Santiago Archieri/ Staff Writer
The softball season begins this coming weekend with the Panthers ranked sixth in the final Conference USA preseason poll. The results came off a pool of league coaches within C-USA.
Last year, Florida International University was ranked first in the conference in the same preseason poll. However, FIU ended up missing the C-USA tournament.
“The way we played last year, I think that is a fair rating,” said Head Coach Gator Rebhan.
The team is not paying too much attention to the rankings, but with the season right around the corner, it will be some extra motivation to prove the naysayers wrong.
Coach Rebhan is going into his second season as the head coach for the FIU softball squad. Although a 30-24 overall record last season might be a great way to start off his campaign in South Florida, the 10-14 C-USA record would demoralize the Panthers. Their below .500 C-USA record might not bring this talented group to be a part of the conference tournament, a tournament which FIU hosted.
With last season long behind them, the team is optimistic about the future. The Panthers have 16 letterwinners returning, along with seven starters and two pitchers. When it comes to the pitching rotation, Coach Rebhan showed his enthusiasm about starting a season fresh with Corinne Jenkins and Rachel Dwyer, the two best statistical pitchers from a year ago.
As the rotation might revolve around them, the team is also welcoming two freshmen pitchers and a leftie transfer.
Perhaps one of the biggest parts for the upcoming season is bringing back a powerhouse offense. FIU finished last year ranked second in doubles and triples, while fourth in RBI among C-USA teams.
The Panthers will be bringing back their hitting core, as the three strongest hitters in the 2015 season will be back. Leading the way will be Stephanie Texeira, the two time All C-USA Preseason team winner and league leader in walks and on-base percentage last year. Along with these two titles, Texeira was third in batting percentage with .444, which marked the school record for the Panthers.
With so many positives going for FIU looking ahead into the season, a sixth place spot in the polls wasn’t exactly what they were expecting, at least not Rebhan.
“I think we are much better than a sixth spot, but that is a fair assessment based off last season,” said Rebhan.
The Panthers will kick off the 2016 season with a bang. They will face the nationally ranked Florida State University Seminoles at FIU and continue to play five games over the weekend.
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