Tech Aiming for Success in 2000
December 10, 1999 | Softball
Over the last decade, women's athletics at Texas Tech have risen to prominence and cast Texas Tech into the national spotlight. Lady Raider Basketball (1993 NCAA National Champions), Red Raider Volleyball (Six NCAA Tournaments in the '90s) and track and field sensation Leigh Daniel (Two NCAA Championships) have all played an important role in the rise of women's athletics at Texas Tech. But, there is a new kid on the block that shows high hopes of continuing the tradition of excellence set by female athletes at Tech.
While Tech has played women's basketball for 24 years, volleyball for 24 years and ran track and field for 18 years, the Tech softball team is in just their fifth season since the program was restarted in 1996. Last season the team competed in the NCAA tournament in just the fourth year of competition making them the first women's team sport at Texas Tech to advance to NCAA competition in the first five years of the program. So needless to say head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie has plenty to look forward to in the 2000 season.
"I can't even begin to explain how excited I am about this season," said head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie. "With the quality recruits that we were able to bring in along with the strength of our returning players, we should be a force to deal with in the Big 12 this season. I am going to be relying on our upperclassmen to carry over our success from a year ago and hopefully our newcomers will respond."
The Red Raiders finished the 1999 season on a high note as the Red Raiders accepted their first NCAA bid and advanced all the way to the Regional Finals in Fresno, California. The road was not an easy one for the team as they fell short of their goals of winning a conference championship. The team struggled offensively last season but it was the team's defense that proved to be the success story for the team in 1999.
But 2000 brings about another year with both a new and improved offense and strong defense returning.
"Last season we struggled in key situations and that really hurt us at times. We tended to rely on a couple of players to get our hits for us and you just can't keep that up. We should have a more balanced attack offensively this season with the players that we have coming in along with our returners last season. I would rather have a team of players who are capable of getting a base hit everytime they come to the plate than have a team of players who can hit the yard ball every now and then."
Leading the Tech pitching staff again this season will be junior Amanda Renfro. Renfro (Houston, TX) holds virtually every pitching record at Texas Tech and will be a key to success in 1999 for the Red Raiders. Although pitching depth was low for the team in '99, that won't be the problem for Tech in 2000 as Gillispie has added three pitchers to the staff. Among those pitchers are heralded recruits Ninette Martinez and Dana Yocum. Martinez a true freshmen from Wilmington, California led her ASA (Amateur Softball Association) Southern Cal Athletics team to the 1999 National Championship over the summer and is a true left-handed pitcher who throws a very versatile attack. Dana Yocum (Toledo, Illinois) who set numerous high school pitching records in the State of Illinois rounds out the Tech pitching staff.
This year's senior class will provide offensive firepower along with defensive experience. Paula Workman (Austin, TX) will return to her duties at shortstop. Workman has started in all but one game during her four-year career at Tech. Workman was named to the GTE Academic All-America Third Team in 1999. Kristi Tunnell (Blooming Grove, TX) will have the early start at the catchers position. Tunnell, a transfer from Lon Morris College, got the starting nod midway through the '99 season replacing an injured Lauren Warner. At first base, Tamara Harrington (Kingwood, TX) will once again get the starting job. Harrington recorded a team-high 402 putouts last season. Lauren Warner (Tucson, AZ), still recovering from an injury a year ago, will most likely spend time as the designated hitter. Warner will also help in the outfield.
Amanda Renfro, Sandy Butler, Shauna Briggs, Susie Gomez and Briana Nietert make up this season's junior class. All five players will play key roles in the success of this year's team. Sandy Butler (Tucson, AZ), a returning two-time All-Big 12 First-Team selection, led the team in batting average last season and will be a force to deal with in 2000. Butler will return to the centerfield position. Shauna Briggs (Herald, CA) underwent shoulder surgery during the middle of the 1999 season and will return to catching duties for the Red Raiders. Transfers Susie Gomez and Briana Nietert come to Texas Tech from West Valley Community College. Both players have been together since their high school days at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, CA. Nietert will be spending time at second base while Gomez will backup Tamara Harrington at first.
This season's sophomore class is composed of just one player - Eva Harshman. But, for the Red Raiders, Eva represents versatility and that is something the team will be able to use in 2000. Harshman (Helotes, TX) spent last season in leftfield but may also see playing time at thirdbase.
Rounding out the 2000 Red Raiders is a freshmen class that coach Gillispie calls "exciting." Jana Baker (Lubbock, TX), the team's first player from Lubbock, comes to the Red Raiders after setting numerous records at Lubbock's Coronado High School. Baker will backup Tunnell and Briggs behind the plate. Amanda Douglas (Richardson, TX) will help fill the vacancy left in rightfield with the departure of Stephanie Walls. Along with Douglas, Tiffany Harrington (Kingwood, TX) will move into the Red Raider outfield. Tiffany is also the sister of first basemen Tamara Harrington. Looking to fill the thirdbase position will be Lynsey Haij of Vancouver, Washington. Haij led her high school to the state championship in 1997.
With a strong nucleus of players returning and a dynamic recruiting class, Gillispie hopes to have her team in contention for the Big 12 Championship.
"Obviously we want to move our program to that next level," said Gillispie. Last year we made significant strides in that direction by going to the NCAA Regional Finals in our first year of postseason play. But, we want a conference championship. I think our team will be strong but we are going to have to buckle down and play. We will be playing a tough non-conference schedule that includes playing UCLA ('99 National Champions) twice. But, we are ready."