HARTSVILLE, S.C. - With the first game day of the 2021-2022 season quickly approaching, there are several reasons that the Coker University softball team is hungry for success and ready to start this season.
Head coach Marty Kinard enters his first season at the reins of the Coker softball team.
The Cobras are coming off a disappointing 2021 and are ready to make waves in the South Atlantic Conference as well as Division II after being selected 11th in the SAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
"Our goals and expectations are to put ourselves in a position to win on a daily basis, we want to play hard and have fun," said Kinard. Our biggest goal is to get back to the SAC Tournament and put ourselves in a position to compete for a championship over those two days."
Coker has a mix of seasoned upperclassmen and eager underclassmen, with six seniors and three newcomers on this year's roster. The Cobras have a solid set of returners that are key to the program's success this season.
"Our returners have been great, they know how last year went and not having that opportunity to compete at the SAC Tournament so they are hungry and working hard daily," said Kinard. We will be led by our senior pitchers: Brandi Davis, Jordyn Goodman, and Isabelle Mullen."
Outside of the circle, Coker will lean on several key upperclassmen.
"Chloe Pelham and Kayla Oswell are really locked in right now in the middle of our lineup. Kelsey Gollie had a really good fall and has made strides behind the plate," said Kinard. "Makayla Cuthbertson is going to do a really good job for us at short this year. In the outfield, Ava Jay and Kelsi Scott are able to give us some versatility as well as the ability to play good defense out there."
Outfielder Kelsi Scott was named to the South Atlantic Conference Preseason All-Conference Second Team on Jan. 26. Scott appeared in 19 games last season and led the team in batting average with a .414. She recorded 24 hits and eight RBI to go along with her six stolen bases for the season. Scott was selected to the 2021 South Atlantic Conference Honorable Mention Team for her performance last spring.
Kinnard says his newcomers bring something special to the team.
"All three newcomers will contribute for us this year. Callie Thornton has some really good stuff in the circle and will make our pitching staff better. Ariana Fair brings a lot of versatility at the plate and covers a lot of ground in the outfield. Delaney Eaves brings depth to our middle infield and brings a big bat."
The coaching staff has been really pleased with how their team has progressed throughout the preseason.
"We have really worked hard on being better defensively, as we know that if we give teams extra outs in this conference they are going to take advantage of them," said Kinard. "What excites me the most is how much they have improved not only from the time I got here, but from fall to now. The sky's the limit for this group."
The coaching staff knows that every game is equally important, but says they face a key stretch early on in their season
"I look at our toughest stretch as opening conference play, having to travel up to Lenoir-Rhyne and then a few days later play Carson-Newman at home. If we can come out on top during that stretch then we will set ourselves up to have a great year in conference play, if not we will be faced with a challenge the rest of the way," said Kinard. "I'm just ready to see this team compete, they have worked so hard to get to this point and I really feel as this is going to be a great year for us."
Coker kicks off their 2022 season campaign on the road Tuesday, February 1, 2022, against Augusta University. Coverage can be found at www.cokercobras.com.