Completed Event: Softball versus No. 2 Seed Oklahoma State on May 7, 2026 , Loss , 0, to, 7
Final Score
Softball
0
vs No. 2 Seed Oklahoma State
7
The University of Utah Athletics
2009 Utah Softball Outlook
1/30/2009 12:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 30, 2009
2009 Outlook
After being picked to finish last in the Mountain West Conference in the 2008 preseason coach's poll, the University of Utah softball team defied expectations and remained in contention for the MWC crown entering the final weekend of the season. The team finished third in the final standings with a 10-10 mark in league play and a 28-27 record overall. Entering 2009, the Utes know they will not be able to sneak up on any of their opponents, but it is a challenge second-year head coach Amy Hogue eagerly awaits.
"Last season, this team had the expectations and outlook of a team that was picked to finish last and we changed that," Hogue said. "We didn't win the league last year, but we succeeded in teaching these kids to believe in themselves. Our goal is always to be in contention for the conference championship with an opportunity to win the title heading into the last weekend."
"A lot of people told me around town that we had a great season," Hogue continued. "While I obviously appreciate the support, I didn't think we had a great season. To me, it's not great unless you win the title and go to the postseason. Although we had a great start, last season was just a stepping stone for what I see this team doing in the future."
Hogue recognizes that a lot of different people contributed to the Utes' rapid improvement and she expects to see more of the same this season.
"We've been preparing hard during the offseason," Hogue said. "I'm surrounded by a bunch of coaches who put so much time, effort, and heart into this team on and off the field to prepare this group for success. The confidence factor is huge and our coaching staff has instilled a strong sense of self-belief in these kids. Everyone has contributed, from our managers and trainers, to our volunteer assistant coach [Cody Thomson], to our assistants, and to Evan Simon, our strength and conditioning coach."
Pitchers
After last year's team had to absorb the loss of two student-athletes to graduation heading into the 2008 season, the 2009 Utes' pitching staff is fully-stocked with four capable arms, led by junior Ashley Smuda.
Smuda earned All-MWC recognition in her first season with the Utes and ranked among the top five in the league in eight different categories. Smuda posted a league-high 69 batters struck out looking and finished second in the conference with 218.1 innings pitched. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native threw a pair of no-hitters against Southern Utah and UNLV, then recorded wins against No. 14 DePaul (3-2), No. 22 Texas (5-4), No. 19 San Diego State (2-1 in eight innings).
"Smuda will get the ball a lot, not just because she was an all-conference selection last year, but because she has gotten stronger," Hogue said. "Her proven success plus the fact that she's feeling pushed has helped her to not sit back and be complacent."
An accomplished trio will battle for opportunities on the mound behind Smuda, including returning sophomore Brittany Parker along with newcomers Lindsey Palmer and Joni Cook. Last season, Parker appeared in 35 games, making 20 starts, and went 10-14 with a 4.59 ERA, including six complete games. Palmer played last season at Salt Lake Community College, where she earned the 2008 Betty Jo Graber Female Athlete of the Year as the top female athlete in the NJCAA. Cook has an excellent mix of pitches with a great amount of movement and was a three-time first-team all-state performer at Eagle High School. She was also named the Southern Idaho Conference Player of the Year in 2006.
"We have more pitching depth than we have ever had," Hogue said. "I'm excited about the amount of options and experience that they give us."
 Ashley Smuda ranked among the top five in the MWC in eight different categories last season.  | |
Catchers
Senior Andrea Hoffman and newcomer Brooke Olson both bring a wealth of athleticism and experience to the Utes and will compete for the start behind the plate.
"Both of them know they have to be whatever the pitchers need," Hogue said. "Whichever one doesn't start behind the plate will have an opportunity to be in our regular lineup as our DP. They are both throwing the ball well, both are leaders, and both have earned the right to play."
Hoffman made 21 starts behind the plate for Utah last season, and has started 115 games for the Utes during her career. Hoffman started the last 16 games of the year and finished third on the team with 152 putouts, while tying for fifth in the MWC with 10 runners caught stealing.
Olson comes to Utah from Salt Lake Community College after starting all 54 games behind the plate for the Bruins in 2008 and earning NFCA NJCAA Second Team All West Region and Easton Junior College All-American Third Team honors.
 Andrea Hoffman finished third on the team with 152 putouts last season. | |
Infield
While Sharee Fonoti is the only Utah player returning to the same infield position, fellow seniors Staci Hemingway and Bonnie Muir will join three accomplished newcomers in new positions in the Ute infield.
