Softball Opens Practice for 2005 Season
1/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 16, 2005
WACO, Texas-The Baylor softball team opens preparation for the 2005 season when the Lady Bears take to the field for the opening of practice on Monday, January 17, at 1:00 p.m.
"We are really excited about the start of the season," head coach Glenn Moore said. "We have high expectations for the upcoming year and the opening of practice is just the start of what we hope to be is a successful season."
Baylor returns six seniors and seven starters, including first-team all-conference selections Carrie Leerberg and Harmony Schwethelm, from last year's squad that advanced to the NCAA Softball Championships for the first time in school history and established a new school record with 48 wins in a season.
Leerberg led the Lady Bears last season and finished fifth in the conference with a .372 average while Schwethelm finished the year with a .355 average and was tied for the team lead with 28 stolen bases.
In addition, Baylor returns every pitcher from last year's team, including second-team all-conference selection Cristin Vitek as well as Lisa Ferguson. Last season, Vitek finished with a single season school-record 31 victories and established a new NCAA single-game record with 28 strikeouts against North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Softball Championships.
Ferguson returns after a stellar freshman season where she finished second in the country with eight saves while posting a 1.28 ERA on the season.
Baylor will open the 2005 season on Friday, Feb. 4, when the Lady Bears host Louisiana-Monroe at 2:30 p.m. to open the Getterman Classic.
