Q: What do you want your team's identity to be?
We’ve really been focusing on mental toughness. I just want us to be a tough, competitive bunch. Last year I felt like we had some unfinished business. Our girls played great, we just didn’t finish. We’ve been talking about being mentally tough, and when we step on that field we’re there to compete.
Q: What has this year's senior class meant to your program?
(Olivia Miller and Paris Thompson) just bring a confidence to the girls when they’re on the field. The belief just really elevates the belief that we can do this. Great leadership. The thing about them is they’re not just great athletes, they’re great people and great young ladies. They’re very coachable. They have toughness and are go-getters. The one thing I feel like they bring to this program is confidence.
Q: Who will be the primary contributors of this year's squad?
Olivia Miller, Paris Thompson, Gracie Odom, Izzy Pittman — we’re looking for big things from them. We’ve got some solid, good, young talent that just loves softball that we’re expecting big things from. Kady Stringer and Kirsten Williams are two girls we think will really step up, take on a big role and help fill that middle of the order. Any time you got two seniors that will play D-1 softball, just their presence makes a big difference. Then the majority of our girls outside of them are ninth and eighth graders that will be starting apart from one (sophomore).
Q: This team has the potential to compete for a state title. What needs to happen for that to become a reality?
We’ve got the talent, we’ve got the coaching the staff — the girls have just got to finish and be mentally tough. Last year we got into some big moments and just let it overtake us a little bit mentally. We’ve got the talent, but we just have to put it all together, play as a unit and just finish. Be mentally tough and finish. We only lost two girls, everyone else is returning and we’ve got some good, young girls, so we’ve definitely got the pieces to bring a state championship here. We just have to be mentally tough. We’ve got a little chip on our shoulder with Southeast Lauderdale. We’ve played them three times and really had them beat three times, but we just didn’t finish those games.
Q: With Olivia and Izzy both being very strong in the circle -- what is that balance going to look like this season?
I feel like we’re better defensively when Izzy is in the circle because it gives us more options in the infield. We’re able to move Olivia and Gracie around more. I’m definitely going to try to get them both as many innings as we can, but we’re stronger defensively with Izzy as our No. 1. Olivia is going to be more of your power pitcher. Izzy more spins the ball really well, hits her spots really well. If we’re looking for a gut punch, Olivia will be the one.
