Lady Chaps open season with No. 21 national ranking
The Lubbock Christian University softball team went 39-12 and made it to the NCAA South Central Region tournament final last season before losing to national semifinalist UT Tyler.
Outsiders expect more of the same for the Lady Chaps, who start this season at No. 21 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association ranking and fourth among 15 teams in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll of coaches, sports information directors and media.
Living up to those expectations isn't a given, considering the Lady Chaps return only four position-player starters and the LSC and the South Central Region are some of the nation's strongest in Division II.
"We lost five of the nine regular starters in the lineup and some really good players that helped us win a lot of games," LCU coach Daren Hays said. "We're replacing them with some youth, so it's probably going to take us a while to get where we want to be, but I think we'll get there.
"We're talented. I think we have good players, but we're going to have to come along."
The Lady Chaps open the season with 14 home games. They host the Lubbock Sports College Classic from Friday through Sunday, the Lubbock Sports College Invitational from Feb. 9-12 and their first Lone Star Conference series Feb. 17-18 against UT Tyler, which is ranked No. 3.
To start this weekend's tournament at Maner Park, on Friday LCU plays No. 22 Washburn at 1 p.m. and the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs at 3 p.m. On Saturday, the Lady Chaps take on Newman at 1 p.m. and Nebraska Kearney at 3 p.m. and on Sunday, they close against Southwestern Oklahoma State at 2 p.m.
In the tournament the following weekend, LCU will play six games over four days against Chadron State, Emporia State, Adams State and Minot State.
With the early season competition for lineup spots, the Lady Chaps are helped by knowing exactly who their pitchers are. They return their top two: NFCA second-team all-American Taylor Franco, who was 21-5 with a 2.37 earned-run average and three saves last season; and Maxine Valdez, who was 13-5 with a 2.29 ERA and two saves. Franco struck out 146 in 171 innings, and Valdez fanned 150 in 134 2/3.
"That gives you a chance, having those two coming back," Hays said. "Maxine and Taylor both were at the top of the league pitching-wise.
"Then we have a freshman, Ashlinn Hamilton (from Denison), that hopefully will get to where those girls have developed into. Hopefully, that's what she'll be in her career. We have a little more pitching depth than we've had in a while."
Hamilton was a district pitcher of the year last season, going 10-9 with a 2.62 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 136 1/3.
A lot of the Lady Chaps' fortunes this season, however, will revolve around Franco, last season's LSC pitcher of the year. The graduate student from Monahans is 56-24 with a 2.13 ERA over four seasons.
"She's very consistent," Hays said. "She locates very well, has really good movement and velocity. They kind of know what they're going to get, but when she locates it well she's hard to beat."
The returning core of the offense consists of slugging corner infielder Kasey Flores, who hit .327 with 17 home runs and 54 runs batted in; Tiarra Delrosario (.364-0-23), middle infielder Skylar Herrera (.353-11-58) and Kamryn Gibbs (.283-5-17). Gibbs had 19 stolen bases last season, Herrera 14 and Delrosario 13.
Position switches are in the offing for all three. Hays said Delrosario likely will start in the outfield after playing catcher and first base last season. Herrera is shifting from second base to shortstop and Gibbs from left field to second base.
Among the graduation losses were first-team all-region shortstop Brooke Makemson, second-team all-region outfielder Angela Donaldson, first-team all-conference outfielder Savannah Wysocki and second-team all-conference catcher-third baseman Tyla Lee.
"A lot of experience there and a lot of people that fit in really well with our program," Hays said. "It's a big adjustment when you lose half your lineup, or over half of it, but I like our personnel. It's just how quick they come along."
Among the top newcomers are freshman catcher Amanda Valdiviezo from El Paso Parkland and a pair of transfers, catcher Hayden Brown from LSU and outfielder Hope Banales, who was a part-time starter at New Mexico State.
Hays called Valdiviezo "as talented a kid as we've ever had here."
"She got legit pop," Hays said. "She's just like a lot of freshmen, trying to figure out the college game, but the good thing is she really receives well and probably throws better than anyone we've ever had. She really can be a plus for us defensively, and she's only going to get better as a hitter."
Flores will play third base and also some first base. Others competing for time at first include freshman Victoria Owens from El Paso Pebble Hills and sophomore Riley Lunsford from Frisco Heritage.
In addition to Delrosario and Banales, the outfield could feature senior Berkeley Quinn, a second-year transfer from UC Riverside, and freshman Sydnee Bowlin, who had a .434 on-base percentage and 27 stolen bases last year for Frenship.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lady Chaps open season with No. 21 national ranking
