SAN ANTONIO – The St. Mary's Softball team will begin their 2014 campaign this weekend as it plays host to the St. Mary's NCAA Division II Classic.
WELCOME HOME
This weekend marks the dawn of a new era for the Rattlers as they get set to begin their season at the new Park at St. Mary's. It will be the first time since the spring of 2011 that the Rattlers will be playing their home games on campus.
NO. 1
The defending, four-time, Heartland Conference champions were voted the No. 1 team in the Heartland Conference in the preseason poll.
With an overall record of 45-15 in 2013, the Rattlers went on to win the Heartland Conference Tournament title, ultimately falling one game short from the NCAA Division II Super Regional.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Several key players from last year's team are returning to the Rattler lineup for the 2014 season.
One player includes the Heartland Conference Player of the Year, junior
Nicole Sardelich.
As a sophomore, Sardelich was one of only two Rattler players to start all 60 games as she broke several school records. The Angleton, Texas native went on to hit a single-season record 25 doubles and had an on base percentage of .515.
Sardelich went on to lead the team, and conference, with 85 hits and a .444 batting average en route to hitting an StMU single-season record of 25 doubles.
In addition to Sardelich, junior
Taylor Vidrine (San Antonio) returns to the fold as well.
Scoring 65 runs for the season, setting the third highest mark in program history in the process, Virdrine received the Heartland Conference Hitter of the Week award at one point.
Proving to be elusive on the base path as well, Vidrine led the Heartland Conference with 23 stolen bases on 25 attempts.
Lastly, but certainly not least, coming back for her senior season is the reigning three-time Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year and All-American Honorable Mention,
Emily Brittain (Corpus Christi, Texas).
Brittain had an outstanding 2013 campaign which also earned her the South Central Region Pitcher of the Year. Appearing in 36 contests, the award winning pitcher won 27 of her 33 decisions with an ERA of 1.98.
In each of their respective seasons in Rattler blue and gold, Sardelich, Vidrine, and Brittain were Heartland Conference All-First Team selections, combining for seven selections between them with Brittain leading with three selections and Sardelich and Vidrine with two apiece.
ON DECK
The Rattlers open the new stadium, and season, with a double-header tomorrow. First, they will take on East Central at 2 p.m. followed by a matchup against Texas Women's at 4 p.m.
Heartland Conference play will begin for the Rattlers on Feb. 14 with a double-header at home against Lubbock Christian beginning at 2 p.m.
