RAYMOND, Miss. - The 2025 Hinds Softball program, under the leadership of head coach, Mike Grzanich, looks to improve upon the 2024 campaign which moved the Lady Eagles into heights the program hasn't seen since the early 2000's. The Lady Eagles finished T-3 in the MACCC final standings, as well as #13 in the final NJCAA Ranking and seeded 5^th for the NJCAA Region 23 tournament. Falling short in the tournament, the Lady Eagles finished the season with a 32-16 record, which was just 4 games short of the program record for wins (36).
 
The Lady Eagles will rely heavily on their deep sophomore experience in all facets of the team. The Eagles returned 9 of 10 freshman from the 2024 team, as well as adding 6 transfers from other Junior Colleges. They will also sprinkle in some freshmen athleticism as well in the field and in their pitching staff.
 
Starting off in the circle: Sophomores Kyleigh Forsyth (Lumberton, TX), Emily Vicknair (Garyville, LA), and Kaylee Chandler (Watson, LA) will tote the load. Forsyth returns after a season in which she chalked a 16-4 record with a 3.17 ERA. Vicknair will step into a bigger role after handling most of her work out of the bullpen totaling a 5-3 record with a 3.90 ERA. Chandler will add her experience as well, bring in a 4-1 record with a 3.96 ERA. Freshmen Jazmin Robertson (Carriere, MS) and Ava Armentor (Lafayette, LA) will be looking to solidify their roles in the staff as well.
 
In the lineup, the Lady Eagles will return some big pieces from their 2024 lineup with names such as Destiny Crosby (.313 BA, 27 SB), Melissa Lopera (.285 BA, 40 RBI), Mackenzie Kelly (.378 BA, 21 RBI), and Lily Ochodnicky (.288 BA, 3 HR). The Lady Eagles are looking for breakout season from other returning sophomores as well as five transfer position players. A few freshmen look to explode on the scene this season. 
 
Coach Grzanich, 2024 MACCC Coach of the Year, on the 2025 season ahead: "We are going to lean on our sophomores heavy this year, however there will be some freshman who make a name for themselves as well. We are crafty in the circle, we are going to manufacture runs in our own way, and like always, we will play stellar defense behind our pitchers. Looking forward to making further strides into becoming a staple program in the MACCC."

To view the full schedule, click here.

To view the full roster, click here.

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