Change pays off for Ladyjacks

New coaches, freshmen help SFA reach postseason for first time since 1990

The last time the SFA Ladyjacks played postseason softball, the majority of their current team wasn't even old enough to throw a softball.

Eighteen years after the program's last conference tournament appearance, the Ladyjacks will enter the Southland Conference Tournament after a substantial turnaround.

"I am really grateful to be apart of it," SFA pitcher Monika Covington said. "In my freshman year, to jump into a winning team, it's great. I think the big thing is we have new coaches and a new way of doing things, and it turned the team around."

SFA posted a 19-36 mark in 2007, which sent then-head coach Jenifer Wells packing after a two-year stint.

Gay McNutt took over a struggling program with high expectations. So far, things have turned out better than expected as the Ladyjacks enter the SLC Tournament as the No. 4-seed with a 33-23 overall record. The Ladyjacks received a first-round bye and will begin the single-elimination tournament play at 4 p.m. today against either McNeese State or Southeastern Lousiana. The tournament will last until Sunday with every game being played at Texas State in San Marcos.

"I think we've accomplished what we set out to — get this team to a winning tradition and get to the conference tournament," McNutt said. "I feel really strong about what we've done to get here to Texas State. Now, it's up to the girls. I've been pleased with the entire year."

With a few weeks left in the season, the Ladyjacks were in second place in the league after taking a series from league-leading Texas State. However, the Ladyjacks finished the season 2-4 in conference with two straight series losses to Texas-San Antonio and Northwestern State, which entered the series last place in the SLC. The Ladyjacks finished 3-6 overall and have lost five of their last six games.

SFA hopes to bounce back and erase the memory of the late regular season struggles with a conference title.

"If I knew the answer, this would be easy," McNutt said, "but, I don't. It was a very humbling experience this past weekend. I still feel very strong about this team, even though they have never been in the tournament.

"We took finals early, so we could prepare. I think maybe the stress and pressure took its toll on them. It's my job to redirect them and get the focus back on winning."

Winning has been experienced by past Ladyjack softball squads, including a 1986 team that won the Division II national title. But losing had been the norm lately.

The last winning season was in 2000 (25-22). The Ladyjacks were 138-229 since 2000 up to the start of this season.

Jessica Tullos, the team's only senior, spent four years with a Ladyjack program that had losing seasons.

She is happy to finally be a part of a winner.

"It's really been awesome," Tullos said. "It's weird — all of the people I came in with are all gone. I am lucky and blessed to be on the team and be able to make it to the tournament.

"We just need to keep working as a team and be pumped up ready to go."

Along with the addition of McNutt, new assistant coach has been a big part of the turnaround, especially with the offense.

The Ladyjacks hit .229 as a unit in 2007. This season, they have upped their production to a .280 team-average, which was second-best in the conference. They also hit 40 home runs — 24 more than 2007. Tullos leads the team with a school-record 10 long balls.

"We've been a very offensive team all year," McNutt said. "We have to go back to the basics and score runs. We are leaving way too many runners on base."

Other notable offensive leaders for the Ladyjacks are Kendal Harper, who raised her average from .303 to .379 for the fourth-best average in the SLC, and Benet Higgs, who is hitting .311, up from .246 in 2007.

Junior catcher Kim Daley, who hit .093 with no home runs as a sophomore when she started all 56 games, has also seen a drastic improvement this season. She is hitting .221 with seven home runs.

Freshmen Ashley Struchtemeyer and Monica Hirsch also have contributed to the offensive output.

The pitching staff, led by freshmen Covington and Lauren Luetge, has more done its job.

Along with Covington and Luetge, juniors Kari Hugie and Debra Boles have contributed to an SLC-leading 1.95 ERA, down from 3.91 last season.

Covington is second in the conference with 17 wins and a 1.39 ERA. She also has recored 232 strikeouts — 46 more than anyone else in the conference.

Luetge has helped provide a solid 1-2 punch with an 11-4 record and 2.60 ERA.

It's Covington the Ladyjacks are counting on to lead them to the title.

"Monika has to be at her best," McNutt said. "We plan to pitch her quite a bit. If we have to pitch her every game to win, we will. She seems to rise to the occasion. She like the pressure and being in the spotlight. She has the opportunity to capitalize on it."

"I love a challenge," Covington said. "I love to be able to get in there and help out the team. I think her (McNutt) being so confident in me helps me be confident in myself. In the long run, it helps me be better."

Even though the Ladyjacks hold the No. 4 seed, they are serious contenders to win the tournament. Texas State, the host team, is the favorite based on its first-place finish in the regular season. SFA took two games from the Bobcats this season, as well as against No. 2 Texas-Arlington. Texas-San Antonio is another contender.

"I feel very strong about what this team is capable of," McNutt said. "We know the competition that lies ahead. We just have to get redirected and refocused.

"The single elimination format makes for a tough, tough tournament. But it gets people out of the way. It will also help us stay focused knowing that we have to win every game."

The Ladyjacks will have to win two games to get into Saturday's championship contest. The winner of the tournament will advance to the NCAA Tournament.

2008 SLC Tournament Game Times

Thursday, May 8

Game One: No. 5 McNeese State vs. No. 8 Southeastern La., 11 a.m.

Game Two: No. 6 Nicholls State vs. No. 7 Sam Houston State, 1:30 p.m.

Game Three: Winner Game One vs. No. 4 SFA, 4 P.M.

Game Four: Winner Game Two vs. No. 3 UTSA, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, May 9

Game Five: Winner Game Four vs. No. 2 UTA, 4 p.m.

Game Six: Winner Game Three vs. No. 1 Texas State, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 10

Championship Game: Winner Game Five vs. Winner Game Six, 4 p.m.