The urgency in Ty Singleton’s voice makes it clear: The UNM softball team’s head coach is acutely aware of the pressure to win.
Coming off a disappointing 13-35 third season for Singleton and the Lobos, the need to win has never been higher.
“It’s very important,” Singleton said. “We need to win this year — there is no doubt about it. Last year was my first year as a coach experiencing a losing season, to that degree, but now we have to win and I believe we will.”
In the offseason, Singleton revamped the team, signing six incoming freshmen and two assistant coaches.
Singleton said he is looking to field the right balance of youth and experience.
“I thought last year we were going to have a great year, until we lost our pitching,” he said. “So, we’re probably a year behind, but this year I think we have a legitimate shot to break into the top 25.”
With the help of catching coach Jennifer Ogee and pitching coach Kim Martin, the Lobos seem primed for improvement.
Martin said she wants to instill a certain attitude in the Lobos’ pitchers.
“I think the main lesson I’m trying to teach these kids is that hard work pays off,” she said. “No matter what obstacles they see in front of them, if they put in the quality time that it takes, they’re going to see the rewards from that.”
The freshmen class, Martin said, which includes three pitchers, is what will give the Lobos the enthusiasm they’ll need to push to new heights.
“Pitching is certainly one of the most important aspects of softball,” Martin said. “When everybody is buying in and doing what it takes, it doesn’t guarantee success, but it does increase your chances.”
And so far, it has worked.
The Lobos had a promising fall season, in which UNM went 7-1, their only loss coming to the eight-time national champion Arizona Wildcats.
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The games helped the coaching staff evaluate what kind of talent it recruited and what each pitcher could do.
Pitchers Kari Gutierrez and Kaela DeBroeck led the fall season by going a combined 6-1 and throwing three complete games. Samantha Gatson also took the mound and notched a win in her only appearance.
“All the girls bring something different to the table, and we have a lot of options, which certainly wasn’t the case last year,” Martin said. “But I think all three together bring a unique balance to the team.”
With several pitchers who have different throwing styles, Singleton said he has enough talent in the circle to compete with every team on the Lobos’ tough schedule.
“I do believe that all three of the pitchers are talented, so it’s going to be fun to see how they improve over the spring,” he said. “With Gutierrez, we’re working on getting her more movement. With Gatson, we’re getting more command of her movement, and with DeBroeck, we’re working on a combination of improving her velocity and getting her to use her legs more proficiently while she’s pitching.”
Although the spring season is just starting up with team evaluations and two-a-day practices, Singleton said he’s convinced that this is the Lobos’ year for success.
“I think this is definitely the most talented team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” he said.
