LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The days are cold and snow still lines the mountains of the Wasatch Front, but for the Weber State University softball team, things are starting to heat up.
The Wildcats kick off their third season of competition this afternoon at Eller Media Stadium when they take on Kent State at 2:30 p.m.
"We're excited to play," Weber State coach Tina Johnson said. "We haven't played on dirt or real grass, so it'll be fun to play on a softball field again."
Weber State, like most high altitude-based campuses, doesn't get much outdoor practice during the month leading up to their first pitch because of winter weather.
The Wildcats showed a strong improvement between their first and second season, increasing their win total by 10, and remaining competitive all season long.
"Our team has experience on the infield and with pitching," Johnson said. "Most of our starters will have experience from last year. With that experience, I feel the team is further along than what we have been in the past at this time in the season."
Weber State returns 11 players from its 2011 season, including five seniors.
Among the returners is center fielder Erika (James) Dixon, who set a Pacific Coast Softball Conference record with 35 stolen bases last year. Dixon was one of three returning players that earned all-PCSC honors last season, earning a spot on the second team.
Symbree Minniear (second team) and Lyndsey Minnich (honorable mention) were also honored.
Dixon recorded 46 hits, scoring 23 runs, while hitting .338 at the plate. Minniear had 32 hits, 20 runs scored and had 18 RBIs, while Minnich had 37 hits and a team best-tying 20 RBIs. Minnich was one of just two players to play in all 50 games for the Wildcats last season.
"Our key to success will be scoring runs; our hitters can do it," Johnson said. "We've got to come out swinging. Our pitchers will keep us in games. Three out of the four pitchers throwing this trip are returners. They've matured and gotten stronger from last spring. That will be an asset for us. I think our defense will be solid and should mesh."
Senior right-hander Sarah Clark threw a team-high 109 innings on the mound last year, finishing with a 5.01 ERA and 80 strikeouts.
Weber State's pitching staff will have to acclimate early to a changing of the guard behind the plate, with the graduating of two-year starting catcher Brandi Christopher.
"We'll have the least amount of experience behind the plate and our corner outfielders. Our catchers will have to grow up in a hurry," Johnson said. "They've improved since last fall, and have a better understanding of how much faster the game is at this level."
Weber State welcomes nine newcomers to the team this year as it embarks on its final season in the Pacific Coast. The Big Sky Conference, with the addition of two new members, will begin sponsoring softball in the spring of 2013.
"We hope to get our bats going right from the start this weekend," Johnson said. "We want to get our rookies some playing experience, and see our returners be leaders on the field.
"We want to play our game focused on doing the little things correctly. We must adjust and take what the game gives us and not force things.
Weber State plays its first 18 games away from home and will participate in four non-conference tournaments.
The first is this weekend's Sportco Kickoff Classic, which will see Weber State take on five opponents in a three-day span. The Wildcats will face tournament host UNLV at 7 p.m. on Friday, followed by CSU Bakersfield and No. 5 Oklahoma on Saturday, before closing out the tournament on Sunday against Minnesota.
"It's time for us to see what we can do against another team," Johnson said. "We need to play to figure out what we need to fine tune, improve, or fix. Games will show us how our players are putting what we practice into competition. This weekend will also help us to see how quickly our team and players make adjustments."
Weber State will also participate in five-game tournaments hosted by New Mexico State, Colorado State and Boise State.
The Wildcats will open their home season on March 13 when they host Dixie State for a double-header, with the Pacific Coast season set to get underway on March 31 at Northern Colorado
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