Youthful optimism key for softball squad

PORTALES — If nothing else, second-year Eastern New Mexico University softball coach Kira Zeiter is an optimist.

Picked for 15th place in the new 17-team Lone Star Conference’s preseason poll earlier this week, Zeiter is determined to prove the skeptics wrong — and with a 25-player roster that features 15 freshmen, no less.

“We did a lot of good things last year, (among them) sweeping Texas Woman’s for the first time in (program) history,” said Zeiter, whose contingent finished 12-30 overall in 2019, including 8-22 and eighth in the then-11-team LSC. “We have a lot of experience going into the season, but we have 18 new players (with three transfers), so nobody knows what to expect of us.”

The Greyhounds open the 2020 campaign with a noon doubleheader on Saturday at New Mexico Highlands. They will play a 32-game league schedule, with a twin bill against each of the other 16 squads.

ENMU is seeking its first winning season since 2009 (24-23) and its first winning LSC mark since 2006 (13-11).

Returnees for the Greyhounds include senior catcher Samantha Brockman, sophomore infielder Haleigh Behncke, senior infielder Adriana Carabajal, junior catcher/outfielder Parker Smith, junior outfielder Jenny McElroy, sophomore outfielder Iliana Mendoza and senior infielder Elysa Rodriguez. Mendoza led the team in batting average last season (.369), while nearly half of McElroy’s 34 hits (10 doubles, six home runs) went for extra bases.

Meantime, everybody is gone from last year’s pitching staff. Junior Sierra Rodriguez, a transfer from Division II Fort Hays State in Kansas, leads a sextet of hurlers which also includes five freshmen.

Zeiter said she will eventually settle on a couple of regular starters, acknowledging that Rodriguez may have an inside track with her experience.

“I think she’s definitely going to play a big role,” Zeiter said. “But our pitchers are all different. It depends on matchups that day.”

The Hounds, Zeiter said, should have more power in their lineup after hitting just 18 home runs last season. She also thinks there’s more depth in the circle.

“Roles this year are going to change quite a bit,” she said. “I have the ability to use a bench this year (more than) last year. We have a lot of competition on the team, and it’s going to make them better softball players.”

Defending champion Texas A&M-Kingsville received 32 of 42 first-place votes in the preseason poll, and is favored to repeat its title. Texas A&M-Commerce garnered seven first-place tallies and was tabbed for second place, with Tarleton State, Cameron and newcomer Oklahoma Christian rounding out the top five.

The top 10 teams make the LSC’s postseason tournament in early May, to be hosted by the regulars-season champion.

Zeiter and her players put little stock in the poll, instead hoping to use it as motivation.

“It was quite upsetting (to be picked 15th),” freshman pitcher/utility player Azalea Martinez said. “But it was also motivating. We’re trying to prove people wrong.”

Zeiter said among the keys for her team are to try to stay in the moment.

“We’re going to need to have a short memory,” she said. “We don’t want to get too high or too low.

“I think (defensively) you need to be able to get outs when you need them, and we need to have more production on offense.”

Zeiter said the squad is anxious to get going. They play in three tournaments in February before opening their conference and home slate with doubleheaders against Texas-Permian Basin on March 6 and Western New Mexico on March 8 — the two teams picked below them in the poll.

“We’re excited,” Zeiter said. “I think we have a great opportunity to surprise some people in the conference.”