Thursday, June 6, 1996

ACU announces first signing for new softball program

By Abilene Reporter-News

Shelly Owen Martinez of El Paso, a former pitcher at Carlsbad, N.M., High School and New Mexico State, is the first player to sign with Abilene Christian University for its new women's softball team.

ACU is fielding a women's softball team for the first time in the upcoming school year. The first season of official competition with be spring 1997.

The signing of Martinez was announced by ACU women's softball coach Carol Tabor.

Martinez had a five-year record of 58-4 in high school. As a senior in 1991 she had an earned run average of 0.09 and earned all-state honors in pitching Carlsbad to its fourth straight state championship.

After a redshirt season in 1992, she pitched for New Mexico State in '92 and '93 before receiving an associate's degree in radiologic technology.

"Shelly will bring a lot of maturity to our team," Tabor said. "She definitely throws as well as anybody, and pitching is a key to having a quality softball team. She is a great competitor.

"I went to the NCAA Division II national tournament in May, and there wasn't anybody there who throws better than Shelly. She comes from a top high school program, and she played in one of the best Division I softball conferences in the nation, so she has faced some of the best hitters in the nation. We're extremely fortunate to have her to help start our program."

Martinez will have two years of intercollegiate eligibility remaining.

ACU will compete in the south division of the Lone Star Conference with Texas Woman's, Tarleton State, Eastern New Mexico and Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Tabor said at least four other current ACU students are expected to be included on the first ACU softball roster. They are Nikki Hendrickson, a sophomore from Mesquite Poteet, and three freshmen - Betsy Paxton of Richardson, Theressa Johnson of Willcox, Ariz., and Michelle Unger of Houston Kingwood.