Maverick women to start season among top ten

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February 4th, 2011

Lindsey Slocum returns after an All-America performance in 2010. (Photo courtesy www.omavs.com)

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Omaha, NE – The Nebraska-Omaha women’s softball team will begin the season ranked among the top teams in the nation. Last season’s performance is apparently carrying weight with voters. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has tagged UNO with a #9 ranking to start the season. The Mavericks won 50 games and shared a conference title with Emporia State last year.

“We feel like it’s a respect to the program and what we’ve done,” said Head Coach Jeanne Scarpello. “To see ourselves number nine, we feel like it’s one heck of a good starting point.”

Both of UNO’s top starting pitchers return following award winning performances last year. Beth Haley was voted pitcher of the year by the MIAA conference and Lindsey Slocum’s outstanding play garnered All-America honors. Add four other returning All-Conference honorees, and it’s easy to see why the Mavericks are so highly regarded to begin the 2011 season. Scarpello said, despite all the returning talent, there will be room for fresh faces.

“We lose Treightin Yates who hit .450 for us, so we’re trying to find a good mix on that infield,” she said. Scarpello also said she expects Creighton transfer Lauren Larson to see significant time behind the plate.

Those new faces in the infield will see the season’s first action on February 12th when UNO takes on Central Oklahoma in Talequah.

The Mavericks will see their first ranked opponent on February 18th when they face eighth-ranked Angelo State. Other ranked teams on the schedule for 2011 are #19 Emporia State and #7 Wayne State.

Valdosta State of Georgia was voted first following its second place finish last year.

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