Photo by Erin FredrichsTribune

Tribune

Kelly Ninemire sets to pitch during a scrimmage at the newly renovated UNM softball field. "We put a lot of pressure on Kelly in the circle last year," said head coach Ty Singleton. With their sights set on the conference title, the pressure's on again this season. She'll be backed up by two freshmen.

Photo by Erin FredrichsTribune

Tribune

With her long-sleeved shirt half on for warmth, UNM softball pitcher Kelly Ninemire pretends to attack outfielder Sara Loeffelholz in the dugout during a team scrimmage.

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There are two doors into the Lobos softball team's "big dream."

They can catch their dream by winning the Mountain West Conference title.

They can grasp it by doing well in a tough pre-MWC schedule designed to throw these young Lobos into some early heat and maybe get them an at-large NCAA bid come May.

Of course, the dream is the NCAA Tournament.

Something a University of New Mexico softball team has never played in.

"I truly believe they can see themselves winning the conference," said Ty Singleton, the second-year University of New Mexico softball coach.

"Last year, when I told them that was our goal, I don't think they believed us. I don't think they believed they could do it."

Singleton says this year that attitude has changed. He said during a team meeting to discuss goals he told his Lobos to dream big. One of them tossed out winning the MWC title.

"Then one of our seniors said, `Coach, you asked for big dreams and, for me, winning conference isn't a big dream. That's a matter of fact,' " Singleton said.

"It's nice to see them believing that much. But I'm still putting down `winning conference' as a big dream because we haven't done it yet."

The Lobos' preseason confidence is a bit like the remodeling done to the UNM Softball Complex: a nice start, but can they finish?

The Lobos have new turf, new scoreboards and new bleachers in left field and in right field. But the old and faded stands behind the backstop look Little League.

The preseason talk is good, too, but can these young Lobos do it on the field?

Singleton has seven freshmen, four sophomores, five juniors and three seniors to turn loose on UNM's big dream.

The Lobos went 20-25 in 2007: 7-8 at home, 8-12 on the road, 5-5 on neutral sites and 9-11 in league play.

The Lobos did not go to the NCAA Tournament.

The key in 2008?

What else? Good pitching backed by solid defense and timely hitting.

"We did not finish strong last year. No doubt about it," Singleton said. "I thought offensively and defensively we got stronger, and we never quit battling. But our pitching did not get stronger.

"We put a lot of pressure on Kelly in the circle last year. This year she has improved. She has more experience and confidence, and I think we have more help for her."

The backup for Ninemire probably will come first from Kyla Nelson, a freshman from Wheatridge, Colo. Singleton also expects help from Madelyn "Maddie" Machac, a freshman from Sandia.

"I don't mind the pressure," Ninemire said. "You get used to it as a pitcher. It comes with pitching.

"Pitching is a big part of the game, but you can't score runs without a good offensive team and pitchers can't be successful without a defense.

"It takes a whole team, and I have confidence knowing I have a whole team behind me."

The Lobos open their season at 1 p.m. Saturday with a doubleheader against Evansville at the UNM Softball Complex. The two teams play one game at 1 p.m. Sunday.

"I think in every part of the game we are better," Singleton said. "We have good athletes coming back who have improved, and we have some talented young freshmen."

Nelson and Machac are two of the freshman expected to make an immediate impact. Tianna George, a freshman from Hemet, Calif., will start at shortstop on Saturday.

"We set up a schedule where these girls will face some great competition," Singleton said. "We will get better from that or we will get humbled, but I think we have the guts to get better.

"I'm very confident we will do some good things this year."