COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland softball team will be holding open walk-on tryouts for new players on Friday, Sept. 5, 2008. The tryouts will begin at 4 pm. at Robert E. Taylor Stadium for the spring 2009 season.

Last season saw two players from the spring 2008 tryouts recieve playing time for the Terps, who had the third-most wins in school history with 36.

Sophomore Carolyn Desrochers said that the team made the transition very easy from the tryouts to becoming a full member of the team. "All of the girls were really friendly and helped us out in any way possible," she said. Desrochers hit a RBI sacrifice fly in her first-ever plate appearance against George Washington.

Sophomore Lauren Ghent became a key pinch runner late in the season, scoring three runs in 14 appearances, while making two starts in left field. "Getting into my first game in the first conference game of the season (against North Carolina) was exciting, but having my first start at home was nerve-wrecking but a lot of fun," Ghent said.

Both players talked about how trying out in the fall would be beneficial. "Being able to get acclimated to the lifting and work-out schedule in the fall will make you a much better player," Ghent said. Desrochers added, "To get to know and become a part of the team earlier will make it so much easier when the season comes around in the spring."

To qualify for the tryouts, all participants must:

For more information, please contact Alissa Smith with any questions at (301) 405-0521 or via email at aesmith@umd.edu.