Ashley ConnerCoach Frank Reed clearly has addressed the main recent shortcoming of his University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team.
Faced with a lack of pitching depth and experience and then a series of medical issues to the pitchers the Mocs had, the longtime target program of the Southern Conference stumbled to a 15-38 record in 2017 with only four wins in 18 conference games. That followed a 7-11 SoCon record for a 2016 team that went 30-29 with pitching problems also.
This year the Mocs have six pitchers, and all have strengths that can help, Reed and his veteran players said Saturday morning at the team’s annual fundraising breakfast.
Sophomore Celie Hudson from Paris, Tenn., a potential ace last year who was unavailable until deep into the season because of back problems, was doing well along with the team by the conference tournament and is back with an improved conditioning program. Then there are junior Heidi Hall, a transfer from Oregon State, and promising freshmen Allison Swinford from Dalton and Alexa Veamoi from Athens, Ga.
Off-speed specialist Paige Peterson from California and left-hander Michayla Kelly-Harvey from Idaho can provide helpful changes of pace and style, Reed said.