Coming off a disappointing 21-29 finish last season, the U softball team looks to build on last year’s strong lineup by bringing offensive power and additional help on the mound.
The Utes will have their top three sluggers return, including Diana Phillips, Devina Quintero and Ivette Hernandez. They all batted more than .300 and combined for 54 runs, 17 doubles, 13 home runs and 61 RBI over 50 games.
The Utes will be joined this year by Jessica Shiery (Windsor, Calif.), Andrea Hoffman (Hunter High), Hailey Davenport (Bingham High) and juco transfer Bree Faroah (SLCC) to help score more runs.
Both Davenport and Shiery will add power at the bat. Davenport holds Bingham records for homeruns (nine) and RBI (41). Shiery was ranked high in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage in the state of California.
Faroah helped the Salt Lake Bruins to a 45-7-1 record while batting .539, using her quickness to score 66 runs in 52 games.
“They will really help to improve our offense,” head coach Mona Stevens said.
Senior pitcher Lindsie Nielsen will be returning for her final season on the mound, bringing back consistent defense and leadership for the U.
Nielsen finished last season with a 3.19 ERA, fanning 106 batters while walking just 38.
Nielsen can expect to have immediate help from three powerful JC transfers to keep the Utes’ ERA low.
Sheri Shrock (SLCC), Karina Cannon (Odessa CC) and Meghan Dyer (San Joaquin Delta CC) will bring a veteran feel to the Utes’ depleted pitching unit.
“We’ll have a lot of experience on the mound,” Stevens said. “We need to hold teams down. It will be good to have some help.”
The three new pitching recruits were all very successful at their community colleges.
Dyer helped the San Joaquin Delta Mustangs by going 21-2 with a 0.50 ERA, striking out 218.
Cannon, an Australia native, went 29-9 with a 1.36 ERA for the Odessa Wranglers. She struck out 222 batters and pitched 13 shutouts.
Shrock was stellar for the Bruins, finishing the year with an 18-4 record, including 11 shutouts. She posted a 1.78 ERA, striking out 141 batters and holding opponents to a .197 batting average.
The Utes can also expect to have continued strong defense in the infield from senior second baseman Jackie Wong and sophomore shortstop Sharee Fonoti.
“They were tremendous in middle infield,” Stevens said.
The Utes will play the 2005-2006 season without Brianna Gourdin, who pitched in 29 games last season.
Also not returning to the lineup are outfielders Sara Lyman and Lynsey Wall. They have all left the team for personal and academic reasons.
The new recruits and solid core from last year’s team should help the Utes to put up a solid fight toward the Mountain West Conference crown, which the U has won three of the last six seasons.
