Temple University Athletics
Owls Prep for Season-Opening Worth Wildcat Tournament
2.14.07 | Softball
Feb. 14, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Second-year head coach Casey Dickson and the Cherry and White are set to begin their 2007 season Friday afternoon at the Worth Wildcat Tournament in Tucson, Ariz. on the campus of the defending national champions, the University of Arizona.
The Owls begin the three-day tournament on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. (EST) against Middle Tennessee State then at 5:00 p.m. (EST) against #3 Arizona. The Cherry and White then tangle with Virginia on Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. (EST) followed with Texas Tech at 1:00 p.m. (EST). The Worth Wildcat Tournament's semifinal round is on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. (EST) with the finals being played at 2:30 p.m. (EST).
Dickson introduces a brand-new coaching staff this weekend with first-year assistants Ashley Moore and Lauren Nicholson. Moore, a 2003 graduate from Auburn, has been delegated duties in the outfield while Nicholson, a 2006 UMBC alum, will lend her experience to the Temple pitching staff.
The Cherry and White return seven players from a team that went 22-23 overall last season and 12-6 in Atlantic 10 play. Sophomore pitcher Katie Burdeaux returns to anchor the Owls' pitching staff after posting a 10-8 mark and 4.05 ERA on the mound in 2006. Dickson also welcomes two new hurlers in junior college transfer Brianna Dairy (Midland College) and freshman Ashley Smuda.
Dickson and staff will look to seniors Adrienne Respher and Jessica Rohn to lead an offensive attack that batted .282 as a team last season. Repsher returns having tallied a career-high .302 batting clip while Rohn rebounded from a red-shirted 2005 season to knock in 17 runs. Junior outfielder Brittany Burks embarks on her third season having led the Owls with a .340 batting average a year ago.
The Owls come into the Worth Wildcat Tournament as the only squad having yet to take the field with Arizona (4-2), Middle Tennessee State (1-4), Texas Tech (3-2) and Virginia (3-2) all seeing action.
