At the beginning of 2009, coaches, players, and fans all believed the UK woman's softball team was headed for a breakthrough season. Kentucky leaped into the middle of the pack in the Southeastern Conference in 2009 after being slated to finish last by the league's coaches in a preseason poll. The Wildcats capped the regular season as the sixth best team in the conference and then went into the SEC Tournament and knocked off top-10 ranked and College World Series participant Georgia, in what became UK's first ever post season victory. They continued into their first appearance at the NCAA in school history. They went 2-2 in the tournament with a loss to Ohio State.
In 2010 the team returns all eight of their starters and the three pitchers in their starting rotation. Knocking off three ranked opponents a year ago and staged five seventh inning comeback efforts, they face a top five ranked schedule. The suprise effect of UK's team is no longer there. Opponents know some of what to expect from the team.
They are making improvements in every area of the game and continuing to strengthen their numbers. The team wants to return to the tournament as one of the best teams in the conference.
From a recent article, one of the teams top players stated, "When you play in the SEC you face the best competition in the nation. In preparing for the SEC we must face tough teams in the non-conference portion of the schedule and we will continue to do that."
*The players for season of 2010 are as follows:
Pitchers- Chanda Bell, Amber Matousek and Rachel Riley
Infielders- Natalie Smith, Samantha DeMartine,Brittany Cervantes,Megan Yocke, Ashleigh Gustafson, Jessica Adkins, Kara Dill and Jessica Rose
Outfielders- Annie Rowlands, Meagan Aull, and Destinee Mordecai
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