 
|
Feb. 26, 2009 PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Fourth-year Head Coach Sam Douglas has plenty to build on as he enters his third consecutive season in the UMES dugout, having held the post previously during the 1999 campaign. After losing six letterwinners, Douglas has brought in eight freshmen and a junior to fill in the roster for the Lady Hawks. Prior to taking over, Douglas spent the previous three years as the assistant to then Head Coach Kirkland Hall. Following Hall's retirement as coach at the end of the '06 season, Douglas took the helm, his second stint as the skipper, with the mentality that it takes a solid foundation to build the program. "When I talked to the freshmen about coming here," said Douglas, "the first thing I said was I'm laying the foundation. I'm trying to get a nucleus of girls who are going to grow together for four years." UMES will look to veterans Kendra Saunders (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) and Mishayla Truttman (Gresham, Ore.) to once again anchor a young and exciting Lady Hawks squad. Saunders led the team in several categories over the last three seasons, while Truttman has established herself as a threat in both the batter's box and the pitcher's circle. Saunders, a senior this year, returns to the lineup after suffering a season ending shoulder injury. At the time of her injury, she was leading the team in batting average, homeruns and hits. Her season ended with a .598 slugging percentage and she led the team in total bases (49) and RBI's (23). Saunders is a utility player who will see time in the infield and outfield this season. Sophomore Cassandra Carlos (Diamond Bar, Calif.) showed off her versatility on the field last season. The west coast native led the team in stolen bases, grabbing nine on 12 attempts and finished with a .450 slugging percentage. Carlos saw action in 43 of the Lady Hawks 44 games, starting 42. The other returning utility player on the roster, she led the team in hits (36) and doubles (12).
Others expected to compete for time in the infield are seniors Kaminie Jeeuth (Bronx, N.Y.) and Dawnita Leigh (Hughesville, Md.), sophomores Chelsea Logan (Trenton, N.J.) and Ashley Stewart (Pocomoke City, Md.), and freshmen Ebony Hahn (Groveport, Ohio) and Britney McLeod (Palmyra, N.J.). Logan a hard-hitter from Trenton, N.J could see action at first or third base and should provide a nice punch to the heart of the order. Stewart, a hometown product from Princess Anne, Md., and Jeeuth, a Monroe College transfer, will primarily be used for their defensive prowess at the four, five and six positions. Junior Ashley Johnson (Baltimore, Md.) will fight for her position in the outfield along with classmate Kyrus Whitehurst (Virginia Beach, Va.). Freshman Kristi Miranda (Houston, Texas), Kayla Nelson (Apple Valley, Calif.), Mary Keen (Baltimore, Md.) and CyAnna Scott (Patterson, N.J.) will also compete for time. Johnson, the only returner from the outfield started in 20 of 24 games and was 3-for-4 in stolen bases. Whitehurst is new to the team this year. The Virginia Beach, Va. native graduated from Kempsville High School where she was a four year varsity softball player who led her team to a State Championship. Miranda was a First Team All-District center fielder in high school. The key to UMES' success is linked to the success of their pitching. Truttman, who will head up the pitching staff this season, will be joined by two freshmen, Eastern Shore standout Hannah Mills (Parksley, Va.) and Inde Whitehurst (Virginia Beach, Va.), sister of Kyrus Whitehurst. Of the starting pitchers, Truttman led in strikeouts (80) and finished the season with the best record. She threw 83 innings last season with a 7.00 era. Mills was born in Salisbury, Md. and is a four-time All-District and two-time Second Team All-Region pitcher. Whitehurst helped lead her high school team to State Championship after taking the District and Regional crowns. Marielle Garcia (Bronx, N.Y.) shared time on the mound with Truttman last season, throwing 52.1 innings. She will also look for time in the circle, but is flexible enough to put time in on the field as well. The Lady Hawks will spend 65 percent of their time on the road this season with just 14 games at home. They open this weekend at the North Carolina A&T Tournament facing Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opponent Coppin State on February 27 at noon. Day two of the tournament for UMES includes Hampton University at noon and host A&T at 2 p.m. The final rounds of competition are on March 1with the consolation game at 10 a.m. and the championship game at noon. |
|||||||||
| ||||||||||
