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2012 Preview Last season, Crawford started all 58 games, splitting time between second base, shortstop and left field. She finished the season with a .238 batting average and her 25 runs scored were second most on the team. Pearson redshirted the 2011 season and has been taking reps at shortstop during practice. Freshman Hayley Davis is also in the running for a starting role in the infield. Davis, a native of Tarpon Springs, Fla., hit for a .489 batting average with four triples, five home runs and knocked in 36 runs for East Lake High School. “It really comes down to if you’re performing at the plate, we’ll find a spot for you defensively,” Townsend said. “We believe that everybody is very sound defensively and so it’s just a matter of their offensive production to determine their playing time.” Second base could see playing time by redshirt junior Maegan Hornsby, freshman Amy Dennis and Webster. Although Webster’s main responsibility is pitching she is a very strong defensive player. Dennis, a product of Mobile, Ala., will be counted on to produce offensively for the Blazers. “Amy sees the ball really well and has a great understanding of the game,” Townsend said. “Hayley is doing extremely well at shortstop, too.” Senior Erica Sisson will start at first base, but senior Kayla Orr and sophomore Megan McGrath could also see time at that position. Sisson started 42 games primarily at first base last season where she tallied the second-most putouts (212) for UAB and committed just four errors for a .982 fielding percentage. “Kayla will be on the field,” Townsend said. “Whether it’s first base or the outfield, Kayla will see significant playing time and be a part of the starting lineup.” Orr is a solid offensive and defensive contributor for UAB. The Hartselle, Ala. product, started all 58 games from a year ago splitting time between first base and shortstop. She led the Blazers with 73 total bases, batted a .272 average and recorded 49 hits. She also crossed the plate 24 times, drove in a teamhigh 32 runs, registered 10 multi-hit games and tallied seven multiRBI games. “When we are out there going through defense, we have three different groups going through,” Townsend said. “The defense will be playing with different people at every rotation and they don’t skip a beat. It’s amazing. “We have so many options in the infield and it’s not where they are just comfortable with the same person next to them, they are comfortable with every single person. That is exciting and I think it’s going to be a huge part of our success.” 9
Outfield The outfield will see a lot of competition due to the departures of 2011 seniors Caley Walden and Sallie Van Kirk. Senior Tiffany Smith, junior transfer Whitney Fletcher and junior Hailey Glynn will see time in the grass. Orr, Crawford, Davis, Dennis and freshman Anna Theriot could also play in the outfield. “Cat will definitely see playing time,” Townsend said. “Hailey and Cat could share time in left field, but Whitney is our starting centerfielder. “Right field is open for the taking. Kayla could spend some time there as well as Tiffany.” Fletcher transferred to UAB from Northwest Florida State College where she was a two-time, first-team all-conference selection. The Decatur, Ala. native, led the Raiders to a 41-9 overall finish in 2011, sharing the Panhandle Conference title, and played in all 50 games. She had a .424 batting average with 35 RBI and 57 runs scored last season. Either Glynn or Crawford could play on Fletcher’s right. Last season, Glynn started 27 games in the outfield. She recorded a .214 batting average and crossed the plate nine times. Smith’s primarily served as the pinch runner last season, appearing in 47 games. She also started eight games in right field, tallying 10 hits and two doubles. On the base paths she scored 17 runs and swiped 15 bases on 19 attempts. “Outfield is another position where if you are producing at the plate you could see yourself playing there,” Townsend said. “We are giving a lot of individuals playing time in the outfield.” Schedule The 2012 schedule features 56 games, including 19 at the UAB Softball Field. The Blazers will face 11 opponents this season that received NCAA tournament berths a year ago, including NCAA Super Regional participants Alabama, Arizona, Houston and Kentucky. At the conclusion of the 2012 regular season, the Blazers will welcome the top eight teams in the league when UAB hosts the 2012 Conference USA Championship, May 10-12, for the first time in school history. “When you put the schedule together, you have an idea about what you want to do. You want to schedule the toughest competition possible, but yet you want to be able to compete,” Townsend said. “I think we’ve done a good job of that this year by playing a lot of teams we haven’t faced before and places we haven’t played before like the FIU and Arizona tournaments, as well as going to two SEC tournaments.” UAB will kick off the 2012 campaign at the FIU Combat Classic, Feb. 10-12, at the FIU Softball Complex in Miami, Fla. UAB will take on FIU and Louisville, along with first-time opponents Illinois, Michigan State and UMass.
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