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Thursday, February 1, 2001

Islanders young, but hopeful
Sophomores, freshmen to face tough A&M-CC opponents
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times

David Adame/Caller-Times

A&M-CC softball coach Natasha Dumoski and the Islanders face eight nationally-ranked teams this season.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball coach Natasha Dumoski had never met Patty Gasso before the two crossed paths last June.
   In Las Vegas on a recruiting trip, Dumoski and Gasso spent their short stay in Glitter Gulch scouting from the bleachers at a summer league game.
   At first the casual conversation focused on the player that had brought both coaches to the desert town. By the end of their stay, the two were hashing out plans for Dumoski's Islanders to make the trip to Norman, Okla., to face Gasso and her defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners.
   For Dumoski, the invitation to play against the Sooners in the OU Worth Invitational Tournament in March was like hitting the jackpot.
   "We were just sitting around talking and watching the game," Dumoski said. "I told her congratulations for having just won the national championship. She said you also deserve congratulations for having a great first year. It's an honor for her to even know how we did."
   A&M-Corpus Christi went 20-35-1 in its inaugural season. The Islanders begin their sophomore campaign Friday against perennial Pac-10 powerhouse Oregon in the Southwest Texas State University Invitational. The Islanders and the Ducks, ranked 20th in the USA Today/NFCA Preseason Division I Top 25, open the tournament at 10 a.m. in San Marcos.
   Oklahoma and Oregon aren't the only Top 25 teams on A&M-Corpus Christi's schedule this season. In all, the Islanders will play eight ranked opponents, including 5th-ranked Alabama, which joined the Sooners as the No. 5 seed in last year's College World Series. A&M-Corpus Christi is also scheduled to face 9th-ranked Fresno State, 15th-ranked Stanford, 16th-ranked Oregon State, 23rd-ranked Mississippi State and 24th-ranked Texas.
   "I've always thought that in order to become the best you have to play the best," Dumoski said. "The schedule was put together with that intention. I think it's even tougher than last season."
   Sophomore catcher Rachel Mendez agreed with Dumoski, but said the Islanders aren't intimidated by the daunting schedule.
   "A lot of us are looking forward to playing those teams," said Mendez, who led A&M-Corpus Christi with a .344 average, 55 hits and 35 RBI. "Hopefully we can get a couple of upsets and surprise some people. We want to let people know who we are, that we're not just some small school across the street from the beach."
   A&M-Corpus Christi's second season will be hampered by the loss of pitcher Amanda Burton, who suffered a stress fracture in her lower back late last season.
   Dumoski thought Burton would be ready once the Islanders began preseason workouts, but Burton opted take a medical redshirt.
   "We thought she was going to have enough time to heal, but I guess it was too soon. We decided last week it would be a lot easier for her to take the year off to heal properly," Dumoski said of Burton, who went 10-19 with a 3.84 ERA.
   With Burton out for the season, the Islanders will have to rely on the experience of sophomore Melanie Drews. The 5-foot-10 Drews posted a 10-14 record and finished with a 4.24 ERA.
   "Losing Amanda puts a lot of pressure on Melanie," Dumoski said. "Freshman Leah Smith will also have to play a bigger role than what we expected. It's disappointing, but we still have to compete."
   A&M-Corpus Christi lost its first five games before posting an 8-6 win over Southwest Texas State in the Bobcats' tournament last season. After their 0-5 start, the Islanders then went 8-5-1 during February and the early part of March, a month Dumoski would mostly like to forget - the Islanders lost 18 consecutive games during a spring break trip to the west coast.
   Dumoski is hoping her team has cured last season's ailments, particularly with its defense, which committed 120 errors.
   "A lot of it has to do with teamwork, and this year we're doing a good job of working together," said Dumoski, whose team won 12 of its last 19 games. "Last year I thought defense was going to be our strong point, but it ended up hurting us. We have to eliminate multiple mistakes and gain confidence that we can succeed in any situation."
   Success will have to come from the team consisting of one senior, nine sophomores and seven freshmen.
   Despite the Islanders' relative inexperience, attitudes remain positive.
   "We have the potential to be great in all areas," said freshman Katie Evans, who Dumoski said could end up the starter at shortstop. "There's just one senior, but having almost everyone back from last year is a calming influence."
   Unlike last season, Dumoski said the Islanders are ready to play.
   "Last year I would've liked an extra two months," Dumoski said. "We've done about as much as we can do in practice. This team needs to get on the field."


Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or by e-mail at becerraj@caller.com

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