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2006 SOFTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

03/02/2006

   The Blue Tigers return the nucleus of a squad which finished a disappointing 9-26 overall and 0-2 in Heartland Conference play in 2005.  The eagerness and optimism of new Head Coach Lori Reyes to takeover a team, which only lost two seniors, lends hope for the new season as 10 letter winner’s return for Lincoln.   

   “Yes, I think there’s a new attitude,” said first year Head Coach Lori Reyes.  “They’ve got somebody who will breathe down their neck 24/7.  Although, I’m positive with them, I’ll always let them know they can improve.”

   Part of that improvement process can be traced directly to the high standards for success the Blue Tigers have set. Targets for the Blue Tigers are to have a team grade point average greater than or equal to 3.25, have two players selected to the Heartland Conference All-Conference Postseason Team, make it into the second round of the Heartland Conference Tournament, have a team batting average higher than .295, a team earned run average of below 2.0, and earn 20 or more wins. 

   In order to attain the lofty goals set before them the team must use what has become a signature of Reyes coached teams “aggressiveness and a never say die attitude!”

   Reyes, who learned of the Lincoln opening through contacts within the Heartland Conference, knows the hard work which lies ahead.  “It comes with any program,” said Reyes of the process of piecing together a proven winning program.

   “I can only go off of what’s on paper.  Looking at statistics, we have to completely improve on playing all seven innings,” Reyes noted.  “In the fifth and sixth innings (2005) the run differential was huge (56-14 in favor of the opposition).  The bottom line is we’ve just got to score more runs.  They were 2-8 in one run games last year which means we’ve just got to manufacture more runs.”

   Playing a schedule peppered with teams who have played in the national tournament in recent years does not faze Reyes.  “Those teams (St. Mary’s, Western New Mexico, Montana State University-Billings, Truman State, and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville) still have to put their pants on one leg at a time,” Reyes added.  “You cannot worry about what the other teams have done in the past or where they’re ranked.  You still have to play the games.”

   “It would definitely help in the recruiting area to beat those teams that are in the same state,” continued Reyes about the importance of winning against Missouri schools; Truman, Northwest Missouri, Missouri-Rolla, Southwest Baptist, Culver-Stockton, and William Woods, which are all on the 2006 Blue Tigers schedule. 

   “A new attitude is what I’m trying to instill,” Reyes reiterated.  “Not only are they softball players, but they are students.  I want them to be leaders on our campus and in our community.  I want people to walk away having enjoyed watching us play.”

   The simplest way for people to have pride in Blue Tiger softball is to have success on the field and according to Reyes “there is no where to go but up!”

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