Softball to play in three fall tournaments
09/08/2005 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Sept. 8, 2005
By Matt Crouch
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - After finishing the 2005 season in the NCAA Regionals in May, the Saluki Softball team is ready to get the ball rolling on the 2006 campaign with three fall tournaments.
For the third consecutive year, the Dawgs finished the season ranked in the top 25 as the team finished No. 24 in the ESPN.com / USA Softball Top 25 Poll. After recording a Southern Illinois University and MVC-Record 47 wins in 2005, the Salukis fell to No. 4 Stanford and No. 16 Missouri in the NCAA Regionals.
While fall games don't officially count toward the team's record, it gives the team an opportunity to get some practice and learn about each other.
"The basic purpose that we use fall games for is to have the team mesh together, infusing our five new kids with our 14 returners. We really take it as an opportunity to play a lot of people in a lot of positions and give people a lot of playing time," said Saluki head coach Kerri Blaylock.
"We get to take a look at what things are going to be like in the spring and it gives us a leg up on spring practice."
SIU will open the fall slate at the Illinois State University Fall Tournament, Sept. 10 - 11 in Normal, Ill. The Salukis will face Parkland College, SIU-Edwardsville, Illinois Central College, Western Illinois and Illinois State at the two-day tournament.
"We chose the Illinois State tournament because we get a good number of games, which will help us a lot," said Blaylock.
Next on the schedule is the Kirkwood Fall Tournament, Sept. 17 - 18 in Kirkwood, Mo.
SIU saw a lot of success at this tournament last year, finishing the weekend 5 - 0, allowing only five runs.
The Dawgs will see Saint Louis University, Southeast Missouri, University of Missouri at Rolla, McKendree and SIUE during the two-day event.
Playing in the Kirkwood tournament is a homecoming of sorts for several team members, but playing in the tournament also helps down the road with recruiting.
"We go to Kirkwood every year because it is a huge recruiting base," said Blaylock. "We get a huge number from St. Louis area, so it is nice to get to play in front of a lot of recruits."
SIU will round out the fall season by inviting John A. Logan College, Southern Indiana and Rend Lake Community College to Carbondale for the Saluki Invitational, Sept. 24 - 25.
"We always like to have a tournament at home so the fans can see the kids and give the fans a preview of the team," said Blaylock.
Overall, Blaylock has been pleased with the team's progress through the fall practices.
"What I've been most pleased with is the effort at practice. The veterans are starting to take the new kids under their wings and start to make them understand how hard you have to work in practice," said Blaylock.
"I'm excited to get out there and get kind of a baseline of what we need to work on."
The following is a list of SIU's opponents at the three fall tournaments:
Illinois State Fall Tournament
9/10 - 10 a.m. - Parkland College
9/10 - 12 p.m. - SIU-Edwardsville
9/10 - 4 p.m. - Illinois Central College
9/11 - 10 a.m. - Western Illinois
9/11 - 2 p.m. - Illinois State
Kirkwood Fall Tournament
9/17 - 12 p.m. - Saint Louis Missouri
9/17 - 2 p.m. - Southeast Missouri
9/17 - 6 p.m. - Missouri-Rolla
9/18 - 10 a.m. - McKendree
9/18 - 2 p.m. - SIU-Edwardsville
Saluki Invitational
9/24 - 2 p.m. - John A. Logan
9/24 - 4 p.m. - Southern Indiana
9/25 - 12 p.m. - Rend Lake Community College
9/25 - 2 p.m. - TBA
9/25 - 4 p.m. - TBA