SU Softball opens season at Baylor Tournament

Coming off an earnest 16 -21 season, the Southern University Lady Jaguars Softball Team has a lot to prove in 2002.
Since the Lady Jaguar inaugural SWAC championship season in 1997, in which they had an outstanding 29- 4 record, and the program has posted season records of 18-17 (1998), 31-14 (1999), 22-24 (2000) and 16-21 (2001), all under head coach Nancy Marshall
“We have a pretty decent team,” says, assistant coach Wilbert Early who is serving his second season with the Lady Jaguars.
There are a 11 newcomers to the upcoming 2002 Jaguar team, to add to the returning seven starters.
“We have fairly young catchers, but we have returning pitchers”, said Early.
The Jaguars are relying on returning starters, which include pitcher Kristy Roberts, a sophomore from Opelousas. Roberts pitched 100 innings giving up 117 hits and 135 runs, with a 7.83 ERA and a 6-11 record. Also returning as a pitcher JaQueta Sands, a senior from Detroit, who will also be heavily relied on for the 2002 season. Last year Sands only pitched 37.1 innings and collected a 2-4 record.
The Jaguars 2002 season opener will take place in Waco, Texas in the Baylor University Tournament, Friday, February 1-3.
The Jaguars will host the Lady Lions of Southeastern University on Saturday, February 9, at 11 a.m., at the Southern University Softball Field, located on Swan Street behind the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
The next home game is scheduled on Tuesday, February 12, as the Jaguars will host Centenary College at 11 a.m.
The leading hitters returning for the Jaguars include Monique Kendrick, a sophomore infielder, from Houston who finished as the team’s second leading hitter with a .310 batting average. Also returning is senior infielder Cozetta Shannon from Memphis, Tenn., who batted .309, and sophomore Victoria Washington from Gretna, an outfielder who batted .304
“We’d love to see you there to support the Lady Jaguars softball team,” said Marshall.
The ladies lost four starters from last season’s team that included Crystal Moody, a right fielder, from Stone Mountain, Ga., with a .317 batting average; Taleshea Harris, short stop/pitcher from Minden, with a .300 average; Joaquina Smith from Baton Rouge with a .255 average and Tianne Morales, catcher/outfield, Slidell, with a .250 average.