STATESBORO - Head coach Kim Dean and the Georgia Southern softball program had plenty of great moments during the 2018 season, her first at the helm of the Eagles. But the stage is set for the team to be even better in 2019.
Newcomers to Eagle Field will notice two things right away - upgrades to the facility, including a new two-tier press box, playing surface and video board give the home of Georgia Southern softball a fresh look that the team is excited to show off this season. And the Eagles will have plenty of opportunities to do so, with 30 home games this season, compared to just 17 a year ago.
"They're really proud of it," Coach Dean said of the stadium upgrades. "We didn't get that without past success, but now that we have it, the stakes are higher. We have to earn what we've been given. But the girls are pumped."
Coach Dean is confident that her team and her coaches are up to that challenge, and with her returners coming back with another year under their belts, she expects the Eagles to play more confidently in 2019.
"The majority of our starters who didn't graduate are back, and they are now advancing in our system rather than just learning that," Dean said. "Our coaching staff is a bit more cohesive since we've been intact for a year. We believe we can win and win often."
Overall, nine players return from last season's squad that 28-25 overall and started the season with a school-record 21-9 start. Seven of those nine were starters in 2018.
Leading the returners is second-team All-Sun Belt selection and NFCA All-South Region honoree Hannah Farrell (.327, 9 HR, 21 RBI), who will once again man third base. The senior's .552 slugging percentage was one of the top single-season marks in school history.
Fellow All-Sun Belt selection and center fielder Mekhia Freeman (.331, 2 HR, 26 RBI) returns for her junior season after earning All-Conference honors her first two seasons as an Eagle. Joining her in the outfield will be Shelby Wilson (.260, 7 HR, 31 RBI), who moves from first base to left field for her junior year.
A pair of seniors who followed Coach Dean to Georgia Southern from Armstrong State in the wake of the consolidation return for their final seasons as both shortstop Macy Coleman (.270, 8 HR, 28 RBI) and catcher Logan Harrell (.251, 6 HR, 30 RBI) transitioned well to Sun Belt play after excelling for the Division II Pirates.
Sophomore Allyssah Mullis (.260, 9 HR, 33 RBI) had a solid debut season as the Eagles' primary designated player, while senior Macy Weeks was a valuable bat off the bench.
Rounding out the returnees are a pair of pitchers who saw their roles grow throughout the season. Sophomore Rylee Waldrep (10-10, 3.94 ERA) and senior Kaylee Ramos (6-4, 4.52 ERA) will again be counted upon to provide a lot of innings for the Eagles.
The Eagles have a nice mix of true freshman and transfers that Coach Dean hopes will transition quickly into the Georgia Southern system. A pair of players from Georgia Highlands College, juniors Alia Booth and Shayla Smith, will be in the mix for starting spots in the infield and outfield, while Valdosta State transfer Ellington Day has impressed early on with her ability to play a variety of positions. Shorter transfer and younger sister of catcher Logan Harrell, Layton Harrell, along with Wisconsin Lutheran product Sydney Horton round out the group of transfers.
Six freshman round out the Eagles roster in 2019, led by a trio who should see time right away - first baseman Faith Shirley (Winston, Ga. / Alexander HS),pitcher Jess Mazur (Palatine, Ill. / William Fremd HS), the younger sister of former Eagle Michelle Mazur, and outfielder/infielder Ashlynn Gunter (Newnan, Ga. / East Coweta HS). Infielder Shelby Barfield (Pembroke, Ga. / Bryan County HS), utility player Jodi Handler (Tampa, Fla. / Alonso HS) and pitcher Ashleigh Morton (Macon, Ga. / Tatnall Square) round out the newcomers.
One key change this season is the move to three-game series in Sun Belt Conference play, adding to the upgraded schedule for Georgia Southern. "I think it's going to change the league in general," Coach Dean said. "The hardest thing with doubleheaders is keeping your energy up, keeping your pitching staff fresh. Your strategic decision making is also changed, since you can think one game at time. I think the mindset of 'one game a day', even if it goes past seven innings, makes it a lot easier to give your all on the field for that day."
The Eagles have been picked to finish seventh in a preseason poll of the league's coaches, released last week. Georgia Southern finished seventh in 2018 with a 12-15 Sun Belt record.
"We're just going to take it game-by-game," Coach Dean said. "It doesn't matter if you win the first two games of a series since dropping the third can impact the standings. The league this year is very deep. The teams that finished 1-8 were within 3-4 games of each other. But being able to have two of the top teams at home [Louisiana and Texas State] will help. I think our field gives us an advantage. Some of those intangibles will help us, like the new upgrades at Eagle field, and having midweek home games. Not taking kids on the road so much sounds like it wouldn't impact Sun Belt play, but it does."
Play begins for the Eagles on Feb. 8-10, hosting the Bash In The Boro tournament at Eagle Field. Georgia Southern also hosts the Eagle Round Robin on Feb. 15-17 and, in addition to the Sum Belt home schedule, will also welcome in Furman, Kennesaw State and the College of Charleston for midweek home games. Georgia Southern will also participate in early-season tournaments in Madeira Beach, Fla., and at NC State.
Overall, the Eagles will play 12 games in 2019 against teams that advanced to the postseason last year. Three opponents for Georgia Southern appear in the NFCA's Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll - No. 6 Georgia, No. 15 Louisiana and Texas State, who was receiving votes. Georgia Southern hosts Louisiana on March 29-31 and Texas State on April 18-20 at Eagle Field.
The Eagles have heightened expectations for the season, but instead of putting a target or a total in front of her student-athletes, Coach Dean has three things her team is going to focus on this year.
"We have three big things this year we need to accomplish," Coach Dean said. "We have to score runs, we have to be the fastest to 21 outs, and our pitchers have to keep us in games. Of our 25 losses last season, close to 19 or 20 of them, we had the tying run at the plate with a couple of outs to spare. We are going to have to reduce that number.
"But the growth and development I've been witnessing in practice," Dean said. "I'm very encouraged. I think they are understanding what it takes to be good in this game. It's not about the glitz and glamour, it's about who's willing to sacrifice themselves. At the end of the year, if I have a group of kids still smiling, taking reps and asking questions during practice, I think we're heading in the right direction."
