Courtesy: New Mexico Athletics
Lobo Coach Erica Beach knows what it takes for a D-I softball player to walk the walk. She has been there and done that at the highest level of softball at the most demanding position. In 2015, she is asking the arms on her New Mexico Lobos to help a Lobo team inch up toward that level.
“We have to get it done in the circle,” said Beach, a former All-American hurler at Arizona State. “We need to have a bigger impact in the circle.”
In fast pitch softball, you really can’t win consistently without runs, defense and pitching. But without good pitching sometimes the runs and the defense can be wasted elements. So, Beach is throwing pressure and demands on a position that is used to such expectations. If you don’t have courage, the circle in softball is not the place for you.
But you still have to perform, hit your spots – and then go out and do it again.
“We are better in the circle than we have ever been,” said Beach. “We have a lot of variety in the circle. We have improved movement, improved speed and they have improved their mental game.
“Our pitchers have matured a lot and that’s what we needed to happen. They have the pitches. The pitches are not the problem. It’s mental toughness and competitiveness. We have worked hard on simply being tougher, more competitive in the circle.”
The Lobos’ ERA in 2014 was 7.66 and the arms throwing at the Lobos averaged a 3.99 ERA over 52 games. That translated into a 16-36 overall mark and a 7-17 mark in Mountain West play. One of Beach’s goals as a Lobo is to return this program to the NCAA postseason. In the MW that means winning the title – or having an impressive resume as the runner-up and grabbing an at-large bid.
The Lobos are aiming for the title. That means they have to change things on the scoreboard.
“We have so much confidence in our abilities,” said Brandi Heimburg, who hit .388 for UNM last season. “There are teams that have that feeling that you are going to be great and this is one of those teams. We have great chemistry and great talent. This team is meshing so well.”
One of the strengths of this Lobos team is returning a strong nucleus of players from last year’s diamond wars. The Lobos return eight field players: Michala Erickson, Karissa Haleman, Heimburg, Gabrielle Stacey, Mia Hignojos, Mariah Rimmer, Shelbie Franc and Jasmine Casados. The Lobos return four arms: Carrie Sheehan, Lauren Soles, Tess McPherson and Lisa Rodrigues.
“The leadership aspect is key for us,” said Beach. “We have a strong core of talented returners and we look for those kids to step up and use their experience to help this team grow. But I am also looking for younger players who also aren’t afraid to step up and lead.”
The biggest losses in the batters’ box was Willow Kalinen (.414) and Naomi Tellez (.369, seven home runs). Casados is the top long-ball returner, who tied Tellez last year in that category with seven bombs.
UNM hit 32 home runs on the season and allowed 46. UNM had 211 RBIs in 2014 and allowed 356. The Lobos need to pitch better in 2015, but they also could use a few more runs. UNM scored 234 runs in 2014 and allowed 407.
“In the past, we have given up too many runs by being inefficient in the circle,” said Beach. “Our team can win a lot of ball games, if we give up two or fewer runs.
“We have a lot of kids back from last year who were young, but they are maturing and growing. We have some studs on this team and we’re excited to find out what they can do. I’m really optimistic.”
Traditionally, Beach has thrown her young Lobos at some of the top teams in the nation in pre-conference ball. She has backed up that schedule a bit to give her 2015 team more of a balanced look at the competition.
“This year’s non-conference is more balanced than it has been in the past,” she said. “We will play some ranked teams, but we have some mid-level teams and there are a lot of winnable games.
“This was on purpose. We have to get some wins under our belts and carry more confidence into league games.”
The core of Beach’s team in 2015 comes with experience. She is bringing in five first-year Lobos and also returns two redshirt players. She already has lost one talented recruit to injury – Jade Gray, a catcher from Volcano Vista will miss the season due to shoulder surgery. The starting catcher in 2015 is expected to be freshman Chelsea Johnson from Riverside, Calif. Beach is expecting a freshman pitcher, Krissy Fortner of Piedra Vista High, to help in the circle.
“We have added another arm, which makes us more diverse,” said Beach. “We have a lot of variety in the circle. We have improved movement, improved speed and improved their mental game. We have a lot of looks to throw at teams.
“We lost some big sticks, but we have some kids who have stepped up incredibly. I’m very confident in this team. We are hitting the ball and we are pitching well.”
An emphasis in the circle will be to cut down on the free bases the Lobos allowed in 2014. New Mexico walked 271 batters and issued another 57 free passes on batters hit by a pitch. The Lobos got 129 walks in return and had 22 Lobos get to first after being struck by a pitch. UNM hit .297 as a team in 2014 and the opposition averaged .381.
“We have definitely improved,” said Casados. “Our motivation has really improved and we are all on the same road right now.”
The Lobos open the 2015 season Feb. 6-8 at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State. The Mountain West season begins March 20 at Utah State.
