[media-credit name=’DEREKMONTGOMERY/Herald Photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]After having a successful fall exhibition season, the Wisconsin women's softball team will begin their 2006 season this weekend at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.

This tournament will provide a true test for the Badgers, as they will play five games in three days, including games against No. 4 Texas and No. 17 Fresno State.

The Badgers return 13 players from last year's squad, eight of whom saw considerable playing time during last season.

According to Wisconsin center fielder Sam Polito, the success of this year's team will hinge on the experience of last year and the returning players.

"I think it's going to be a huge influence [on our performance]," Polito said. "We had a lot of talent last year and, with our new coach this year, [the talent] is coming out even more. Just having some experience on the field is going to help us a lot. We are a tight-knit team, and nobody is out there for themselves. We put ourselves on the line for our team in order to win."

One of the returning players who hopes to give Wisconsin an offensive boost this season is sophomore Katie Hnatyk. Hnatyk, who was a third-team all-Big Ten selection as a freshman, batted .313 and hit a school-record nine home runs last season.

In addition to Hnatyk, Wisconsin boasts six freshmen who will compete for significant playing time this spring. Among those six players are Alexis Garcia, who went 1-for-3 and scored two runs in the fall exhibition, and pitcher Theresa Boruta, who struck out two batters in one inning of relief work.

For the Badgers, each of these players brings a different style that will hopefully result in more victories this season.

"[Hnatyk] is a great player who had a great season," Polito said. "Once we saw her with a bat in her hands, we knew she could do something special. … Alexis just brings an attitude to our team. She wants to work hard all the time and will do anything she can [to succeed]. She also has a very good bat and a glove at first [base].

"Teresa brings energy, if nothing else. She is a great player and very versatile. She'll be able to play for us wherever we need her. She pitches, plays infielder and outfielder. It is a big benefit to have her."

One of the biggest changes this season for the Badgers is their new coach, Chandelle Schulte. Only the second head coach in the history of Wisconsin softball, Schulte coached the College of Charleston softball program the past four years and was successful in the program.

Schulte had a 163-82 record with Charleston, which included two regular-season Southern Conference championships, one conference tournament championship and an NCAA regional appearance. Although she's new to the program, Schulte brings a victorious record of coaching that teaches the basics of the game and gets the most out of her players. Even though it was a little skeptical at first, the transition for the returning players has been a successful one.

"I think in the beginning it was a little shaky because we didn't know what to expect and she didn't know what to expect," Polito said. "At this point, she has come in and really helped us in ways that we needed. We really needed to be coached in fundamentals and that what she has been doing. We've really worked on getting into the game the way she wants us to play. She has really done a great job."

In order for the Badgers to have a successful season in the difficult Big Ten — Michigan, Northwestern and Iowa are all ranked in the top 20 — Wisconsin will need the kind of success they got in their exhibition season, especially from Polito.

Polito, who has played in 112-straight games, went 4-for-7 with two triples, a double and six RBIs, including the game winning RBIs in both games, in Wisconsin's 12-0 victory over UW-Parkside and 1-0 victory against UW-Green Bay. One thing that has changed for Polito this year is her batting role.

Known for being primarily a contact hitter, Polito will try to become a formidable power leader, batting leadoff. For Polito and Wisconsin, the bar has been raised a little higher as the team, on a whole, is expecting good things.

"I am finally getting a chance to hit away this year," Polito said. "I would like to see my hitting improve and be a triple threat on the field. [I want to] get on base, anyway and anyhow. As a team, we are looking at big things right now. We have some pretty big goals in mind but right now we are keeping simple, wanting to go out there to face New Mexico, and we can't wait to play Texas."