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Great championship teams of the past have featured strong supporting casts. The Chicago Bulls had Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. The San Fransisco 49ers had Jerry Rice and John Taylor. In 2008, the Texas A&M softball team will have Jami and Jamie. Jami Lobpries and Jamie Hinshaw, that is. They do not have the championship, but they said they were confident that this is the year.
"Last year we went to the College World Series," Hinshaw said. "This year, we want to win it. We can set a goal of winning every tournament that we play in, whether it's in the Big 12 or anything."
The two make up half of the senior class, the other half being Megan Gibson and Amanda Scarborough. In terms of attention, Gibson and Scarborough get the most of it.
They have had All-American status, been named to national watch lists and have taken home trophies. But Hinshaw, the third baseman, and Lobpries, an outfielder, said they were fine with that, as long as the team wins.
"They're going to get what they deserve, and their careers have proven to be great," Lobpries said. "If we don't get interviewed every day, we're OK with that. Yes, they do get a lot of the credit, but if we still win, I'm still happy."
In 2007, the Aggies defeated No. 18 Florida in the NCAA Super Regional to advance to their first College World Series in 10 years. However, the Aggies were immediately overwhelmed, losing a hard- fought battle against No. 1 Tennessee, and then being eliminated by No. 7 Baylor. Hinshaw and Lobpries agreed that the team was not ready for the emotional and physical strain of the big games, but the experience gained would pay dividends in 2008.
"Last year, we were definitely the team that was just happy to be there," Lobpries said. "Now that we have our foot in the door, I think we have what it takes with that experience."
Hinshaw and Lobpries are not the only role players expected to step up. They mentioned sophomores Alex Reynolds and Macie Morrow as young players who will be the future of the program. Both pointed to their leadership abilities and commitment to hard work.
"Alex Reynolds is going to step up," Lobpries said. "She's a very vocal leader. We as seniors are very vocal but we like to lead by example. She's one that can step up and say the tough stuff, and she's very confident."
"[Morrow] leads by action," Hinshaw said. "She is not as vocal as us, but by the way she plays and her attitude, she'll play well this year."
The Aggie lineup will be similar to the 2007 one, but there will be holes to fill.
The departure of centerfielder Sharonda McDonald and second baseman Joy Davis are the most glaring losses. Hinshaw said McDonald was not an easy player to replace at the leadoff spot, but the depth of the team will allow flexibility and a variety of options for replacement. They said freshman Natalie Villarreal will thrive at second base and the team is not losing any defense with her starting. Villarreal will likely hit at the top of the batting order.
The losses have not hurt A&M's preseason standings. The Aggies are predicted to win the Big 12 and are ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation. Hinshaw and Lobpries said the challenge is to keep the rankings and the predictions off their minds and focus on winning.
"We try not to think about that when we're playing," Hinshaw said. "The ranking is good as far as getting people excited about the season, but we're not going to think about that when we're playing. I just like the buzz that it brings to the area."
The A&M softball program has three national titles, but the latest was in 1987. With the No. 2 ranking, the return of key players and the experience of a College World Series a year ago, there will be a buzz about College Station during the season.
Hinshaw and Lobpries said the excitement will be difficult to contain, but they are keeping their expectations modest.
"I just want to leave the program better than when I arrived," Lobpries said. "Whether it is winning the College World Series or being the first class to win two
Big 12 titles, I don't know if it can get much better than that."
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