New Mexico looks forward to inaugural season.

Lobos return eight starters and two of the team's top three pitchers. (1/5)

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Jan. 5, 2000

If the question in 1999 was whether the University of New Mexico softball team could exceed expectations, the question of 2000 is whether it can meet them. And the expectations that the Lobos have to live up to this year will be their own.

Coming off of a record-breaking season, UNM returns two-thirds of its team including eight starters and two of three pitchers. What it has added is a plethora of talented depth in its group of newcomers. It is a group skilled enough to challenge the starters and at the very least provide very little dropoff should someone need a spell.

The 2000 edition of the New Mexico Lobos promises to be one of the best teams in school history. A team that can do things no team at New Mexico has ever done. If only it can build on what it started a year ago.

The following is a position-by-position breakdown of this year's team:

INFIELDERS
The starters of last year's infield all return for this season, and whereas last year it was a group with just one player with more than one year of experience on the college level, this year every player has that experience.

First base will be shared by sluggers Kathy Moore and Danielle Cassara. The duo combined for 21 home runs and 85 RBI last year, the highest total by a pair of teammates in UNM history. Both will also share pitching duties and one or the other could DH if the Lobos' third pitcher takes the hill.

At second, Brooke Chaffee returns from a solid freshman season that saw her start in all but two games. She is a strong defensive player who has worked hard in the offseason and will be improved at the plate. Chaffee has the personality of a leader, one that she displayed a year ago despite her youth. Chaffee's double-play partner, Marianna Fenelli, had a superb offensive season last year. She led the Lobos in runs scored (45) and was its second-best hitter for average (.349). She is a smooth fielder who can make the spectacular play, but sometimes lapse on the routine ones. Fenelli and Chaffee work well in the middle and with a year of experience together, both players should be improved defensively.

Backing up the two middle infielders - and sometimes the first baseman - will be freshman Elena Cranmer. Cranmer is the type of player the Lobos did not have a year ago. She is an excellent defensive player who will provide depth in the infield as well as serve as the Lobos' third pitcher. Coaches have been very impressed with her skills in the pre-season.

Third base will see the most competition of all the infield spots.

Incumbent Rachael Wennekamp is coming off of a season that saw her struggle at the plate, but she worked hard in the offseason and will be tough to displace. Wennekamp was UNM's top hitter as a freshman two years ago and is a good defensive player. Challenges to the junior's job will come from sophomore Sarah Perez and freshman Kali Brim, both Albuquerque natives. Perez was one of the Lobo's most improved players from the start to the finish of the season last year and Brim led the state in hitting a year ago. Either way, the position is in good hands.

"We had a good infield last year," said Craig, "and with the influx of the people that we have, we will be a better infield. We will be a better infield this year just because of experience, one, but also because of the depth."

OUTFIELDERS
Like the infield, the outfield returns a ³full house² of players with experience and talent. It is a group that is set for the most part in center field with senior Lainie Horne and in right with junior Krissy Keene. The lone spot for competition will come in left.

Horne was a first team all-WAC player a year ago and went the entire season without making an error. She covers a lot of ground and is a good hitter who will finish her career as one of UNM's all-time leaders in RBI.

Keene is a player that started slow in '99, but came on strong in the second half. She is a five-tool player who has the strongest arm on the team. Her spot in the batting order may change this year, but if she can start this year as she finished last year at the plate, she will be one of the most complete players in the country.

Sophomore Cayley Warner comes into 2000 as the player with the most experience to challenge for the left field job. She started 1999 on fire and looked as if she would break school and conference records in stolen bases. She fell short of both, finishing with 39 steals, but showed speed like New Mexico has rarely seen. Her defense and hitting skills need to improve, but a summer of high-level competition in her native Canada may have solved that problem.

Warner's main competition will come from freshman Kelly Glass. Glass, from Las Vegas, Nev., has Warner's speed and is more aggressive at the plate than Warner was at this time last year. Both players will see a lot of playing time and both could actually be in the offensive lineup at the same time, but the competition for the starting spot in the field could be one of the most heated this season.

Serving as backups in the outfield are freshmen Melissa Fetman and Alli McMillan. Fetman is an athletic player who coaches think will be outstanding with experience, while McMillan is a versatile player who could see some time at first base as well.

"The exciting thing is we truly have six competent outfielders," said Craig. "The level of play has improved just because of the competition."

PITCHERS
The pitching staff will be much like last year - Cassara and Moore providing most of the punch with a change of pace coming on the third day when needed.

Cassara had an outstanding year last year and established herself as one of the top pitchers in the region. Her performance should not change, but coaches think Moore's will.

Moore is a hard-thrower and she has gotten stronger with each year, this one included. Her numbers were comparable with Cassara¹s a year ago and if they can both improve, they will be tough to beat in postseason tournaments. The third pitcher is Cranmer, a drop ball pitcher who can change speeds and, as stated before, will literally offer a change of pace to the other two.

"If the pitchers continue to grow, they will be very tough," said Craig. "I can already see that the staff will be better than it was a year ago."

CATCHERS
Catcher is the one position not returning a player with significant experience from a year ago. It will be another where competition will be stiff and depth will be solid.

Sophomore Tiffani Chambers returns from a freshman season that saw her play little at the position. That will change this season as Chambers comes into the season as New Mexico¹s top catcher from a technical perspective. She has a strong arm and will just need time to get better in a game situation.

Chambers' challenger for the starting role is sophomore transfer Sarah Maulorico. Maulorico has experience, as she played in 57 games for Southern Miss, a team that went to the Softball College World Series. She has a strong arm also, has offensive power and has caught both Cassara and Moore.

It is another interesting battle that can only benefit the Lobos as a team.

"I think Tiffani and Sarah will have a good battle to start," said Craig. "They each have different strengths. Both are very good players so it will be interesting to watch."