Jan. 10, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Each week heading into the 2007 Samford softball season, a different player will be highlighted in an edition of "Bulldog Talk", a question-and-answer session with one of this year's players. This week's featured player is sophomore utility player Jessica Owens.

The Samford softball team will begin play in its 2007 season Feb. 9-11 at the prestigious Florida State Tournament. The opening date is less than five weeks away and each of Samford's 15 softball players will have their turn to be featured in the inaugural edition of "Bulldog Talk".

Owens, a native of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is the 10th Samford softball player to be featured this season. She heads into the 2007 campaign as one of the Bulldogs' key utility players and will be expected to see significant playing time again this year.

As a true freshman in 2006, Owens started 46 games and played in 51 contests for the Bulldogs last season. She played primarily in the outfield and finished second on the team in batting average. The speedy Owens was also 15-of-18 in stolen bases and scored a team-high 24 runs.

The following is a transcript from Owens' edition of "Bulldog Talk".

How excited are you to start practice?
"I am very excited to start practicing. I look forward to practicing every single day. Practice is a time for me to not think about the business of life, school or anything. I can let go and enjoy playing a game that God has so blessed me with the abilities to play. I enjoy every second of playing ball with my teammates and the lovely family fellowship I get from them."

One month from now the season will start, how excited are you?
"I am absolutely ecstatic about the upcoming season. I am so glad to have the opportunity to be at Samford and I'm so blessed to have the ability to play this sport that I love. I am excited for this season because it will be a new start for the team and for me. This is a year for us to prove to the OVC that we are the best and I can't wait to step on the field with my teammates to show everyone that we are.

"We had a great fall season and I am looking forward to working hard every day for the OVC championship. I can't wait for the little things that come with the season such as putting on my cleats and glove, smelling the grass on the field and hearing the sound of the ball coming off the bats. There is just something about putting my cleats on. It makes me so excited. It is a mental trigger for me that I am going to play softball. Everything about next season gives me the chills. I can't wait!"

You spent a lot of time in the infield this past fall, how did that go for you?
"It went really well. Shortstop has always been my first love and passion. It is a place where I have always loved to be. I love being able to dive and get dirty. I have enjoyed getting to know the position to a T this fall and being able to show the coaches I can play there if I'm needed. I am a very energetic player, so I enjoy being able to be loud and heard at this spot. A lot of things ride on you being at shortstop, but I enjoy the pressure of the position and of having the ability to step up to the plate for the team when needed. It is definitely a lot of fun!"

What motivates you to go as hard as you do?
"God has blessed with the talent and ability to play a sport many people could never play and he has given me the ability to live my dream of playing at the Division I level. Why wouldn't I go hard all the time? There is no way that I would ever pass up such a wonderful and blessed opportunity. I really love the game and respect it with all my heart.

"I love stepping onto the field everyday and working hard. I love going hard in the weight room also. There is just something about lifting that I love. I see that it improves my game so I love placing myself in the best situation to excel and be the best I can be for the team. If I'm going to practice then I'm going to practice hard."

Describe this year's team?
"This year's team is a lot different than the last. With the addition of our two assistant coaches a lot of new aspects of the game have been put into place. We have focused a lot on the mental aspect of the game this fall. Overall, I believe we are a more focused team and ready to carry the presence of a championship team on and off the field. We have really meshed well together this year and have learned to take criticism from each other so that we can accomplish all of our goals.

"I really love everyone on this team and I am so excited for the start of this new season. Everyone works very hard to be the best they can be and we all have our hearts fully set to accomplish our team goal of winning the OVC."

What aspect of your game has improved the most this year?
"My slapping has definitely been the thing that has improved the most for me this year. Being a leadoff hitter I have really learned to read the defense and place the ball in the best place to give myself the best opportunity to get on base. I have also really improved my explosiveness out of the box, so that I can get to first as quickly as possible.

"My mental game has also improved with the fact that I am a lot better at stepping into the box with a clear mind and just getting the job done. I have also learned to play pitch by pitch and not inning by inning, to shake errors off and not let the little things get to me so that I can play to the best of my ability each game."

Check out next week's edition of "Bulldog Talk", as Samford softball's featured player will be senior first baseman Jenna Dempski.

Dempski is one of the Bulldogs' four seniors this season and will enter the 2007 campaign as one of the team's top power hitters. Last year, she scored nine runs, tallied seven RBI and finished with a perfect 6-of-6 performance in stolen bases.