Opening Day

The Lady Eagles will open up the 2020 season at home this Thursday (Feb. 13) against the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals in a double header. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Rene Warren Field in Raymond. Game two will follow at approximately 2 p.m.

2019 Season in Review

The 2020 Lady Eagle softball team will look to rebound from their 2019 season, and get back to the playoffs, a place they found themselves at the end of the 2018 season. The Lady Eagles finished 16-28 on the season, and 9-19 in MACJC conference play. The team was led by in big part of the pitching staff who recorded a 3.65 ERA.

Coaching Staff

The Lady Eagles are led by Head Coach Mike Grzanich who is in his 13^th season at the helm. He returns 9 sophomores and added 11 freshmen to the 2020 roster. Coach Grzanich is assisted by first-year assistant, Kasey Britt. Coach Britt is a local from Richland, MS who joins the coaching staff after spending her last two years at her alma mater, the University of Central Arkansas (UCA). Coach Britt was a standout outfielder and first basemen for UCA. She will be responsible for coaching the outfielders and first baseman. John Plummer returns for his fifth year with the team as the graduate-assistant and will serve as the infield coach.

Pitchers

The team returns three sophomore pitchers, Cassidy Rhea (West Monroe, LA), Anna Rigdon (Union), and Braxon DeWitt (Pass Christian). Cassidy Rhea returns as the ace from 2019 as she recorded a 6-10 record with a 2.65 ERA. Braxon DeWitt and Anna Rigdon saw most of their work out of the bullpen in relief roles and helped maintain a team best 3.65 ERA. The sophomores are joined by newcomer pitchers' Ashley Lopez (Zachary, LA), Natalie Parker (Denham Springs, LA), and Emilia Smith (Hernando). Lopez and Parker will look to come in as hard throwing righties which is complemented by the crafty Smith.

Infielders

The Lady Eagles' infield returns second baseman Jessica Deming (Olive Branch), first baseman Brennan Newell (Florence), and utility player Sam Keel (Olive Branch) who came to Hinds as a catcher/outfielder, but found herself playing multiple games at shortstop in 2019. The Lady Eagles also welcome newcomers Sadie Parker (Flowood) and Rebekah Fields (Corinth). Parker will lock down the shortstop position while Fields (Corinth) will look to compete at third base.

Catchers

Hanna Wilkerson (Lake) returns to lead the Lady Eagles from behind the plate, following a successful freshman campaign where she earned MACJC Player of the Week honors through the first 10 games of the 2019 season. Wilkerson tutors the strong-armed freshman catcher Chryselynn Martin (Forest) who looks to keep the opponents' running game held at bay this year.

Outfielders

The outfield returns sophomores Katie Cheeks (Shubuta) and Anna Taylor Belcher (Brandon). Cheeks saw most of her time in the corner outfield positions last season, while Belcher saw most of her work coming off the bench in pinch-hit roles. Belcher, who had an outstanding fall season, will look to solidify her spot in the lineup come opening day. The Lady Eagles welcome freshmen speedsters Madisyn Nichols (Madison), Kat Bruner (Brandon), Savannah Bryant (Mize), Destany Thornton (Lucedale) and Annelyse Nichols (Brandon) to help lock down the outfield.