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STEPHENVILLE - Following the arrival of one of the biggest recruiting classes in school history, the TexAnns have no reason to believe that the 2014 season will go anywhere other than up.
 
"This year's team is as talented as any I have ever coached and I believe we can beat anybody we step on the field against," said Julie Mata, who enters her 18th season as the head coach at Tarleton. "This team has done a great job throughout the fall semester and their core values are strong. The Lone Star Conference is talent-rich, but I have no doubt that our connectivity and consistency can take us to the top this season."
 
Tarleton is coming off a 26-23 season in which they found themselves ranked in the South Central Regional rankings and qualified for the LSC Championship Tournament for the 12th time in 18 seasons.
 
Despite losing a handful of key seniors, the TexAnns added 10 new players into the mix to join key returners, including third-team all-LSC selection Melody Mayse and LSC Gold Glove winners Randi Fentress and Kelsey Latta.
 
In addition to Mayse, Fentress and Latta, Tarleton also returns starters Bailee Mauldin (C), Rachel Brownlow (OF), Amber Clifford (IF) and Brenna Hennan (SP) from last year's squad. The TexAnns also have key reserves Katelyn Conlee (SP), Eryn Freitas (OF) and Lauren Grisham (OF) back for another season.
 
Of the 10 newcomers, three came with Division I experience – Rylie Chappell and Taylor Wells coming from Stephen F. Austin and Lauren Powers transferring from Houston Baptist. Emily Jones came to Tarleton after a stellar season at Western Oklahoma State in the junior college ranks and six freshmen have worked their way onto the active roster.
 
"I'm really excited about the talent and the work ethic these girls bring," said Mata. "Our outfield is probably the deepest outfield I've had in my career. They give us so many possible combinations, they cover a lot of ground and bring speed to our lineup.
 
"Our infield will look a little different with Amber (Clifford) moving to third and the change at the shortstop and first base positions, but Kelsey Latta (a four-year starter) will anchor the infield from second base and they're going to be fun to watch," she continued.
 
Tarleton's battery tandem has also had improvement from last season – as the TexAnns returned all three of their pitchers from last season as well as starting catcher Mauldin.
 
"I really can't say enough about the job Bailee has done behind the plate," said Mata. "She has so much passion and love for the game, it shows in her work ethic."
 
The staff, which had just three pitchers last season, has grown to a five-person staff in 2014 with the addition of dual-position transfer, Taylor Wells, and freshman Alyssa Ringhausen. These two will join Fentress, Hennan and Conlee.
 
"Our pitching staff has more depth, more experience and more variety this year," said Mata. "We've got five pitchers and there are four of them who could potentially give us a complete game every time out. They are also good teammates. They are really a complete pitching staff working together as opposed to a collection of individual pitchers."
 
The regular season will begin February 1 for the TexAnns when they travel to Arkadelphia, Arkansas and will be on debut in Stephenville for the first time on Feb. 18.