Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Javelinas softball coach Tigert pleasantly surprised with his team

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Thursday, April 6, 2000

Javelinas softball coach Tigert pleasantly surprised with his team

By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times
Brady Tigert wasn't really sure what to expect.
   A newcomer to the Lone Star Conference, Texas A&M-Kingsville's first-year softball coach didn't know much about the Javelinas' opponents, much less his own team.
   But after opening LSC South Division play last weekend with a 4-0 sweep of Eastern New Mexico, signs of any preseason uncertainty were not evident.
   "I wasn't really sure about our competition or this team," said Tigert, whose Javelinas are 28-10 overall and ranked No. 25 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Poll. "From the day before our first game until now, we have come so far and developed into a much smarter team. We're confident in what we do and that carries into every game."
   The league-leading Javelinas face LSC South Division favorite Texas Woman's in a four-game series this weekend in Denton. The teams play a doubleheader Friday at 5:30 p.m. and will meet in a second doubleheader Saturday at noon.
   A&M-Kingsville leads the South Division with a 4-0 mark, while Texas Woman's and Tarleton State are tied for second at 3-3.
   The Javelinas swept the LSC South Division weekly awards with their performance against Eastern New Mexico, with senior Sheila Dotson nabbing Hitter of the Week honors and sophomore Maria Gutierrez conference Pitcher of the Week accolades.
   Tigert said solid pitching by Gutierrez and junior Amanda Reed and a sound defense have allowed the Javelinas' to develop at the plate.
   "We've got good pitching. Great pitching has kept us in every ballgame," Tigert said. "We've become smarter as far as what we do defensively, keeping runners on the bases and making the routine plays. Pitching and defense keeps you in the game. After that it's a matter of getting hits."
   A&M-Kingsville's offense is led by senior second baseman Tiffany Gates, batting .341 with seven doubles. Freshman first baseman Sarah Norman carries a .333 average with seven doubles and a triple. Dotson, who joined the team late after the Javelinas' run through the NCAA Division II basketball playoffs, already has built a .333 average in just 21 at-bats. She also has two doubles and a home run.
   Gutierrez has compiled 19-7 record and a 1.23 ERA in 167 í innings and has 158 strikeouts. Reed has a 1.52 ERA and a 9-3 record in 95 innings.
   A&M-Kingsville is just one of two Texas schools ranked in the Top 25. The Javelinas were No. 9 in the first poll, but slipped 16 places after going 4-4 during an eight-game stretch.
   "Before we even knew we were ranked, we went into a slump," Tigert said. "We played so many games, 14 in two weeks, and toward the end we were just dying. We needed to rest. In the middle of that, we found out we were ranked. It gave us confidence."
   Despite the fall in the rankings, Tigert said business will remain as usual.
   "To be where we are tickles me to death," Tigert said. "Our goal is to go out in each game and do what we're capable of. The rest will take care of itself."
   A BATTLING FOR FIRST: The A&M-Kingsville baseball team travels to Portales, N.M., this weekend for a four-game series with Eastern New Mexico. The teams will play two doubleheaders, the first beginning at 5 p.m. Friday and again Monday beginning at 1 p.m.
   The Javelinas (16-28, 4-4 in the LSC South Division standings) are just one game out of first place. Abilene Christian and Tarleton State are in first with 5-3 records. West Texas A&M is 4-4, while Eastern New Mexico sits at 3-3 record and 16-15-1 overall. Cameron is in fifth place in the conference standings with a 1-5 record.
   This will be the final road trip for the Javelinas, who will close out conference play at Nolan Ryan Field in Kingsville April 14-15 against Cameron and April 21-22 against West Texas A&M.
   A DOING THE SPLIT: The A&M-Kingsville track and field team will split into two groups for two different meets this weekend. Five of the Javelinas will be entered in the 73rd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin, while four others will run in Stephenville at Tarleton State.
   Qualifying for the Texas Relays were Sherri Cain (high jump), Precious Thibodeaux (discus), Robert Garza (shot put), Ryan Weidman (javelin) and Laton Nobles (400-meter hurdles).
   Traveling to Stephenville will be distance runners James Longoria, Benny Rodriguez, Rick Carrillo and Nerisa Perez.
   The Javelinas will compete April 13-15 at the Angelo State Relays in San Angelo and will be back in San Angelo the following weekend for the LSC Championships.



Staff writer Javier Becerra's Texas A&M-Kingsville report appears each Thursday. To comment or make suggestions, contact Becerra at 886-3734 or by e-mail at becerraj@caller.com

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