Intending to end yet another season at the NJCAA national tournament in Utah, the Chattanooga State softball team begins its 2018 schedule against national-caliber competition in the Florida Panhandle.
One of the five teams the Lady Tigers will face Friday and Saturday at Panama City Beach, Lake Land of Illinois, did join them in Utah last spring, and at least two others - Gulf Coast State and Northwest Florida State - well could get there this year. Both of those "are really talented" and have played games already, said Blythe Golden, who has coached Chattanooga State to the nationals three times in her five previous seasons.
The Lady Tigers are supposed to play a doubleheader at Tallahassee on Sunday, and their next competition after that - at home on Feb. 13 - is against another 2017 nationals participant, Wallace State of Hanceville, Ala.
"The whole purpose of this schedule is to see good competition early," Golden said Wednesday night. "I think I know our team pretty well, but we feel like we're going to learn a lot this weekend. Seeing competitive teams out of the gate - good, bad or ugly - is going to give us a lot of information about our team so we can move forward."
Last year's team went 44-13 and won the region tournament after finishing second to Walters State in the TCCAA regular season, and Golden says the 2018 group can be even better despite returning only one regular starter.
"We're going to have a completely different look," she said. "We still should have good power numbers, but we have a little more speed."
The one returner is a good one - third-team All-American Kaleigh Wynne, ace pitcher and second baseman with power and average offensively - and left fielder Alyssia Bowen and first baseman Aimie Davidson are two other sophomores with significant experience. Davidson will play some at catcher, along with freshmen Shelby Penning and Madison Mirtschink.
Kayla Woody from Ringgold High School is the shortstop with "big hitter" Kiley Longmire at third, Katie Cheeseman from Canada sharing second with Wynne and Madison Crabtree from Meigs County working at first and designated player. Madison Tidmore is the center fielder and likely leadoff batter and Mary Kate Pritchett from Gordon Lee is in right.
Sophomore transfers Jenna Edwards and Morgan Marshall join Wynne in the pitching rotation, supported by returning sophomore Abby Hicks and freshman Madalyn Edde from Tullahoma High.