Oct. 2, 2002

WACO, Texas - Two weeks into fall drills, Baylor's softball team will get its first taste of non-intra-squad action here this weekend, hosting Oklahoma Christian, Hill College, Blinn College, Grayson College, Seminole State and McLennan Community College for the 2002 Baylor Fall Tournament. This is a non-participation tournament, meaning the games do not count toward the teams' 2003 records.

The Lady Bears are coming off a 46-18 season in which more than 50 school records were established. Baylor returns all but two letterwinners and all but one starter from that team. Third-year head coach Glenn Moore said fall practice has thus far been a success.

"We're much more athletic than we were last year," Moore said. "The kids that are returning are returning in great shape, and the kids that are coming in are very strong and ready to make an immediate impact. We're faster, obviously more mature and we're picking up on things a lot more quickly. Right now, we're much further along than I thought we would be at this point and time."

Baylor plays Oklahoma Christian at 11 a.m. Saturday, followed by a 3 p.m. game against Oklahoma Christian and a 5 p.m. game against McLennan. Sunday, the Lady Bears face Seminole State at 11 a.m., Temple College at 3 p.m. and Grayson at 5 p.m.

"We've made some adjustments offensively," Moore said. "We've changed our mental approach to hitting, and I'm anxious to see how that carries over against outside competition. We want to see how our pitchers perform and how they developed over the summer."

This is the first of three tournaments in which Baylor will compete during the fall developmental season. The Lady Bears play Oct. 12-13 at the Spring-Klein Fall Tournament and Oct. 19 at the Texas A&M Fall Tournament.

Baylor is for the most part healthy. Junior RHP Katie Decker has been sidelined with a bruised finger, but she returned to action Wednesday and should pitch this weekend. Senior RHP Joni Miller has been battling a tender elbow, but Moore expects her to play through the pain. Freshman Amanda Johnson turned her ankle in practice earlier this week and will not play this weekend.

BAYLOR FALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULESaturday, Oct. 5Baylor vs. Oklahoma Christian, 11 a.m.Baylor vs. Oklahoma Christian, 3 p.m.Baylor vs. McLennan CC, 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 6Baylor vs. Seminole State, 11 a.m.Baylor vs. Temple College, 3 p.m.Baylor vs. Grayson College, 5 p.m.