Texas State Bobcats
Overall Rank: #44
Conference Rank: #1 WAC
Coach Ricci Woodard has led her Texas State squad to 10 Conference championships and five trips to the NCAA post season and even though they make the move from the Southland Conference to the WAC, she and her team still have high expectations. “We are expecting this year to be even more successful than last year. Our goal is to get through that regional and into a Super Regional and see if we can make it to a College World Series. These young ladies worked very hard this fall and I can only hope it will pay off for them in the spring,” Woodard said. The Bobcats lose only one starter from last year’s Southland Conference Championship team and will field an experienced group that includes six seniors and six juniors.
2012: 39-17, 18-2
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Ricci Woodard, 13th Season
Field Players:
Sophomore Selena Hernandez returns at shortstop, where she committed just four errors in 201 chances and she hit .301. Senior second baseman Anna Hernandez and senior first baseman Haley Lemons have held down the right side of the infield and the middle of the lineup for the past three years. Coach Woodard says, “We are expecting them to have breakout years for us offensively this spring.” Senior centerfielder Brooke Baker led the Bobcats in hitting last spring in her first year to see a lot of playing time. Coach Woodard will look for her to get on base so the rest of the lineup can find ways to score her.
Pitchers:
The WAC newcomers will lean on senior Anne Marie Taylor in the circle. In 2012 she posted a 1.71 ERA in 180 innings of work, tallying 17 wins and 22 complete games, including victories over BYU, Baylor and Houston. She pitched 13 innings against the NPF All-Star team this fall, allowing only three hits. Her head coach is counting heavily on her, saying, “We are expecting some more great innings from her all spring.”
Who to Watch:
Texas State brought in just three freshmen this fall and “we are expecting all three to contribute early this year,” Woodard indicated. “Kelly Baker does a great job offensively of finding ways to get on the bases, we will probably use her somewhere in the outfield or in the DP spot. Ashley Wright will help us on the mound this year. She has a lot of different looks for the hitter. We are excited to see what she will do this spring. Last is Katie Dorre, who will see a lot of time behind the plate for us. She adds power to our lineup that has been much needed.”
Final Projection:
Moving into a new conference will present some challenges for Texas State, not the least of which will be the significant travel required to complete the league schedule. This upperclassman heavy squad, which is accustomed to success, will need to step up the offensive production in 2013. But with Anne Marie Taylor anchoring the pitching staff and a schedule that includes 11 games against top ranked teams, Texas State has the opportunity to compete for the WAC Title and the potential to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament again.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Brooke Baker, CF, 183
Hits: Selena Hernandez, C, 55
Home Runs: Anna Hernandez, 2B, 3
RBIs: Selena Hernandez, C, 26
Runs: Selena Hernandez, C, 28
Stolen Bases: Brooke Baker, CF, 15
Wins: Anne Marie Taylor, P, 17
Innings Pitched: Anne Marie Taylor, P, 180.1
Strikeouts: Anne Marie Taylor, P, 164
Saves: Anne Marie Taylor, P, 1
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