Fonoti and Hemingway were named team captains after a vote by their teammates. Fonoti returns and was the only Ute to play in, and start, all 55 games for the Utes last season. Fonoti tied for fourth place in the MWC with a team-high 10 sacrifices. Hemingway earned ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District VII distinction, appearing in and starting 54 games and posting a .961 fielding percentage.
"We have two returning starters with [Hemingway] and [Fonoti], but [Fonoti] is the only one returning to the same spot she played last season," Hogue said. "[Fonoti] is a great leader for us, while plans are for [Hemingway] to play every day at first base."
Whitney Holm is a walk-on freshman who has earned the opportunity to start at third base. Holm enters the program following an accomplished prep career during which she helped Spanish Fork High School to the 2006 state championship and runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2007.
"[Holm] came to us late in the summer and this fall she flat-out earned her position," Hogue said. "I'm very excited about the opportunity for her." Haylee Hoch will serve as a backup at third base and first base and may earn a starting role as Utah's designated player.
Playing time at second base remains up for grabs heading into the season.
"Bonnie [Muir] and Jasey [Jensen] are in a battle for second base," Hogue said. ""[Muir] is a senior and has done a great job preparing for this opportunity. [Jensen] broke her leg in the fall season, so when she is healed, she will have a chance to fight for playing time as well."
Muir played in 26 games with nine starts, mostly at second base last season.
Outfield
Despite the loss of two-time all-region performer Diana Phillips to graduation, the Utes head into this season with three impressive players who have stepped up to assume starting duties in each outfield spot.
"Kara [Foster] will start in center field, Angie [Boardman] will start in right and Hannah [Clements] will start in left," Hogue said. "They have earned the opportunity to start but we have two other players right on their heels."
After starting her career at first base during the 2007 season, Foster has been a key part of the Ute offense the past two seasons and is already third in school history with 35 career home runs. In her second season at Utah after transferring from Idaho State, Boardman was voted by her peers as team captain. The Spokane, Wash., native ranked seventh in the MWC with a team-high .441 on-base percentage, and also finished second on the team with 30 RBI's. Boardman also finished third on team and 17th in the MWC with a .321 batting average. A freshman this year, Clements was a versatile player at Poway (Calif.) High School and played travel ball with the SoCal Breakers, while posting a team-high batting average in 2007. Junior Tori Medina and sophomore Laura Dahlberg will be counted on to provide depth.
Freshman Tia Palauni has been designated as a utility player and may be seen in a variety of positions in the Utah lineup.
"[Palauni] is really versatile," Hogue said. "She can step in and play either in the infield or the outfield. She is so talented that we could put her anywhere on the field."
 Angie Boardman posted a team-high .441 on-base percentage in 2008. | |
Schedule
Utah's 2009 schedule features 11 games against seven opponents included in the USA Today/NFCA Preseason Top 25, including games against three schools who qualified for the Women's College World Series last season. Despite facing a variety of high-profile opponents, every game of the season will be important to the Utes.
"With as many new kids that we have on the field, every game will be a challenge," Hogue said. "There's so much that needs to take shape for us during the season that there's no way that I can look down the road and know how we're going to match up against teams like UCLA, Texas A&M or Arizona. Our motto is `bring it on' so we enjoy playing those schools that have top-10 programs."
Utah will participate in six high-quality tournaments to start its regular season, in such locations as Saint George, Utah, Las Vegas, Nev., Tucson, Ariz., San Diego, Calif., College Station, Texas and as far away as Honolulu, Hawaii. Among the Utes' scheduled opponents are preseason top-25 teams No. 4 UCLA, who qualified for last season's Women's College World Series, No. 5 Texas A&M, who was a finalist at the 2008 WCWS, No. 7 Arizona, No. 17 California, No. 21 Washington, No. 23 Nevada, and No. 25 San Diego State. Arizona was a participant in the NCAA Women's College World Series last year.
The Utes hope this rigorous schedule will set them up for postseason success. The NCAA Regionals are held May 15-17, with the Super Regionals May 22-23. Sites for both rounds are to be announced. The NCAA Women's College World Series will take place May 28-June 3 in Oklahoma City, Okla.
"Our goal isn't just to win the league and make it to regionals," Hogue said. "We want to prepare a team that can go and win a regional and have a chance to battle with a team at a Super Regional for the opportunity for a return trip to the WCWS for the Utes."
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
P/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballCrimson Corner with Bill Riley - Utah Softball Coach Amy Hogue
Wednesday, May 13
ESPN+ Feature | Behind Game Day: Grass & Turf
Tuesday, May 12
ESPN+ Feature | Utah Softball's Hailey Maestretti
Tuesday, April 28
ESPN+ Feature | Utah Softball: Newcomer Noise
Friday, April 24