University of Houston Athletics
2006 Softball Outlook
1/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 9, 2006
HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball program embarks on the 2006 season as one of the senior members in a new-look Conference USA hoping to return to the NCAA Regionals after a one-year hiatus.
Entering only its sixth season of existence, the Cougars are coming off a fourth consecutive 30-win season and have reached the final day of the C-USA Tournament the last two seasons.
"Recruiting is the key to keeping us at the top of our conference," Holas said. "With this freshman class we have addressed our needs and improved our talent."
Holas begins her sixth season at the helm of a Houston program she has been with since day one, carefully constructing the Cougars into one of the up-and-coming teams in the nation. Houston has proven it can beat any team in the nation, registering victories against No. 11 Baylor and No. 16 Nebraska twice last season.
After losing five members of a senior class that were cornerstones to the success in building the program including three-time All-Region performer Kristen Glowacz and centerfielder Kim Nesloney, the 2006 edition of the Cougars has reloaded with talented newcomers that join a solid returning nucleus.
"What a goal oriented group of ladies," Holas said. "From the moment they stepped foot on campus this year's team wants championships and postseason appearances."
Pitchers
The experience of the Cougars lies in the pitching staff as all four arms return from last season for the 2006 campaign. Angel Shamblin and Barbie Love were C-USA All-Freshman selections a season ago.
Love paced the staff and was sixth in C-USA with a 1.94 ERA. She compiled three saves out of the bullpen, while Shamblin fired a staff-best 83 strikeouts to go along with four shutouts, including the program's first perfect game on March 14 against Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
 Carla Kennimer was fifth in C-USA holding opponents to a staff-low .198 batting average.  | |
Shamblin teamed with Carla Kennimer picking up a staff-high 11 wins apiece in more than 100 innings of work last season. Kennimer held opponents and was fifth in C-USA to a staff-low .198 batting average and was extremely tough on right-handed hitters, holding them to a .180 mark.
The lone senior of the staff, Crystal Briscoe, struck out 59 batters in only 63 innings of action. A majority of her outs came through the air with four of her eight spot starts resulting in complete games.
Candi Kloecker comes to Houston from Blinn College and will see some time in the circle. In 2004, Kloecker went 20-6 with a 0.89 ERA as the Buccaneers finished No. 11 in the NJCAA poll.
"This is finally our strength," Holas said. "We have a group of pitchers who can dominate our opponents and bring something very special to the circle."
Infield/Catchers
Houston must fill a big hole on the left side of the infield left by three-time All-Region performer and C-USA Co-Player of the Year Kristin Glowacz. She spearheaded the offense, leading the Cougars in batting average (.366), home runs (17), RBI (50), slugging percentage (.754) and total bases (132). Glowacz was named to the C-USA All-Decade team and holds the league record with 175 career RBI.
Laura Durham, a transfer from Texas A&M, looks to pick up the offensive slack left by Glowacz. She hit .429 in Big XII action a season ago, including a game-winning pinch-hit two-run triple against All-America Cat Osterman of Texas, giving the Aggies the Big XII regular season title.
"Laura is an addition that we are very lucky to have," Holas said. "Our hope is that she can fill the shoes left for her and use her experience to lead the infield."
Jessica Valis has emerged in the fall season and will get the start at shortstop on opening day. Valis was on back-to-back state championship teams at St. Paul High School. Also figuring in the mix at shortstop is Jaci Gonzalez who comes back to the diamond after a strong fall on the volleyball court.
"It is tough not having Jaci (Gonzalez) all year, but Jessica (Valis) has made the adjustments as a freshman and looks to be solid for us in the middle of the infield," Holas said. "Jaci will have to get back in the groove. Her defense is where she benefits the team the most."
Jamie Adams will return to second base after filling in at catcher last season, while Haley Valis will give the middle of the infield some depth. The coaching staff is impressed with Valis' "tough as nails" attitude. Candi Kloecker will settle into the Cougar infield at first base.
