2006 Season Preview
UWA SOFTBALL POISED FOR RETURN TO GLORY 

With 10 players returning from last season’s squad, and the addition of seven key freshmen and two junior college transfers to the roster, The University of West Alabama Tiger softball team is looking to regain its presence near the top of the Gulf South Conference. Janet Montgomery, who is entering her 18^th season as head coach of the Tigers, is hoping to regroup from the 17-35 season her squad posted in 2005. 

UWA is rebuilding a pitching staff this season, replacing Casey Cockrum who was lost to graduation. Cockrum went 14-21 on the mound last season for the Tigers, posting a 3.99 ERA in 219.1 innings of work, including 124 strikeouts. Other key seniors lost from last season include Julie Burkett and Jessica Jacquay. Burkett finished third on the team with a .318 batting average, while also scoring a team-best 29 runs. Jacquay hit .262, with a team-high 12 doubles, as well as a team-best 34 walks.  

Looking to lead the squad in 2006 are seniors Jess Butrica (5-2, 2B/SS, R/R) and Joanna Hynde (5-9, C, R/R), who will play key roles in the Tiger offense this season. Butrica started all 52 games last season for UWA, hitting .270 and finishing with a team-best 14 sacrifice hits. Hynde hit a solid .294 and drove in 17 runs for the Tigers, while only committing two errors behind the plate. 

Five returning juniors, look to add strength and experience to the team, led by two-time, First Team All-GSC performer Shannon Goggins (5-5, 3B, R/R). Goggins, who started 51 games last season, led the Tigers in 2005 with a .338 batting average. She also set the school single-season record in home runs with 16, while finishing with a team-high 31 RBI. Her 16 home runs in 2005 gives her 24 for her career, which is also a school record. 

Other returning juniors include Alisha Berry (4-10, OF, R/R), Robin Halbrooks (5-4, OF, R/R), Heather Shugart (5-10, OF, R/R) and Sydney Sneed (5-5, IF/C, R/R). Berry started all 52 games last season, on her way to driving in six runs and finishing with a strong .984 fielding percentage. Halbrooks appeared in 40 games for the Tigers in 2005 and finished with a solid .279 average and five doubles. Shugart saw action in 49 games a season ago, and finished second on the team with seven home runs, while also recording 17 RBI. Sneed started 51 games for UWA last season, on her way to a strong .293 average, including six home runs and 28 RBI (second most on the team). 

Two junior college transfers will look to add depth to the roster as well in 2006. Corey Curlee (5-7, C/1B, R/R) joins UWA via Motlow State Community College. Curlee was tabbed Best Offensive Player in the Rush Softball Tournament, while playing for the Bucs. Sheila Jordan (5-3, SS, R/R) makes her way to UWA from Alabama Southern College where she hit .354, including six doubles and two triples, while also driving in 11 runs as a sophomore for the Eagles. She helped lead the team to a fourth-place finish in the state in 2004.   

Three sophomores return to the squad as well in 2006. Brittany Berry (5-1, OF, S/R) appeared in 29 games a season ago for West Alabama. She finished the season with 10 runs scored and was 8-of-9 in stolen base attempts. Jennifer Markham (5-1, 2B, R/R) appeared in 21 games for the Tigers and finished with three hits and three RBI, while committing no errors in 11 chances in the field. Rochelle Thomas (5-3, OF, L/L) turned in 16 starts for the team last season. She finished with 10 hits, while also scoring seven runs for the Tigers. 

Montgomery has also added seven freshmen that round out the roster for the Tigers. Laura Bagwell (5-1, IF/OF, R/R) and Emily White (5-9, P/1B, R/R) both join the team following their prep careers at Ragland (Ala.) High School, where they helped lead the Devils to Sectional Championships in 2001-2005 and an Area Title and a County Championship in 2005, including a State Title in 2004. Bagwell was selected as a State Finalist for the Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athlete Award and tabbed All-County, while being selected as a member to the Sectional All-Tournament Team. 

White was selected as State MVP in 2004 as well as being named ASWA 1A Player of the Year. She appears in the AHSAA record book for strikeouts in a season (376), ERA (0.49) and innings pitched (221). Aubree Hudson (5-5, P, R/R) joins the squad after playing her prep career at Mayfair (Ca.) High School. She went 10-6 with four saves in 103 innings of work as a senior, while finishing with a 0.46 ERA. Jessica Hynds (5-8, SS, R/R) played her high school career at Winfield City (Ala.) High School. As a senior she hit .345 with 21 extra-base hits, while also driving in 56 runs. She also scored 48 runs, on her way to being named the team’s Best Offensive Player and Team MVP. 

Brittany McGee (5-5, P/3B, R/R) hit .252, including 20 doubles, six triples and 60 RBI over her career at Demopolis (Ala.) High School. She also went 22-8 on the mound in 206.2 innings of work, as she finished he senior campaign with a 1.08 ERA and 210 strikeouts. Brandi Roe (5-5, OF, R/R) hit .360 a season ago as a senior at Jackson (Ala.) High School. Debbie Shisler (5-4, P/OF, L/R) joins UWA after playing her prep ball at Scottsdale (Az.) Christian Academy, where she led the Eagles to a 70-26-3 overall record in her four years, including three Regional Titles, two State Runner-up finishes (2003 and 2004) and one State Championship (2005). As a senior, she went 13-5 on the mound in 115.1 innings of work, while hitting .446 with one home run, two doubles and 29 runs scored. 

West Alabama gears up for a season that begins with tournaments at Henderson State and West Georgia. The Tigers open conference play on Feb. 21 as they host Alabama-Huntsville, one of nine home dates on the season.