Austin Peay Lady Govs Softball opens season at Kennesaw State Classic

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Softball

Kennesaw, GA – Austin Peay State University’s softball team opens up its 2012 regular season this Saturday and Sunday, as they travel to Georgia to play in the Kennesaw State Classic.

The Lady Govs are coming off a 12-40 season in 2011, including a 7-23 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference, and return 13 letter winners — seven who started last year – while welcoming five newcomers to this year’s squad.

“The players are excited to finally get out there and play after putting in a lot of hard work to get ready,” said fourth-year Lady Govs head coach Casey Dickson said. “Our returners have matured and improved their skills and, with the addition of our newcomers, you can really see a bright future for Austin Peay softball.”

The Lady Govs open up the tournament, 9:30am, Saturday against Mercer, followed by a noon contest versus Miami (Ohio) University.

APSU finishes its opening weekend of play 9:30am, Sunday, with a game against Southern Illinois and conclude the classic with a 2:30pm contest versus host Kennesaw State.

“This tournament is a good challenge for us to open the season with,” Dickson said. “We open up with Mercer, who run ruled us last year 8-0 in five innings, so it’s going to be great that first game to see if there is a difference. But we’re not putting everything into the first game because there’s those nerves of that opening game of the season.”

The Lady Govs were picked to finish 10th in the OVC’s preseason poll, however, they return their top three hitters in sophomore P/1B Lauren de Castro (.255 batting average, seven doubles, three home runs, 16 RBI), senior centerfielder Catie Cozart (.255 batting average, five doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI), and catcher Amy Mills (.243 batting average, four doubles, three home runs, 16 RBI).

Cozart also comes into the season with a streak of 156 straight games started.

Austin Peay also return all four pitchers from last year’s staff, adding freshman Sarah Rasmussen. It appears the Lady Govs pitching staff is deeper than it’s been in years.

Senior Ashley Bolda (3-9, 6.17 ERA, 25 k’s), is the veteran of the staff, followed by junior Morgan Brewer (8-18, 3.94 ERA, 80 k’s) and sophomore’s deCastro (0-8, 6.10 ERA, 35 k’s) and Taylor Mills (1-5, 6.13 ERA, 16 k’s).

The Lady Govs’ home opening doubleheader will be 2:00pm, Thursday, February 23rd against Trevecca.