Spring Comes Early

Even though it may feel like UB is still waiting out winter in Buffalo, the spring season is about to get underway.

The softball team will head to Florida for its opening games this weekend. The team is coming off a disappointing 12-35 campaign in 2011, but the 2012 Bulls are more confident heading into the season.

"We probably have the best-compiled team since I've been here, talent wise," said head coach Jennifer Teague. "I think we're going to be offensively driven this year. We've got a lot of different players that can play a lot of different positions, so if they're hitting they're probably going to be in the lineup."

Buffalo, with only 16 players on the roster, will look to be a very versatile team this season, using a number of possible lineup options to get the most out of the squad.

"We're small in numbers, but deep in every position," Teague said. "We've been able to have competitions for positions this year, so it's been pleasant to have."

Among those 16 players are three newcomers: freshmen infielders Nora McGuire and Alexis Curtiss, as well as outfielder Karly Nevez. With the limited number of players on the team, Buffalo may rely heavily on the newest Bulls.

"Two of them are definitely going to start for us," Teague said. "Nevez is going to start in the outfield, and she'll probably be our leadoff hitter. She's quick and she knows how to place the ball well. And Alexis [Curtis] could be one of the best players to come through here."

The team returns 13 players to compliment the young players on the roster. Headlined by three seniors, utility player Kristin Waldron, and pitchers Holly Luciano and Haylee Land.

Waldron started all 47 of the team's games last season, and led it in a number of offensive categories. Her .313 average, and .400 slugging percentage were both team highs.

"My goals are set pretty high this year," Waldron said. "I want to push .350 [batting average] this season. I also want to be the best leader I can be, and be a good captain. I really want to push my teammates, and make our way to the MAC Championship."

Waldron and the rest of her teammates will have the MAC title in mind when they get their season underway on Friday. It'll take a strong performance in conference play to get there as the team missed out on the conference tournament last year after going 7-13 in MAC play.

The team gets their schedule underway with three consecutive weekend tournaments in Jacksonville, Georgia, and Washington D.C., respectively.

"We're playing some teams that we should beat, some teams that it's up in the air, and some teams that on paper should probably beat us," Teague said. "We play Georgia who was in the World Series last year, and Baylor who was as well, so we have teams on our schedule that we can see where we are."

That challenge starts this weekend as the Bulls will get an opportunity to play UNC Greensboro, Jacksonville, Virginia Tech and a pair against St. Louis in the Jacksonville tournament over the course of this weekend.

Email: sports@ubspectrum.com