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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
sports@arkcity.net

Last season ended in disappointing fashion for the Cowley College softball team.

After blowing a one-run lead in a loss to Johnson County in the Region VI Tournament semifinals, the Lady Tigers were forced to win two straight games to keep their string of back-to-back national tournament appearances alive. Cowley defeated Hutchinson in an elimination game, but ran out of gas against Johnson County in the championship series. Johnson County sent Cowley to a season-ending 4-0 loss.

Cowley's attempt for a third-straight appearance at nationals was washed away.

While the Lady Tigers have only four returners from that squad, which finished 46-9 and won their fourth straight Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division title, last season's losses to Johnson County are still fresh in their minds.

"They felt like we should've won it," Cowley coach Ed Hargrove said.

Cowley looks to start a new string of national tournament appearances.

Every incoming class since 2000 has played in the national tournament at least once -- and this group of sophomores wants to continue that cycle.

"I think they don't want to be the group in this decade that didn't make it to nationals," Hargrove said. "I think they've got that it in the back of their minds."

Returning All-Americans Heather Davis, Colby Hart and Danielle Saylor-Perkins headline this season's team. Mix that with a group of nine talented freshmen, Hargrove believes the Lady Tigers have the combination to compete for a berth in the national tournament.

Davis, reigning Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division Most Valuable Player, is coming off one of the most individual seasons in program history -- finishing 29-5 and led the nation in wins (29) and strikeouts (309).

Even as Cowley's No. 1 starter, Davis will see those numbers, as well as her innings, decrease this season. Davis will split time with former Arkansas City High School standout Jacey Juden.

Juden put together a stellar career with the Bulldogs, leading them to back-to-back Class 5A state titles the last two seasons. Juden finished 20-0 her senior season and yielded only one earned run in earning all-state honors for the fourth straight year. She finished her career with 47 consecutive wins.

Juden originally signed with the University of Arkansas, but left the school last fall and signed with Cowley shortly after.

With Davis and Juden, Hargrove believes this could be the best one-two punch Cowley's ever had on the mound.

"I've tried to compare it with other pitching staffs that we've had, where we really had a good one-two punch," Hargrove said. "There might have been some that were comparable, but none that have been better (than Davis and Juden)."

Davis and Juden's contrasting styles could pose problems for opposing hitters.

"I think they complement each other well," Hargrove said, "in that Heather is more of a finesse pitcher...and Jacey is more power. (Juden's) got really good velocity and ball movement. She's really improved her change-up in the off-season, too. The change-up is going to make her hard pitches that much more effective."

Sophomore Whitney Foust and Arkansas City product Kashilia Young will split time at catcher this season. Katie Duncan was originally considered to be in the mix, but transferred to Washburn University.

Young, a Class 5A first team all-state selection her last two seasons at Ark City, will also see playing time in the left field. Young led the Lady Tigers in the fall semester with five home runs.

Freshman Emily Zimmerman, who sat out the fall semester with an injury after transferring from Bethany College, will start at first base. Even with Zimmerman missing the fall semester, Hargrove feels confident inserting her into the lineup.

"Everything I've got from her other coaches is that she's a really good hitter and a good defensive player," he said. "And she's a good, strong farm kid."

Freshman Sarah Smith, who played at third base during the fall, will move to second base. Fellow freshmen Jenna Klick and Breayle Tackett will start at shortstop and third base, respectively. Tackett, a Class 5A first team all-state selection her junior and senior seasons at Winfield, will also pitch in relief of Davis and Juden.

Freshman Adrienne Cornejo joins the Lady Tigers for the spring season and will compete for playing time at shortstop, first base and possibly in the outfield.

Jessica Sanchez transferred to Cowley from the University of Central Oklahoma at the end of the fall semester. She helped lead Blanchard (Okla.) High School to the state tournament by batting .395 with 31 RBI as a senior. She will battle for playing time in the outfield and at shortstop.

With All-Conference/All-Region outfielders Nicole Reuter and Jenanne Wilson lost to graduation, Hart (.395 average, 10 doubles, six triples) will anchor the outfield in center field. Her speed will be a plus at the top of the lineup.

"She's got some pretty good pop in her bat for being a lead-off hitter," Hargrove said. "She hits the ball really hard. But just the fact that she's the fastest player on the team...any time she hits the ball on the ground, she's going to have a chance (to reach base) because she gets down the line fast."

Saylor-Perkins will take over in right field. Saylor-Perkins is coming off a stellar freshman season in which she was named a Second-Team All-American as she batted .397 with a team-leading 12 doubles, and a team-best .470 on base percentage, while serving as the team's designated hitter.

Hargrove feels that his team doesn't have any weaknesses, but if he had to point to one, it would be defense.

"Our pitching is good enough to win a national championship," he said. "Our defense has to be supportive enough for our pitchers. That's the only thing that concerns me."

Overall, Hargrove likes the commitment made by this season's team.

"As a team, I feel like this group is more totally committed to reaching our goals, which of course is conference, regionals and nationals," Hargrove said. "By being more committed, I mean that they're not putting softball second behind their own individual pleasures...the drinking, the partying, that stuff. I think this team is very committed to making the right decisions and seeing that we get to where we want to be at the end (of the season)."

Cowley opens the season Tuesday at Rose State. Cowley's home opener is Feb. 19 vs. Northern Oklahoma College.