour taste it left has served as extra motivation for the 2006 edition of Lady Eagle softball.

"We can't focus on last year," said Southern Miss Head Softball Coach Gay McNutt, whose 2005 squad suffered through injuries and depth issues due to player defection, which led to the disappointing season. "We had so many things happen to us. It was one of those years and all you can do is chalk it up and say `anything thing that could go wrong did.' It happened and what's done is done. We've got to let it go and wipe the slate clean. We can't make the same mistakes as last year, and the team is committed to not making them again, while learning from them."

Those mistakes were partly due to inconsistent performance on the field.

"At times our defense was great, but our pitchers would get hit," McNutt said. "Then our pitchers would throw well, but we couldn't hit. We never really came together and gelled as a team. The unity of the team wasn't there."

But there is a different feeling around this edition of players, which McNutt thinks bodes well for the season.

"This is a close team," McNutt said. "They get a long and have fun together. When you do that, you look for the team to do well. The players are all excited and confident and ready to have a great season."

The 2006 edition is comprised of veteran leadership, with the entire infield, all seniors and starters since their freshmen seasons, leading the team. Two starting pitchers, one a senior, also return. Nine newcomers join the fold, including seven freshmen and two transfers, giving the team plenty of depth.

"We've got an experienced team," McNutt said. "That's something that should be a strength for us. We've also got a talented group of newcomers joining the team."

In order for the 2006 season to be a success, the team's five core seniors, first baseman Ashley Davis (5-6/Cheasapeake City, Md.), third baseman Ashley Brenan (5-7/Spring, Texas), second baseman Charity Butler (5-8/Pensacola, Fla.), shortstop Jessica Huerta (5-10/Pearland, Texas) and pitcher Danielle Wymer (5-8/Houston, Texas), will be the group to lead the team to prosperity.

"Our five seniors will step up," McNutt said. "They've been part of a championship team and part of another team that should have done well, but didn't. They don't want to go through a season like last year again.

"They will lead the team and clear the path for us. I expect that to happen. They expect a lot of themselves, and I know what they're capable of."

One concern for McNutt entering the season is injuries. Several players that will be expected to make a big contribution to the team in 2006, were slowed by injury in the fall. Freshman Nicole Chisolm (5-4/Clinton, Miss), slated to start in center field, had a cyst removed from her foot, missing a good portion of the fall, but is expected to be fully recovered in time for the season. Freshman Nicole Fontenot (5-10/Hollandale, Miss.), slated to start at designated player, has been bothered by a condition, which causes dizziness, but she is also expected to be fine entering the season. Wymer, the team's lone senior pitcher who led the team with 130 strikeouts in 2005, has been bothered by a hip flexor and a shoulder injury, while sophomore pitcher Krystal Crooks (5-9/Tampa, Fla.), who led the team in wins and ERA last season, had surgery on her elbow and missed the fall season. She began throwing in late December and should be ready for the season opener. Freshman Ashley Breland (5-9/Belle Chasse, La.), expected to provide depth in the infield, had rotator cuff surgery and will redshirt this season.

"We can't face these injuries in the spring," McNutt said. "It will devastate our team. With the long Christmas break, we should be fully healed. The injuries hurt us, because we didn't get to see what we wanted to see from our team in the fall season. But it happens, and we'll be fine."

Offensively, McNutt believes the team will be very good.

"We have the potential to be a very good team on offense," McNutt said. "We have two or three players that can hit it out of the park every time they step up. In the past, we had that all the way through our lineup. We're not a big power team and that's fine. All that matters is how many runs you score. We've got a lot of players that can spread the ball all over the field as single and double hitters, and that will set the table for our big hitters."

In preparation for the season, McNutt and Associate Head Coach Cindy Wille built an obstacle course at the Softball Complex, which the players were required to complete. It was designed to test the players physically, emotionally and mentally, with a series of different obstacles.

"We did it at Northwestern State," McNutt said. "We thought we needed to improve as a team mentally and emotionally. The players know that if they can get through the obstacle course, they can get through anything. That's why we did it. If you're strong there, you can overcome obstacles. It's not going to be a perfect year, but when something happens, we can look back and say `ok, we can handle it.'"

Pitchers and Catchers

McNutt added a pitching coach this season, welcoming former Lady Eagle pitcher Jessica Holaway to the coaching staff.

"Adding her to the coaching staff allows me to concentrate on other things," McNutt said. "She is a tremendous addition to the coaching staff. Jessica has experience as a former pitcher and can relate to our pitchers. Pitchers have a different mentality. She knows what its like to be in the circle, and you can't replace that experience."

McNutt said there will be a different philosophy to the pitching staff this season, with no set rotation.

"We're going to throw the pitcher that's going to win the game," McNutt said. "We're not going to have a certain rotation. I'm going to throw the pitcher that's going to get the job done."

