In addition to the returning players and fan favorites, the new Colonels of the 2009-2010 softball season have proved to be an important asset to the team.The first three players picked up last year were freshmen shortstop Alaina Guidry, outfielder/pitcher Ashton Bennett and outfielder Lauren Batiz.

“We are very excited to have these three join the Nicholls family. All three are very gifted athletes and are also very smart-minded students in the classroom,” head coach Jenny Parsons said last year.

Batiz has maintained a .333 batting average with 42 at bats. She sent three balls over the fence for home runs in the 15 games the Colonels have competed in this season. Batiz has also maintained a .750 fielding percentage only allowing one error.

Batiz is tied for the 13th spot in the Southland Conference for batting average and is eighth in the conference with a .571 slugging percentage.

Bennett has nine at bats with a .222 batting average, and Guidry has yet to see time in the field or at the plate.

Junior pitching transfer Carlee Winkelmann continues to lead and be on top of conference rankings for pitching. Winkelmann has pitched 15.1 innings, has a 3.20 ERA and a winning record of 2-1.

Winkelmann has struck out six batters, allowed eight runs on 14 hits and allowed three home runs from the opposing teams.

Winkelmann leads the conference allowing only seven earned runs as well as only walking two batters and allowing only two doubles and no triples.

Sophomore utility player Natalie Travasos transferred to Nicholls after a season at Louisiana-Lafayette.

Travasos has 47 at bats for a .213 batting average. She has hit one double and plated four Colonels to record four RBI’s.

While Batiz, Winkelmann and Travasos have found their rankings in the SLC, other new players seeing the field are freshman catcher Jackie Burri, freshman first baseman Brittany Ezeil and sophomore transfer Mandy Granger.

Freshmen yet to see the field or the plate are Guidry, catcher Emily Douglas, catcher Katie Holmes, outfielder Maddie Lock and outfielder Maci Richard.

The team’s next game is March 16 at 4 p.m. when the Colonels take on South Alabama at home.