January 26, 1999

ATLANTA - Georgia Tech begins its 1999 season under new direction, as Kate Madden takes over the Yellow Jackets after serving as an assistant coach a year ago.

Tech opens the year with doubleheader at Georgia Southern on Feb. 10 and welcomes Virginia Tech to Glenn Field on Feb. 17 for its first home doubleheader. Tech will be trying to rebound from a 24-32 overall record a year ago and end a streak of consecutive losing seasons.

"This team is capable of doing a lot of things," said Madden, who starred collegiately as a pitcher at Southwest Missouri State and played professionally for the Durham Dragons. "We are attacking the mental aspect of the game, which had been lacking in the past. We are trying to make each player stronger mentally to handle adversity and respond well to any situation."

Tech will be led by junior catcher Anne Knobbe (Brea, Calif.), who led the team with nine homeruns and 34 RBI a year ago, and batted .263. The trio of Jamie Smith (Salem, Ore.), Mimi Utt (Carson City, Nev.) and Beth Warren (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) will handle the pitching duties for the Jackets.

Tech's Complete Schedule: Feb. 10 -- at Georgia Southern (DH) 3 p.m.; Feb. 14 -- at Furman (DH), 1 p.m.; Feb. 17 -- VIRGINIA TECH (DH), 2 p.m.; Feb. 19-21 -- South Florida Tournament (Feb. 19 -- South Florida, 4 p.m., Notre Dame, 8 p.m.; Feb. 20 -- Kansas, 10 a.m., Tennessee, 6 p.m.; Feb. 21 -- Miami, Ohio, 9 a.m.); Feb. 26-28 East Carolina Tournament (Feb. 26 -- George Mason, 1 p.m., Marshall, 3 p.m.; Feb. 27 -- Delaward, 9 a.m., Single Elimination Tournament Feb. 27-28).

Mar. 3 -- at Mercer (DH), 3:30 p.m.; Mar. 5 -- BOSTON COLLEGE, 3 p.m.; Mar. 6-7 -- Georgia State Tournament (Mar. 6 -- Georgia State, 9 a.m., Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.; Mar. 7 -- Troy State, 9 a.m., Evansville, 11 a.m., Fordham, 1:30 p.m.); Mar. 10 -- SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (DH), 2 p.m.; Mar. 11 -- PITTSBURGH (DH), 2 p.m.; Mar. 13-14 -- Georgia Tech Round Robin (Mar. 13 -- Pittsburgh, 1 p.m., Elon, 3 p.m.; Mar. 14 -- E. Kentucky, 3 p.m.); Mar. 23 -- at Samford (DH), 3 p.m.; Mar. 26-28 -- Buzz Classic, Marietta, Ga. (Mar. 26 -- Rhode Island, 3 p.m., Niagra, 8 p.m.; Mar. 27 -- Southern Mississippi, 10:30 a.m., Mercer, 3:30 p.m.; Mar. 28 -- Single Elimination tournament starting 8 a.m.).

Apr. 3 -- FLORIDA STATE (DH), 1 p.m.; Apr. 7 -- GEORGIA SOUTHERN (DH), 3 p.m.; Apr. 9 -- at Maryland, 4 p.m.; Apr. 10 -- at Maryland, 1 p.m.; Apr. 11 -- Virginia (DH), Noon; Apr. 13 -- SAMFORD (DH), 3 p.m.; Apr. 14 -- at Georgia, 4 p.m.; Apr. 18 -- TROY STATE (DH), 1 p.m.; Apr. 21 -- MISSISSIPPI STATE (DH), 3 p.m.; Apr. 24 -- NORTH CAROLINA, 2 p.m.; Apr. 25 -- NORTH CAROLINA, 1 p.m.; Apr. 27 -- at Georgia State (DH), 5:30 p.m.; Apr. 28 -- GEORGIA, 4 p.m.

May 1 -- at UNC Charlotte, 1 p.m.; May 2 -- at UNC Charlotte, 1 p.m.; May 9 -- SOUTH FLORIDA (DH), 1 p.m.; May 13-15 -- ACC Tournament, tba; May 21-23 -- NCAA Regional, tba; May 27-31 -- NCAA College World Series, tba.