Hounds set to open 2017 softball slate

PORTALES — The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will hit the diamond today, opening its 2017 season in the Southeastern Oklahoma State Regional tournament.

Second-year coach Katie Welborn hopes to see a lot of improvement over her 2016 squad, which went 14-42 with a 5-27 Lone Star Conference record. The stark contrast between last year's team and this year's squad is immediately apparent, with only seven returners among the 19 new faces filling out the roster.

ENMU was projected ninth out of 11 teams in the recent LSC preseason poll.

"I think the nice part about having that many new girls is you have competition for the girls who have already been here," Welborn said. "The older girls show them how I want things done, while the new girls push them to be harder."

Among the newcomers are three transfers whom Welborn sees playing crucial roles if the team is to find a lot of success.

"Kylee Keller, one of our captains this year, is a junior transfer from Howard College," Welborn said. "She has gone to the (National Junior College Athletic Association) championship with them twice now, along with Kamalani Peneku and Ashley Lopez — all three are transfers from Howard."

Keller, playing second base and third base, was a two-time all-league selection at Howard while posting a .388 batting average. Lopez hit .347 while also turning in a .975 fielding percentage in the outfield.

As for returning players, Welborn will also be leaning on them for their experience and leadership abilities.

"Katie Ripple and Audrey Velasquez, our other two captains, have played all four years here and done an amazing job. Then Susie, who was second team all-conference, those three girls are all seniors and will really be providing that leadership role."

For the team's opening tournament, the Greyhounds will play a string of five games which include some of the region's best teams, including St. Mary's to name one.

"It's a tough schedule to start, tough competition. We play really tough teams purposefully so when we get into our conference, we've already had these tough games."

Following the regional tournament, Eastern will stop off in Lubbock, Texas, for a doubleheader against Colorado Christian before returning home before another long road trip for a tournament in Grand Prarie, Texas.

ENMU SCHEDULE

February

3-4 - at Southeastern Oklahoma regional tournament (2 vs. Central Oklahoma, 11 a.m.; 3 vs. Southeastern Oklahoma, 4 p.m.; 4 vs. Southwestern Oklahoma, 1:30 p.m,; 5 vs. St. Mary's, 8:30 a.m., and vs. St. Edward's, 1:30 p.m.); 7 - vs. Colorado Christian (2) at Lubbock, noon; 10-12 - at Grand Prairie (Texas) tournament (10 - vs. Regis, 12:30 p.m., and vs. Northwestern Oklahoma, 2 p.m.; 11 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State, 10 a.m., and vs. Oklahoma Christian 12:30 p.m.; 12 - vs Colorado Christian, 9 a.m.); 14 - New Mexico Highlands (2), noon; 17 - at Western New Mexico, 2 p.m.-x; 18 - at Western New Mexico (2), noon-x; 21 - Lubbock Christian (2), noon; 24 - Tarleton State (2), noon-x; 25 - Tarleton State, noon-x; 28 - at New Mexico Highlands (2), noon.

March

3 - at Midwestern State, 6 p.m.-x; 4 - at Midwestern State (2), noon-x; 7 - Oklahoma Christian (2), noon; 10 - Angelo State (2), noon-x; 11 - Angelo State, noon-x; 17 - at Texas Woman's (2), 4 p.m.-x; 18 - Texas Woman's, noon-x; 21 - at Lubbock Christian (2), noon; 24 - Texas-Permian Basin (2), noon-x; 25 - Texas-Permian Basin, noon-x;31 - at Texas A&M-Commerce (2), 3 p.m.-x.

April

1 - at Texas A&M-Commerce, noon-x; 4 - at Oklahoma Christian (2), 1 p.m.; 7 - Cameron, 2 p.m.-x; 8 - Cameron (2), noon-x; 13 - at Texas A&M-Kingsville, 4 p.m.-x; 14 - at Texas A&M-Kingsville (2), 11 a.m.-x; 18 - at Oklahoma Panhaldoe State (2), 1 p.m.; 28 - West Texas A&M, 2 p.m.-x; 29 - West Texas A&M (2), noon-x.

All Times Mountain. x-Denotes Lone Star Conference games.

Coach: Katie Welborn (2nd year). Assistant coach: Morgan Spearman. Graduate assistsnt: Sophie Slagle.