Nicholls women’s softball team has been preparing during the off-season, and has added some new players to the 2008-2009 roster.
Head coach Jenny Parsons said she is excited about beginning the new season with a strong nucleus of returning players, aided by addition of two sophomore transfers, catcher Nicole Smith from Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla., and Seminole State in Seminole, Okla., transfer outfielder/pitcher Audrey Woods.
Smith, a standout in softball earning first Team All-District for three seasons, was voted MVP honors her senior season. She also played volleyball, soccer and track at Central Lafourche High School in Raceland.
Woods played prep ball at Lawton MacArthur in Lawton, Okla. and was named all-conference as a pitcher, selected All-State and conference MVP her senior year and batted .465, recording 350 strikeouts.
Parsons said she is pleased to have both players on the team and expects them to contribute to the team’s success.
” Both players should bring some depth offensively and fill some holes since Leah Peterson and Jacqueline Pacheco have graduated,” Parsons said.
Parsons also signed four players in late December: catcher Logan Johnson from Gonzales, outfielder Laine Strickland from Austin, Texas, short stop/second base, Tsade Jobert from the Netherlands and third base/first base Kayla Watterson from New Iberia.
During her junior season Johnson batted a .333 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs at Dutchtown High School in Geismar.
Strickland was a prominent member of the McNeil High 2007 Bi-District Championship team in Austin, Texas and Honorable Mention candidate in 2006.
Jobert from Peter Suyvesant College in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, played as shortstop for the Curacao National Team
The all tournament team and all conference selections are all back.
Returning to the mound is four-year senior Jessica Barksdale and three-year senior Krystalline Ensminger. Parsons said this season might be one of the Nicholls’ best.
“This team has the most experience and most depth in my four years as a coach.” Parsons said.
Returning senior shortstop Kathryn Harrell led the Colonels her junior year with a single season .453 batting average. Parson said she is glad to have the shortstop back.
“Harrell could arguably be the best player in the conference if not the region,” Parsons said.
Women’s softball team will start the season playing in a tournament in Houston slated for Feb. 8-10. The Lady Colonels follow up at home Feb. 13 against Southern Mississippi University.
Before before beginning conference play, the Lady Colonels will play in the LSU tournament Feb. 15-17 and the Mercer tournament in Georgia Feb. 22-24.
These tournaments and the home game against Southern Mississippi University should get the Lady Colonels prepared to face the conference opponents starting with Southeastern in Hammond.
“Conference is always a challenge, Parsons said. “There are usually always about four or five teams that are battling out to make it, we plan on taking care of conference opponents early on to be put in a great position in conference play.