University of Minnesota Athletics
2006-07 Golden Gopher Softball Team Debuts This Weekend
10/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The University of Minnesota softball team kicks off its 2006 fall season this weekend at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The Golden Gophers host Concordia-St. Paul on Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m., and will play two games against Wisconsin-Superior on Sunday, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. Admission is free to all games.
A number of talented and experienced players return to the Minnesota lineup, highlighted by senior Megan Higginbotham, who has led the Gophers in batting each of the last three years. A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Higginbotham finished last season with a .331 batting average and paced the team with 12 doubles and 30 runs scored.
Four other seniors will compete in their last season of college softball. Katie Meyer ranked third on the team with a .231 batting average in 2006, while Lisa Parks was second on the team with a .448 slugging percentage. Pitchers Rene Konderik and Mandy Valadez will also play their final season for the Golden Gophers.
Colleen Conway was the top newcomer on Minnesota’s roster last season. A sophomore from Woodbury, Minn., Conway started all 50 games at shortstop and ranked second on the team with a .267 batting average.
Minnesota also returns a pair of talented young pitchers in Briana Hassett and Katie Dalen. A native of Eagan, Minn., Hassett led the team with a 2.69 ERA last season and threw 11 complete games. Dalen won six games in her first full year of competition after sitting out the much of 2005 season due to injury.
Other players returning to the fold include juniors Lauren Pockl and Colleen Powers, sophomores Shannon Stemper, Chrissy Sward and Bethany Wolvington, and redshirt freshman Heidi Carls.
Minnesota welcomes four new faces this year, including three transfer students who will look to make an immediate impact. Sila Fernandez hit .410 and stole 30 bases in helping Pima Community College capture the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I championship last spring. Casey Wheeler is a two-time first-team All-American who led Phoenix College to its third straight NJCAA Division II national championship last season. Amber Nelson joins the Golden Gophers after spending the last two seasons at Furman University. True freshman Taylor Janus will begin her first season of collegiate softball.
Minnesota will host St. Cloud State in a doubleheader at noon on Saturday, Oct. 14, to conclude the fall season.
The Golden Gophers 2007 regular season schedule kicks off Feb. 9-11 with a tournament in Jacksonville, Fla.
A number of talented and experienced players return to the Minnesota lineup, highlighted by senior Megan Higginbotham, who has led the Gophers in batting each of the last three years. A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Higginbotham finished last season with a .331 batting average and paced the team with 12 doubles and 30 runs scored.
Four other seniors will compete in their last season of college softball. Katie Meyer ranked third on the team with a .231 batting average in 2006, while Lisa Parks was second on the team with a .448 slugging percentage. Pitchers Rene Konderik and Mandy Valadez will also play their final season for the Golden Gophers.
Colleen Conway was the top newcomer on Minnesota’s roster last season. A sophomore from Woodbury, Minn., Conway started all 50 games at shortstop and ranked second on the team with a .267 batting average.
Minnesota also returns a pair of talented young pitchers in Briana Hassett and Katie Dalen. A native of Eagan, Minn., Hassett led the team with a 2.69 ERA last season and threw 11 complete games. Dalen won six games in her first full year of competition after sitting out the much of 2005 season due to injury.
Other players returning to the fold include juniors Lauren Pockl and Colleen Powers, sophomores Shannon Stemper, Chrissy Sward and Bethany Wolvington, and redshirt freshman Heidi Carls.
Minnesota welcomes four new faces this year, including three transfer students who will look to make an immediate impact. Sila Fernandez hit .410 and stole 30 bases in helping Pima Community College capture the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I championship last spring. Casey Wheeler is a two-time first-team All-American who led Phoenix College to its third straight NJCAA Division II national championship last season. Amber Nelson joins the Golden Gophers after spending the last two seasons at Furman University. True freshman Taylor Janus will begin her first season of collegiate softball.
Minnesota will host St. Cloud State in a doubleheader at noon on Saturday, Oct. 14, to conclude the fall season.
The Golden Gophers 2007 regular season schedule kicks off Feb. 9-11 with a tournament in Jacksonville, Fla.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballUT
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballMinnesota (4) - Michigan (0) Highlights
Friday, May 02
Sydney Schwartz Throws No-Hitter
Tuesday, April 29
Gophers (8) - North Dakota (0) Highlights
Sunday, April 27
Gophers (5) - North Dakota (3) Highlights
Saturday, April 26