2013 LADY TECHSTER SOFTBALL out a few weeks,” Montgomery said. “When those two return it will help us defensively. Meanwhile we will rely on Courtney (Lowe) and Anna (Cross) to play defensively; they are both learning and are new. “It is great to have the veteran leadership of Meghan (Knowles) at first base and Amanda (Krueger) at second base. They shore things up. It’s just learning how to work as a unit. When one piece of that unit is out, we don’t want to miss a beat. We want to be just as good with our backups at each position and that is what we are working towards.” Senior Meghan Knowles is a threeyear starter at first base where she provides top-notch defensive skills along with some power in the Lady Techster lineup. In 2012, Knowles committed only three errors and posted a .988 fielding percentage. “Megan Knowles brings stability and experience to first base for us this season,” Montgomery said. “She is a rock defensively and will drive in some key runs offensively for us.” As a junior Knowles batted .214 with
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three doubles and a team-high eight home runs while she significantly cut down on her strike outs from previous seasons. Knowles, who earned WAC All-Tournament accolades for her play during the post-season tournament, registered six of her eight home runs in the second half of the season, including three against first team all-WAC pitcher Michelle Moses in the final week of the season. Senior Amanda Krueger returns for her final year after starting 57 of 58 games at second base last year for Louisiana Tech – her first season in a Lady Techster uniform. “Amanda is a true leader,” Montgomery said. “She motivates her teammates to be better by working harder than anyone. She has a tireless effort that is contagious and inspiring.” Krueger registered a .282 batting average with 13 doubles and two home runs and showed incredible discipline at the plate, drawing 33 walks while striking out only 19 times. The Warren, Oregon native scored 44 runs which were the second most in program history, and only two shy of tying the program single season record. She hit the game-winning solo home run in the bottom of the sixth in a 6-5 win over Nevada in the WAC Tournament. Although Jones and Goff spearheaded the shortstop position last year for LA Tech, Montgomery is looking at a true freshman to possibly take over the responsibilities this year as Anna Cross is the odds-on favorite to start. “There is no greater athlete than Anna,” Montgomery said. “She can pitch and probably throws harder than anyone else on the team, but will need to sacrifice that in order to provide this team with stability at the shortstop position this season.” Cross signed with Tech out of Cross Roads High School in Texas where she batted over .600 as a junior with 18 extra base hits. The multi-sport star (she also played volleyball, basketball and ran track and field) was named the District 21-1A MVP as a sophomore and junior and was all-state as a junior. Sophomore Hailey Winter and freshman Courtney Lowe