Senior Amanda Ross.
Photo by: Dale Rutemeyer
Preseason Rundown: Senior Class Boasts Championship Leaders
1/21/2016 11:00:00 AM | Softball
This class has won two Southern Conference Tournament crowns, one regular season title and made two NCAA appearances.
As the 2016 season approaches for the Chattanooga softball team, head coach Frank Reed sees great experience on this year's roster, including five seniors who have earned a lot of playing time in a successful program.
"This group needs to reflect on the seniors before them and figure out how they were able to pull everything together," head coach Frank Reed stated. "They need to focus on, not so much themselves, but what it's going to take to propel the people around them."
The class is comprised of Criket Blanco (Maryville, Tenn.), Anyssa Robles (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Amanda Ross (Torrance, Calif.), Alyssa Taylor (Orange, Calif.) and Sam Taylor (Ringgold, Ga.).
"A strength the seniors bring, coming off a championship season last year, is the idea that they've been there," said Reed. "They've been on that side of the coin. They know what it takes to have a championship program."
This group has won two Southern Conference Tournament crowns, one regular season title and made two NCAA appearances.
Â
After a season at Georgia, Blanco transferred to UTC her sophomore year. She made a big impact instantly, starting in every game since her arrival.
"I want to see Criket continue to be really strong and steady at middle infield and have a great offensive year," shared Reed. "That's what we really need out of her."
In 2014, Blanco played shortstop, second base and designated player. Last year, she started all games at second base. She was named All-SoCon First Team and NFCA South Region Third Team in 2015. Blanco led the team with 16 multi-hit games, while collecting 48 hits, featuring nine doubles and seven homeruns.
Â
"It seems like the plays made at middle infield are sometimes the ones that get everybody excited and to be able to go on and make another great play behind them," Reed commented.
Also starting in all 50 games last year was Robles at catcher. She was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2015 Conference Championships after hitting two walk-off home runs.
Â
"That's something a lot of players play a lifetime and never do," Reed explained.
Last season, Robles earned SoCon Player of the Week May 4 and Student-Athlete of the Week May 13. She recorded 42 hits, including 10 doubles and six homeruns, and scored 31 RBI.
Â
"Anyssa is coming off a really good season," shared Reed. "Her offense is going to be very important to what we do moving forward."
Utilized as an outfielder in 2015, Ross started in five games and played in 18.
Â
"Not many work harder than Amanda does," stated Reed.
Ross recorded 26 putouts and a 1.000 fielding percentage, in addition to four hits and two runs.
Â
"Amanda is a strong outfielder and does a good job focusing," Reed said. "We just need her to have more confidence in herself."
A starter at shortstop for two and a half years, Alyssa Taylor made 29 starts and 38 appearances last season.
Â
"We need Alyssa to continue to challenge for the shortstop position," shared Reed. "We've also changed her batting style a little bit, so hopefully that'll help her be more consistent"
Taylor posted 14 runs, 21 hits and five doubles in 2015.
Â
"She had a great fall, so we need her to continue along that path," Reed explained.
As a three-year starter at center field, Sam Taylor was named the SoCon Player of the Month for February last year. She was the leadoff hitter, recording a .322 batting average, while also leading the SoCon with 15 doubles.
Â
"Offensively, Sam's an important part of what we do because she's up in the front part of the lineup," stated Reed. "And we need her to get on base and make things happen."
Taylor is coming off a 1.000 fielding percentage last season. She also scored 33 runs, 57 hits and drove in 32 RBI.
Â
"We're really counting on her in the front end of the lineup," Reed commented.
UTC opens the season at the NTC Tournament Feb. 12-14 in Clermont, Fla., facing Morgan State, Liberty, Akron and Bethune-Cookman twice. The Mocs kick off home action with the Chattanooga Spring Classic Feb. 19-21 at Frost Stadium against Dayton, Detroit Mercy, UT Martin, IPFW and Wright State twice.
Â
"This group needs to reflect on the seniors before them and figure out how they were able to pull everything together," head coach Frank Reed stated. "They need to focus on, not so much themselves, but what it's going to take to propel the people around them."
The class is comprised of Criket Blanco (Maryville, Tenn.), Anyssa Robles (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Amanda Ross (Torrance, Calif.), Alyssa Taylor (Orange, Calif.) and Sam Taylor (Ringgold, Ga.).
"A strength the seniors bring, coming off a championship season last year, is the idea that they've been there," said Reed. "They've been on that side of the coin. They know what it takes to have a championship program."
This group has won two Southern Conference Tournament crowns, one regular season title and made two NCAA appearances.
Â
After a season at Georgia, Blanco transferred to UTC her sophomore year. She made a big impact instantly, starting in every game since her arrival.
"I want to see Criket continue to be really strong and steady at middle infield and have a great offensive year," shared Reed. "That's what we really need out of her."
In 2014, Blanco played shortstop, second base and designated player. Last year, she started all games at second base. She was named All-SoCon First Team and NFCA South Region Third Team in 2015. Blanco led the team with 16 multi-hit games, while collecting 48 hits, featuring nine doubles and seven homeruns.
Â
"It seems like the plays made at middle infield are sometimes the ones that get everybody excited and to be able to go on and make another great play behind them," Reed commented.
Also starting in all 50 games last year was Robles at catcher. She was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2015 Conference Championships after hitting two walk-off home runs.
Â
"That's something a lot of players play a lifetime and never do," Reed explained.
Last season, Robles earned SoCon Player of the Week May 4 and Student-Athlete of the Week May 13. She recorded 42 hits, including 10 doubles and six homeruns, and scored 31 RBI.
Â
"Anyssa is coming off a really good season," shared Reed. "Her offense is going to be very important to what we do moving forward."
Utilized as an outfielder in 2015, Ross started in five games and played in 18.
Â
"Not many work harder than Amanda does," stated Reed.
Ross recorded 26 putouts and a 1.000 fielding percentage, in addition to four hits and two runs.
Â
"Amanda is a strong outfielder and does a good job focusing," Reed said. "We just need her to have more confidence in herself."
A starter at shortstop for two and a half years, Alyssa Taylor made 29 starts and 38 appearances last season.
Â
"We need Alyssa to continue to challenge for the shortstop position," shared Reed. "We've also changed her batting style a little bit, so hopefully that'll help her be more consistent"
Taylor posted 14 runs, 21 hits and five doubles in 2015.
Â
"She had a great fall, so we need her to continue along that path," Reed explained.
As a three-year starter at center field, Sam Taylor was named the SoCon Player of the Month for February last year. She was the leadoff hitter, recording a .322 batting average, while also leading the SoCon with 15 doubles.
Â
"Offensively, Sam's an important part of what we do because she's up in the front part of the lineup," stated Reed. "And we need her to get on base and make things happen."
Taylor is coming off a 1.000 fielding percentage last season. She also scored 33 runs, 57 hits and drove in 32 RBI.
Â
"We're really counting on her in the front end of the lineup," Reed commented.
UTC opens the season at the NTC Tournament Feb. 12-14 in Clermont, Fla., facing Morgan State, Liberty, Akron and Bethune-Cookman twice. The Mocs kick off home action with the Chattanooga Spring Classic Feb. 19-21 at Frost Stadium against Dayton, Detroit Mercy, UT Martin, IPFW and Wright State twice.
Â
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
SS/2B
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballTuesday, September 30
Tuesday, August 26
Tuesday, July 15
Thursday, April 17