Holaway inherits a pitching staff of three returning pitchers, including two starters, including Wymer and Crooks.

Wymer had a career year last season, winning 12 games and striking out 130, also pitching 15 complete games and five shutouts. She also struck out a career-high 12 batters against East Carolina in the Conference USA Tournament. She was bothered by a hip flexor and shoulder injury, but will be at full strength once the season begins.

"I know what she can do," McNutt said. "She is very capable of being our top pitcher. We need her to throw well."

Crooks made a strong impression in her debut season, tossing seven complete games in her first seven starts. She allowed fewer than two earned runs in 14 starts, and led the staff with a 14-12 record, 2.92, 182.0 innings pitched and 19 complete games. She missed the fall season after having surgery on her elbow, missing the fall season. Crooks began throwing in late December and will be at full strength once the season begins.

"Krystal got better as the season went along," McNutt said. "She's a competitor and shows a lot of fight. I expect that mentality out of her again."

Also returning is sophomore Shea Naramore (5-6/Gulfport, Miss.). She pitched in five games and made one start, throwing 7.1 innings on the year. She has made a lot of improvement and could see more time in the circle in 2006.

"Shea has done a complete 360," McNutt said. "She's has worked hard and is a completely different pitcher than last year."

Two freshmen, Lacey Gros (5-3, Schriever, La.) and Samantha Davis (5-7/ Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) will also push for extended pitching time this season.

"I was very pleased with our freshmen in the fall," McNutt said. "They will get their opportunity to pitch. Lacey did an outstanding job in the fall, and we hope to use her on the mound a lot this season. Samantha did a good job as well, and will help us as well."

Meridian Community College transfer Kirby Shelby (5-3/Jackson, Miss.) also adds depth at the position.

Behind the plate, sophomore Allison Bullard (5-8/Columbus, Ga.) and freshman Kristin Pilgrim (5-7/Metarie, La.) are batting for the starting job, one that McNutt expects Bullard to win based on her experience. The starter for the last two years, Sue Logan, who made 47 starts at the position last season, did not return to the team this season for medical reasons.

Bullard, a 2005 Conference USA All-Freshmen selection, started 14 games at catcher in 2005, including the final 11 games of the season. She threw out five runners in 14 attempts, while hitting .259, with 30 hits and eight doubles.

McNutt said Bullard has the best blocking skills behind the plate, while Pilgrim has the better arm. Both players will see time at the position, with the starting nod going to the player that swings the better bat.

Infielders

For the fourth-consecutive season, the entire infield returns, giving Southern Miss perhaps the top unit in Conference USA. The infield is the team's biggest strength, providing a veteran presence behind the pitching staff. It's something that brings McNutt much comfort.

"No one has a veteran of an infield as we do," McNutt said. "We will be strong on defense and I think we'll have the strongest infield defense in Conference USA. I'm not worried about our defense at all."

Brenan returns as the starter at third base for the fourth consecutive season. Of her 168 career starts, 167 have come at third base. She had made 145 consecutive starts, but saw that streak snapped in game two against Ole Miss (3/17). Brenan suffered a thumb injury in pregame warm-ups for the Houston series (4/16), missing 10 games, before returning against East Carolina (5/7). She hit .259 last season, with 35 hits, six doubles, 29 runs and 24 RBI.

Huerta teams with Brenan to anchor the left side of the infield. Huerta was one of four players to start all 61 games last season, and has started every game of her career. She had a career year at the plate in 2005, leading the team with a .343 batting average, 14 doubles, 60 hits, three triples and 25 walks.

Davis returns as the starter at first base, starting 50 games there last year, while starting 11 games at third base in Brenan's absence. Davis started all 61 games last season, earning Conference USA Second-Team honors, following a career best season, leading the team nine home runs and 42 RBI, ranking third in batting average (.319) and second in hits (58) and doubles (12). She also led Conference USA in league games with 25 RBI.

Butler returns as the starter at second base, teaming with Davis to anchor the right side of the infield. She started 60-of-61 games at second last year, and had a career year at the plate, ranking second on the team in batting average (.323) and hits (52) and tied for third in doubles (eight).

"Our infield starters are all used to playing together," McNutt said. "I expect us to have a strong year defensively."

Breland was expected to provide depth at second base, but had rotator cuff surgery and will redshirt this season. Jennifer Fox, who started single games at second and third base, provides depth, while Chisolm, Fontenot and Melissa Prouty can provide infield depth if needed.

Outfielders

Unlike last season, the outfield has plenty of experience, with two starters returning.

Sophomore Jennifer Fox (5-3/Jackson, Miss.), who started at five different positions last season, returns as the starter in left field, making 39 starts there last season. She earned Conference USA All-Freshman honors and was one of four players to start all 61 games last year. Fox hit .259 in 2005, ranking fourth on the team with seven doubles and third with five home runs and 33 RBI. She made an outfield low one error last season.