Behind the plate, the Cougars have a pair of talented catchers in Christa Raley and Elaina Nordstrom. Raley will be looking to bounce back from a season-ending elbow injury suffered in the season-opener against No. 6 Texas, while Nordstrom begins her Houston career after being a four-time All-District First-Team performer at Kennedy High School in LaPalma, Calif.
Outfield/Utility
A pair of three-year letterwinners, Brooke Johnson and Brandi Clark, will highlight the Cougar outfield patrolling left and right field, respectively. The duo combined for 110 starts in the Houston outfield last season.
Clark leads all returning Houston players on offense with a .240 batting average to go along with five homers and 19 RBI. Of her 42 hits from a season ago, 16 of them resulted in extra bases, including nine doubles and two triples.
Johnson is solid defensively, committing only one error against 60 putouts, and paces all Houston returnees at the plate drawing 18 walks. Her left-handed bat will give the Cougar lineup some flexibility.
"It is nice to have such an experienced outfield," Holas said. "We pride ourselves on having the best, and they are a perfect example of our philosophy."
Katie Bush steps into the starting spot at centerfield, filling the shoes left by four-year standout Kim Nesloney. While at Brenham High School, Bush was an All-District First-Team performer on a 4A State Championship team that went 38-5-1 in 2005. She was honored in both 2004 and 2005 as an NFCA All-Region and All-America selection.
"We are lucky to have found Katie," Holas said. "She has transitioned into a solid centerfielder and an even better Cougar. I look forward to seeing her mature and succeed out there."
Providing depth in the outfield is Courtney Spittler and Laurie Wagner. In limited action last season, Spittler scored eight runs and drew five walks in only 23 plate appearances. Wagner joins the Cougars as a four-time All-District First-Team member while at Stratford High School.
At designated player, Angel Shamblin carried a big bat for the Cougars when not giving opponents fits in the pitching circle, knocking five home runs and driving in 19 RBI. Wagner will also get some swings in the DP spot, while Christa Raley and Elaina Norstrom will be in the mix when not starting behind the plate.
Schedule
The 2006 schedule is packed with marquee opponents boasting impressive credentials, as the Cougars face off against 10 teams that made the NCAA Tournament a season ago. 2006 also will mark the fifth consecutive year of the Houston home tournaments: Houston Wilson/DeMarini Invitational, Marriot Houston Hobby Invitational and the Houston Crowne Plaza Classic in the first three weekends of the season.
The Cougars open the schedule with 13 of its first 16 games against NCAA Tournament teams from last season. The good news for UH is 11 of those 13 games will be played inside the friendly confines of the Cougar Softball Stadium. The lone exception is a doubleheader at Super Regional participant Texas A&M (Feb. 22).
"We are lucky to have our facilities and good weather to draw such competitive teams to our tournaments each year," Holas said. "It is important to our success and postseason chances to play the best possible schedule we can early on so we can focus on conference when that roles around."
Before stepping into C-USA action against East Carolina (March 11-12), Houston opens March on a nine-game road trip with stops against Women's College World Series participant Texas (March 4), in addition to a doubleheader against Super Regional foe Baylor (Mar. 8).
"Every other year we make a trip to play as many Big XII and SEC schools as possible," Holas said. "Playing those types of opponents in hostile environments helps our RPI ranking and prepare us for the postseason."
The Cougars return to the road for series at Tulsa (March 18-19) and NCAA participant UCF (March 25-26) before returning home against UTEP (April 1-2).
Houston hooks up with Texas-San Antonio (April 4), Texas State (April 5) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (April 9) before returning to conference play at Marshall (April 15-16) and against Southern Miss (April 22-23).
The Cougars conclude the C-USA season at UAB (April 29-30) and against first-year program Memphis (May 6-7) before heading back to Tulsa for the C-USA Championships (May 11-13).
"We need to dominate the conference in the regular season and get more sweeps," Holas said. "Heading into the C-USA Tournament with more regular season wins will not only help us return to Regionals but give us more confidence to clinch a championship."
