Softball team steps up to the plate with their new coach
Ashley Wilson
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Sports
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The athletic department and a couple current softball players interviewed a few candidates last year. The position was filled with the hiring of Haley Woods.
Coach Woods comes to NDNU with a lot of softball experience. She was an All-American standout at Cal, appearing in three College World Series and two National Championship games.
She was named a 2006 First Team All-American as a catcher and was twice named All-Pac 10 and All-Pacific Region.
In 2006, Woods was named Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year, inducted into the Cal Hall of Fame and invited to try out for the U.S. National Team.
Last year Woods was the softball coach at Castilleja High School where she led the team to the WBAL Championship. She also coaches for the San Jose Sting, a Northern California 18-and-Under Gold fast-pitch program.
Woods said she was eager to get the coaching position at NDNU for a couple of reasons. She said she wanted the opportunity to be a college head coach somewhere as opposed to an assistant coach at a Division I program.
Belmont is also her home town, and she said she sees the potential of what can be done with this program based on the past seasons.
She said she is ready to change the program for the better.
Woods also said, "We have the all the pieces. We need to put it all together."
Woods is obviously an asset to NDNU, according to members of the softball team.
"Coach Woods coming here is a great thing for the softball program. Having played at the highest level, she gives us someone to look up to and something to strive for," senior Bria De Lorenzo said.
Freshman Danielle Gray also said, "She brings intensity and a true knowledge of the game."
When asked about this season, Woods said, "If we work hard and come to play, we can win a conference champion-ship."
The team this year is solid. It has a total of 14 players, including 12 returners.
Starting shortstop Tanya Huson also added, "We are really coming together because the core of this team has played together for three years."
The team has been practicing hard even with some days of bad weather.
They start season with a Best of the West Tournament in Stanislaus Feb. 1-3.
The first home game is Wednesday Feb. 6 versus Sonoma State at 1 p.m.
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