Junior Melissa Prouty (5-2/Jackson, Miss.) is expected to be the starter in right field for the second consecutive season. She is expected to win the starting job over freshman Melody Rossell (5-4/Clinton, Miss.), due to her experience.

Prouty enjoyed a productive season in her first year as a full time starter in 2005, and was one of four returning players to start all 61 games, 59 of them in right field. She finished with a .209 batting average, with 31 hits, 11 RBI and 24 walks. She made four errors in the outfield last season and struck out a team low 21 times. Rossell is expected to see time in right field, and could also see time at designated player.

Chisolm is expected to start in center field, replacing graduated senior Diane Hammes. Chisolm had surgery to remove a cyst from her foot, which caused her to miss most of the fall. She is expected to be a full strength once the season begins, and McNutt says she will "help immediately."

One thing about the outfield, each starter is not a true outfielder. Fox and Prouty are both infielders, most comfortable at second and third base respectively. Chisolm saw action at shortstop, second base and outfield in high school.

"If there is any concern about our team, it's the outfield," McNutt said. "We don't have true outfielders out there. One thing we've worked on with them, is just catching the ball. We don't care what it looks like when they catch it. We just want the ball caught and not going to the fence. I think we will be fine in the outfield."

McNutt said that several players could see action at designated player, but expects freshman Fontenot to get most of the action there. Fontenot battled a strange dizziness condition in the fall, but is expected to be healthy. Pilgrim, Bullard and Rossell could also see action at designated player.

Conference USA

Conference USA softball is much different this season. Five teams, Saint Louis, Charlotte departed for the Atlantic Sun Conference, while USF, DePaul and Louisville all departed for the Big East. USF, DePaul and Louisville all made the NCAA Tournament last season, with DePaul advancing to the Women's College World Series.

Replacing the departed teams are Marshall, Tulsa, UCF, UTEP and Memphis, which is adding the sport for the first time in 2006. UCF advanced to the NCAA Regionals last season, while Marshall and Tulsa both won over 30 games.

"Conference USA is going to be a lot of fun because there are so many new teams and it's new," McNutt said. "Losing DePaul, Louisville and USF does weaken the conference, but we've got teams that can step up."

Southern Miss is now the sole team in the league that has won a regular season and tournament title, winning the regular season in 2000 and 2004 and the tournament title in 2000 and 2001.

"It's up to us to step up and move the conference in the right direction," McNutt said. "It's our job to strengthen the conference.

"I expect Houston, East Carolina and UCF to all be good. Tulsa also will be good. It's anyone's conference and is up for grabs. We plan to go prove we're the top team in the league this year. It's anyone's conference, and it is up for grabs."

The Schedule

As far as the 2006 schedule goes, it is back to one of strength, after a slightly weaker slate last season.

"We played a weaker schedule last year and it backfired on us," McNutt said. "It got us nowhere. I will never do that again. I will always have a strong schedule and play the best teams around."

The schedule features 10 teams that advanced to NCAA Regionals last year, including new Conference USA team UCF, Mississippi State, McNeese State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Florida, Auburn, Loyola-Marymount, BYU, Seton Hall and Alabama, which also advanced to the Women's College World Series.

In addition, the Lady Eagles will play a 25-game home slate, the second-most ever at the Southern Miss Softball Complex. The team will play only three non-conference road games.

"That's what we wanted," McNutt said. "We want other teams to come play us. We like playing at home. We have best home crowd as anyone around, and we draw a great crowds. It's going to be a great year and we wanted to play a lot at home."

Home non-conference dates include Jackson State, Alabama, McNeese State, Ole Miss, Troy, Nicholls State, Mississippi State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Southeastern Louisiana, while the team travels to Mississippi State, Alabama and Auburn in a game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla.

vIn league play, the team hosts Marshall, UCF, UAB and Tulsa, while traveling to UTEP, Memphis, Houston and East Carolina.

The Lady Eagles will play in four tournaments in 2006, opening their season in Honolulu Hawaii, competing in the Hawaii Paradise Classic (Feb. 9-12), hosted by The University of Hawaii. The team also will compete in the Louisiana-Lafayette hosted Ragin' Cajun Classic in Lafayette, La. (Feb. 17-19), the Jacksonville/Best Western Invitational hosted by Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Fla. (Feb. 24-26), and the Gator Invitational hosted in Gainesville, Fla., hosted by the University of Florida (Mar. 3-5).

With a veteran, senior laden team, the 2006 softball season looks to be one of promise for Southern Miss, as it looks to claim a third Conference USA regular-season title and tournament title and advance to an NCAA Regional for the fifth time in school history.