Lady'Back softball and tennis announce fall schedules

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas softball and tennis teams announced their 2006 fall schedules this week. Arkansas softball hosts three tournaments at Lady’Back Yard beginning Sept. 10, and Lady Razorback tennis plays its entire fall season on the road, with the first match Sept. 8. The first fall softball tournament is Sept. 10, with eight newcomers making their Lady Razorback debut. Arkansas meets Crowder at 11 a.m., Seminole State at 3 p.m. and Bacone at 7 p.m. “The fall season gives us the chance to put the newcomers in and blend them with the returners,” said head softball coach Jamie Pinkerton. “It allows us to see different combinations that will prepare us for spring.” Eight softball teams from the 2005 fall tournaments return to Fayetteville this season. The Lady’Backs face Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Conners State and Neosho County in the Sept. 16 tournament. Pinkerton said the fall season will allow the coaching staff to evaluate the new Lady’Back pitchers as well. “It is important to give the new pitchers an opportunity in the fall,” Pinkerton said. “The tournaments also give us the chance to see them compete.” Arkansas concludes the fall season Sept. 30, with games against Carl Albert, Rogers State, and Oklahoma Baptist. The 2006-07 edition of Arkansas tennis features no seniors and travels to eight different states for its fall schedule. Head tennis coach Michael Hegarty said the fall season will be crucial to his team. “With a young group this fall it is critical that we go through a detailed learning process and use this schedule to implement elements that will benefit us during the team season in the spring,” Hegarty said. The first weekend, Sept. 8-10, the tennis team travels to St. Louis. The Lady’Backs split the squad traveling to Oxford, Miss., and to Williamsburg, Va., Sept. 15-17. “It’s a challenging fall schedule that will have us competing against the best teams both in our central region and also from our conference,” said Hegarty. In addition, the Lady’Backs travel to Manhattan, Kan., New York, N.Y., Los Angeles, Calif., and Tulsa, Okla. Arkansas ends its fall season in Athens, Ga., where it competes in the Southeastern Conference Fall Coaches Classic. For more information about Arkansas athletics, log onto LADYBACKS.COM.