Tide Softball Returns to Diamond
1/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? Following what was yet another highly successful season in 2007, the University of Alabama softball squad returned to the diamond on Tuesday for its first official practice of the 2008 season.
Alabama returns 13 letterwinners, nine starters and a trio of All-Americans in 2008, including outfielder Brittany Rogers, infielder Lauren Parker and pitcher Chrissy Owens. The Tide breezed through its four outings this fall, outscoring its opponents by a combined 38-4 margin.
The Tide, who went 55-10 to log its third straight 50-win season last spring, had one of the best offensive seasons in Southeastern Conference history en route to a third-place finish in the league. Alabama set a school and league record with 463 runs, an average of 7.12 per game, and established new school and SEC single-season marks in team slugging percentage (.551), on-base percentage (.432), RBI (405) and home runs (79) in addition to several single-game records.
The 2007 season also marked the establishment of a variety of attendance records at the Alabama softball facility, all of which seem in jeopardy of being broken. After a record 1,200 fans purchased season tickets a year ago, the team has set the mark even higher this season, with more than 1,400 season tickets sold to date. With the official capacity listed at 1,595, the Tide could very well play in front of a sellout crowd every night at home this season.
Alabama fans will be able to see their team in action in little under a month. The Tide opens its 2008 season by hosting the Hampton Inn Bama Bash and will welcome teams from Purdue, Jacksonville State and South Alabama to Tuscaloosa. Another home tournament follows the next weekend, when Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee and New Mexico arrive to compete in the Hampton Inn Crimson Classic.
Fans are urged to purchase their season tickets while they remain by calling the UA ticket office or logging on to RollTide.com to secure their seats. Although chair-back ticket packages have been sold out, bleacher-back tickets remain at $35 per person. Group ticket packages are also still available.
Prior to the season-opener, Murphy and his staff will hold its annual coaching clinic on Saturday, Jan. 26. Enrollment information can be found on RollTide.com or by calling the Alabama softball office at (205) 348-0526.
