Hard work.

Its been a popular phrase for the Arizona Western College softball team dating back to last August and leading into the beginning of the 2008 season, and it probably will stay that way with Angel Shamblin at the helm.

Leading by example, the Matador head coach has been busy at work not only putting together a roster for her first year, but making sure she that roster will be playing together as a team in time for their first two games today against Southern Idaho and Salt Lake Community College in the 2008 Great Western Shootout.

"Its been crazy coming in when I did, but its all been positive crazy," said Shamblin, who was hired on Aug. 6 after Pam Stone's 14-year run ended last June. "The main thing I've tried to emphasize is work ethic, which the girls have responded well to. Work ethic on and off the field."

Despite a late start on the recruiting trail, Shamblin brought in 10 new additions to the AWC team, some familiar with the college and others familiar to Shamblin. Kofa High grad and four-year starter Kaylee Renick will be wearing the cardinal and gold this year as a freshman. So will sophomore transfer Alexandra Lupton, whose relationship with Shamblin goes back to her prep days at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, Calif.

"She emphasizes academics and hard work, she's very consistent and very fair," Said Lupton, who will likely be splitting time with Veronnica Alvarado behind the plate and at third base. "I had her for a coach all through high school, so she's doing something right keeping around."

Humorous but confident statements like that mirror returning sophomore Priscilla FaGaines' impressions of what her new coach has brought to the program.

"She brought excitement and fun to the program, and she knows what she's doing" FaGaines said. "It's hard work playing and practicing every day, and we tell them [freshmen] every day there's no breaks. We don't have time for it, and they're picking it up pretty good."

FaGaines, who started all 61 games last year and was an ACCAC 2nd Team selection, will be looked to for power hitting at the plate and leadership in the outfield, while Yuma High alum Courtney Reed and former Kofa High star Stephanie Valencia will be the main cogs in the infield.

On the mound, Emily Dean, Lindsay Hrycuik and Alexa Rodriguez will be Matadors aces.

2008 Great Western Shootout

Today's Games:

4 p.m. - College of Southern Idaho vs. Arizona Western at Cibola High School; Colorado Northwestern CC vs. Central Arizona at CHS; College of Southern Nevada vs. Pima at Yuma Catholic High School; Snow vs. Eastern Arizona at YCHS.

6 p.m. - Salt Lake CC vs. AWC at Cibola; CSI vs. CAC at Cibola; CNCC vs. Yavapai at YC; CSN vs. EAC at YCHS.

8 p.m. - Snow vs. Pima at Cibola; Salt Lake vs. CAC at Cibola; CSI vs. Yavapai at YCHS; CNCC vs. EAC at YCHS.

Friday's Games:

9 a.m. - AWC vs. North Idaho at Cibola; Snow vs. CAC at Cibola; Salt Lake vs. Pima at YCHS; El Paso vs. EAC at YCHS.

11 a.m. - CNCC vs. Southwestern at Cibola; North Idaho vs. CAC at Cibola; Yavapai vs. North Idaho at YCHS; CSI vs. Glendale at YCHS.

1 p.m. - Salt Lake vs. EAC at Cibola; El Paso vs. Pima at Cibola; CSN vs. Glendale at YCHS; CNCC vs. Gateway at YCHS.

4 p.m. - AWC vs. Colorado Western at Cibola; North Idaho vs. Glendale at Cibola; Golden West vs. Chandler at YCHS; Snow vs. Gateway at YCHS.

6 p.m. - Salt Lake vs. CSN at Cibola; Southwestern vs. CAC at Cibola; North Idaho vs. Mesa at YCHS; CSI vs. EAC at YCHS.

8 p.m. - Yavapai vs. Chandler at Cibola; Snow vs. AWC at Cibola; CSI vs. Mesa at YCHS; Golden West vs. Gateway at YCHS.

Saturday's Games:

8 a.m. - Salt Lake vs. Glendale at Cibola; North Idaho vs. Gateway at Cibola; CSI vs. Pima at YCHS; CNCC vs. Chandler at YCHS.

10 a.m. - El Paso vs. Glendale at Cibola; North Idaho vs. Pima at Cibola; Salt Lake vs. Chandler at YCHS; CNCC vs. Mesa at YCHS; Snow vs. Yavapai at Joe Henry Park.

Noon - CSI vs. Southwestern at Cibola; El Paso vs. Snow at Cibola; North Idaho vs. Phoenix at YCHS; Golden West vs. Mesa at YCHS; CSN vs. Chandler at Joe Henry Park.

3 p.m. - Golden West vs. AWC at Cibola; Snow vs. Phoenix at Cibola; CSN vs. Yavapai at YCHS; Gateway vs. Mesa at YCHS; CSI vs CNCC at Joe Henry Park.

5 p.m. - El Paso vs. AWC at Cibola; Southwestern vs. Phoenix at Cibola.