With top new recruits and experience from last season, the WNMU softball team has high hopes for 2010. With 24 out of their 40 conference games being played at home and playing 11 different teams to start the season, head coach Scott Woodard expects to end up with a successful season. The outlook on the season is to finish every game with high intensity, compete, win at home, play hard, concentrate on the big picture, be aggressive, be confident, and be “hard-nosed.” With the combination of these tactics, the Mustangs look to be a solid program this season. 

The 2009 season was a heartbreaker for the women in purple and gold. They felt they underachieved tremendously but look to revive their unsuccessful season this spring. 

Senior Kristina Barr (San Diego, CA, La Costa Canyon High School, Central Community College), who tied the single season home run record last year, earned many honors last year during her debut at WNMU. Barr's accomplishments included All-RMAC First Team, Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II All-Central First Team, Daktronics All-Central Region First Team, and Daktronics All-American Second Team. 

Barr played and started in every game in 2009 at shortstop. She finished the season towards the top of nearly every RMAC hitting category. She was fourth in batting average with .480, second in slugging percentage at .908, number two in on base percentage with .534, ninth in hits with 73, fourth in homeruns with 16, and number five in total bases with 138. Defensively, Barr posted 114 assists. In addition, Barr led the Mustangs in nearly every category including 50 RBIs. 

Another key returner is sophomore Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ, Deer Valley High School). Barnes received a spot on the All-RMAC Third Team in 2009. Barnes finished just behind Barr in nearly all of the same categories: batting average (.397), slugging percentage (.702), on base percentage (.445), hits (56), homeruns (8), and total bases (99). In the catcher position, Barnes ranked number three in the RMAC in the caught stealing by category. She picked off nine base runners. 

Senior first baseman Rebecca Reynolds (Benson, AZ, Benson High School) will be another factor in the success equation this season. The year of 2009 marked the first time Reynolds has been healthy since she has been with Woodard and WNMU. In 2007, Reynolds earned herself the award of most valuable player at the conference tournament. The very next year the sophomore earned an All-RMAC honor, as well. Last season, Reynolds had a .304 batting average with 48 hits, 13 doubles, and six homeruns. Her 13 doubles tied with Barnes for the second highest on the team. 

Having only graduated two seniors in 2009, Woodard looks to his underclassmen to step up. “Courtney Graf (El Paso, TX, Coronado High School), Jessica Jayo (Peoria, AZ, Centennial High School), Brittney Batten (Benson, AZ, Benson High School), and Sarah Almanza (El Paso, TX, JM Hank High School, Ranger Junior College) will utilize the valuable experiences they received last year to continue to improve for this season,” comments Woodard. 

The new recruits for this season will give the Mustangs a fresh look at a presence on the field. Three new pitchers should help the Mustangs strive to reach their goals. 

“My recruits for this year are older and more experienced. They know how to win, expect to win, and believe they are good,” states Woodard. 

Amy Aicher (Snohomish, WA, Snohomish High School, College of Southern Nevada), a junior transfer from College of Southern Nevada (CSN), is a dynamite five-tool player. In 2008, she was named Third Team All-American, Academic All-American, and All-Region Shortstop. Her sophomore year at CSN, she was named Third Team All-American and All-Region Shortstop. 

Pitcher Hannah Dodson (Alpine, TX, Alpine High School, Odessa College) received All-District Pitcher during her high school existence at Alpine High School her sophomore, junior, and senior years. Transferring from Odessa College, she brings more honors, such as All-Conference Pitcher in 2008 and 2009. Also in 2009, she was a Division I Junior College All-Star Game participant and her team was regional champions. Dodson also went to the Junior College World Series with her team in 2009. 

The keys to success for 2010: stay healthy, good pitching, and solid defense. Woodard states, “We will hit…we always have!” 

The Mustangs opened their season in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Desert Stinger Softball Tournament hosted by Montana State Billings on February 12-14 and finished 2-3. They then traveled to Wichita Falls, Texas to participate in the Holiday Inn at the Falls/MSU Invitational. There they split with two wins and two losses.