A year removed from their third straight Big South championship and fourth in five seasons, the Longwood softball team was picked to win a fourth consecutive title by Big South coaches in 2018, marking the third consecutive season the Lancers come into a season as favorites.
The Lancers 2017 championship run consisted of a 13-2 run to end the season, including wins against top-seeded Liberty and second-seeded Campbell in the Big South tournament en route to their third straight championship.
Head coaching veteran Kathy Riley returns ten position players and two pitchers to her 18-player roster this season, while adding five freshmen to the team. Of the twelve returnees, eight of them were starters last season.
After feeling pressure to win a third straight championship last season, Riley said she’s trying not to succumb to the pressure this year in order to keep her team relaxed.
“I’ve worked hard to make sure I don’t (feel pressure), and let my team have their own personality and chance to tell their own story,” the 21-year head coach said. “Last year’s team is last year’s team; this year’s team is totally different. It would be inappropriate for me to put even more pressure on them.”
Additionally, Riley used the offseason to alter her coaching mentality to give her players breathing room, while also holding them accountable for their roles.
“The hard part about coaching though is to make sure that you’re pushing them just enough, but keeping them relaxed. I think the big challenge this year is to make sure I don’t have them get tight, but also for them to be accountable to do their job the way they need to,” she said.
A big piece returning to their star-studded lineup is junior pitcher Sydney Gay, who boasted a team-leading 2.30 earned run average last year and was a second-team All-Big South selection.
After the team’s slow start to last season, Gay emphasized the importance of starting off this season strong in order to set the tone for the rest of the year.
“Compared to last year, I’m hoping we have a better start off to this season, but I’m feeling very confident heading into the year,” said Gay. “There’s always pressure, but I think it’s more confidence and excitement more than anything.”
On the offensive side, junior catcher Kaylynn Batten provided the Lancers batting order with firepower, posting a team-leading .295 batting average. A first-team All-Big South selection in 2017, Batten hopes to carry her stellar offensive performances into the new season.
“We’re just taking (this season) step by step,” Batten said. “Personally, I just want to lead my team and put us in the best position I can, and we can see where we can get.”
Despite her numbers, among others, the Lancers finished last in the conference in batting average last season with .230, making way for Riley to focus on enhancing their batting performances this past offseason.
“We really worked a lot on vision, and when they do swing, they make sure that it’s going to count,” Riley said. “I’ve seen them go through the motions too much when they’re in hitting practice, so that now that I’ve cut down the swings, I think they’re taking care of those swings more effectively.”
With expectations set high for the Lancers, Riley said her experience, as well as the team’s experience, will be the determining factor of if her team is able to reach the summit of the Big South once again.
“I do think it’s important that we use the three years that we were successful to our advantage, because there is something to be said if you have got that experience,” said Riley. “We just need to use that and maintain our confidence all the way through the rough spots that you’re going to have in a 56-game schedule.”
The Lancers open their 2018 season with a doubleheader against DePaul and Northern Illinois on Friday, Feb. 16 in Charleston, S.C. The Cougar Classic consists of five games, lasting until Sunday, Feb. 18.
