2008 Woodie Awards
Four Years of Progress
Coach Amy Weaver's tenure has resulted in softball program's success
Mark Ayoub
Issue date: 10/21/05 Section: Sports
Approximately two years ago, head softball coach Amy Weaver's first recruiting class took to the field on the annual fall day to take on Division II Henderson State University. The divisional distinctions were pretty clear that day, as the Division II school, who can give athletic scholarships, walked away with a 28-0 trouncing of the non-scholarship Division III school.
Two weeks ago, the Warriors took to the field to take on Henderson again in their fall playing date, and while Henderson State still walked away with a 5-3 victory, the direction of the Hendrix softball program was now clear, as this spring it will look to continue its success that last left off with a third-place finish in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) last year.
"This is my third recruiting class and fourth season and we've doubled our wins in each of the previous seasons," she said." Last year they started believing in each other; they started getting confident. They're very determined young ladies; they know that they can be good and that they can do well. Now they feel like they have a lot to prove; they want to continue to improve and prove it wasn't a fluke."
And after going 0-4 that fall day (albeit all four losses were to Division II schools Henderson State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Arkansas-Monticello, Ouachita Baptist), the team knows that it has a significant amount to work on if it hopes to continue its success from last year in the upcoming spring season.
"I was disappointed; we did not do as well as what I expected offensively," said Weaver of the team's performance. "We had three or four home runs hit off of us in games and that didn't happen at all last year. I think they needed a little reality check; we still have a long way to go and have areas we need to work hard and improve in."
While the incoming freshmen class is strong, with that comes a chemistry adjustment that the team will have to make. "We've added five new players and there's a little bit of a different feel team chemistry-wise," she said. We need to start learning how to play together."
However the current leadership of the team appears ready for the task. "The kids that are juniors that were my first recruiting class," said Weaver. "It's kinda neat that they know now what to expect. They take that and take the younger kids under their wing and get them to understand what we do and why we do that."
With only one senior and six returning all-conference players, the future is very bright for the team, who could go even higher in the SCAC this year. Highlighting the strong returning core are Katherine Womack, Kim Tallent, Kristin Juarez, Kaylea Cecka, McKinzie Fruchtl, Cara Tallent, and Lindsey LaBar.
Additionally, this year freshman pitcher Lauren Seaborn will give the team a much-needed third pitcher, while fellow freshmen Sara Hunter, Heather Stroud and Kara Jennen have looked strong so far.
Two weeks ago, the Warriors took to the field to take on Henderson again in their fall playing date, and while Henderson State still walked away with a 5-3 victory, the direction of the Hendrix softball program was now clear, as this spring it will look to continue its success that last left off with a third-place finish in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) last year.
"This is my third recruiting class and fourth season and we've doubled our wins in each of the previous seasons," she said." Last year they started believing in each other; they started getting confident. They're very determined young ladies; they know that they can be good and that they can do well. Now they feel like they have a lot to prove; they want to continue to improve and prove it wasn't a fluke."
And after going 0-4 that fall day (albeit all four losses were to Division II schools Henderson State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Arkansas-Monticello, Ouachita Baptist), the team knows that it has a significant amount to work on if it hopes to continue its success from last year in the upcoming spring season.
"I was disappointed; we did not do as well as what I expected offensively," said Weaver of the team's performance. "We had three or four home runs hit off of us in games and that didn't happen at all last year. I think they needed a little reality check; we still have a long way to go and have areas we need to work hard and improve in."
While the incoming freshmen class is strong, with that comes a chemistry adjustment that the team will have to make. "We've added five new players and there's a little bit of a different feel team chemistry-wise," she said. We need to start learning how to play together."
However the current leadership of the team appears ready for the task. "The kids that are juniors that were my first recruiting class," said Weaver. "It's kinda neat that they know now what to expect. They take that and take the younger kids under their wing and get them to understand what we do and why we do that."
With only one senior and six returning all-conference players, the future is very bright for the team, who could go even higher in the SCAC this year. Highlighting the strong returning core are Katherine Womack, Kim Tallent, Kristin Juarez, Kaylea Cecka, McKinzie Fruchtl, Cara Tallent, and Lindsey LaBar.
Additionally, this year freshman pitcher Lauren Seaborn will give the team a much-needed third pitcher, while fellow freshmen Sara Hunter, Heather Stroud and Kara Jennen have looked strong so far.