HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team will begin preseason preparations for the 2018 season on Tuesday, when the team reports back to campus.
 
Armed with a solid veteran corps and an influx of talented newcomers, the Lady Lions seemed poised to take another step forward in their third season under head coach Rick Fremin. After finishing near the bottom of the league in Fremin's debut campaign, SLU doubled their league win total in year two and narrowly missed returning to the Southland Conference Tournament.
 
Fremin's squad seems poised to take another big step forward in the coming season. The Lady Lions return seven positional starters and all but one member of the 2017 pitching staff. With 18 letterwinners returning and several newcomers set to make immediate positive impacts, SLU has raised expectations heading into the upcoming campaign.
 
"We feel good about where we're at heading into the season after a productive fall," Fremin commented. "We were able to get everyone playing time during the fall and were able to see our players react well in different situations. We feel that the combination of having veterans that are comfortable in our system and newcomers who are raising our overall level of play, that we'll have a more well-balanced attack that better fits our style."
 
One of the primary keys to success for the Lady Lions will be production in the circle. Seniors Lacey Hill (9-9, 3.56 ERA in 2017) and Rachel Hayes (7-8, 3.80 ERA) are the top returners for Southeastern, while sophomore Tanner Wright (3-2, 3.88 ERA), sophomore Alley McDonald (3-4, 5.25 ERA, 1 save), sophomore Ali McCoy (2-0, 4.40 ERA) and junior Caitlyn VanHemelryck (0-3, 5.48 ERA) also are back. Freshman Shelby Sitzman will further bolster the staff, which will be overseen by first-year assistant coach Brooke Boening.
 
"Brooke did an excellent job with the staff in the fall and we're expecting to see improvements in the circle this season," Fremin said. "We feel Rachel and Lacey will be more confident and consistent with a year of Division I softball experience. We go into the season with the expectations that Alley will step up as our third starter with Tanner, Ali and Shelby as our main arms out of the bullpen. We showed a lot of improvement as a staff this fall in terms of our ability to manage the game and we're hopeful to see that growth continue into the season."
 
One of the more intriguing position battles of the preseason and of non-conference play will be to see who fills the catching position. While junior returner Whitney Sullivan is out injured, a pair of veterans – senior Carlie Whittington and sophomore Brennan Bourgeois – and the freshman duo of Ella Manzer and Shaye Tredinich will all vie for playing time behind the dish.
 
"Our two freshman picked up our system quickly this fall," Fremin stated. "They both have good size and strong arms and give us an added dimension offensively. Carlie just has a knack for getting on base and works with our staff well. Brennan saw a lot of time as a freshman and we expect her to continue to improve with more experience. All four will have the opportunity to show what they can do."
 
Senior Mahalia Gibson and junior Jaquelyn Ramon are the top returners on the infield for SLU. Gibson was named the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year after batting .317 with 10 doubles, five triples, three home runs and 36 RBI in her debut season in Hammond. Ramon is already the school's career leader with 86 stolen bases in her first two seasons. The speedy leadoff hitter and starting shortstop from Channelview, Texas led the Southland and ranked fifth nationally with 54 stolen bases as a sophomore to go with a .320 batting average and a team-high 40 runs.
 
A pair of newcomers are expected to bolster the infield and the middle of the order for Southeastern. After impressive fall showings, junior Rebecca Skains and freshman Madison Watson have the inside track on the first and third base jobs, respectively, heading into the spring.
 
"We're deeper on the infield than we've been the previous couple of years," Fremin said. "Rebecca brings a lot to her table with her athleticism and her holding down first base give us a lot of options with what we can do. In addition to Ramon, Mahalia and Madison, we also have (senior) Alli Daigle, (senior) Grace DeLee, (sophomore) Mattie Ort and McCoy all back. We have confidence in all of those players' abilities. Production at the plate is what's going to primarily determine playing time on the infield."
 
Two-thirds of the Southeastern starting outfield returns in 2018, highlighted by three-time All-Southland Conference senior left fielder Kinsey Nichols. The Alvin, Texas native was second in the Southland with a .393 batting average in 2017. Senior centerfielder Maddie Edmonston also returns after finishing second in the Southland with 33 stolen bases in her first season as a Lady Lion. While starting right fielder Kalyn Watts transferred to UL Lafayette, Fremin believes he has several excellent options to fill her spot.
 
"We were extremely strong defensively in the outfield a season ago and we see that continuing this season," Fremin said. "Kinsey is a dynamic all-around player for us both at the plate and in the field for us. She's had some tough luck with injuries the last couple of years due in large part to how hard she plays, so we're hopeful to see what she can do with a full season of good health. Maddie can really run down balls in center and we expect more of the same from her as a senior.
 
"We have several options in right field," Fremin added. "(Senior) Peyton Sutton has a lot of experience and is a game-changer with her speed. We were really impressed with (freshman) Madisen Blackford's transition from behind the plate to the outfield. She's got a great arm and has a lot of athletic ability. (Sophomore) Rae'Shaun Malancon will join us for preseason practice and comes in with a power bat and a lot of raw talent. Outfield is another area where we feel we're much deeper than what we've been."
 
Southeastern will open the 2018 season by hosting Lion Classic I and II at North Oak Park. The Lady Lions will open Lion Classic I by hosting Howard at 3 p.m. on Feb. 9 in a season-opening tournament that will see SLU also face Kennesaw State and Arkansas. Omaha, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Belmont and Detroit will be Southeastern's opponents during Lion Classic II, scheduled for Feb. 16-18.
 
Other non-conference visitors to Hammond this fall include Louisiana Tech (Feb. 13), Ole Miss (March 14), Alcorn State (March 20), UL Lafayette (April 11) and Southern (April 24).
 
Southeastern also has two non-conference road tournaments on the 2018 slate. The Lady Lions will face UL Lafayette, UMBC, North Florida and Memphis during the Ragin' Cajun Classic on Feb. 22-24 in Lafayette. SLU will face Creighton, Missouri and Drake at the Mizzou Tournament in Columbia, Missouri on March 2-3.
 
The Lady Lions will also travel to face non-conference foes Mississippi State (Feb. 20), Southern Miss (March 6), ULM (April 3) and Jackson State (April 17).
 
SLU opens Southland Conference play at home, hosting Abilene Christian for a three-game series at North Oak Park on March 9-10. Other home league series for the Lady Lions include Nicholls (March 23-24), Houston Baptist (April 6-7) and Central Arkansas (April 20-21). Southeastern travels to face Southland foes Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (March 16-17), Lamar (March 30-31), Northwestern State (April 13-14), Sam Houston State (April 27-28) and McNeese (May 4-5).
 
The top eight teams in the league standings will advance to the Southland Conference Tournament, scheduled for May 9-11 in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
 
"We want to continue moving forward and we expect to be in the postseason," Fremin said. "We're pleased with where we're at with our talent level on the field. We also should benefit from great senior leadership and much-improved team chemistry. If our pitching progresses as we hope and we're able to stay healthy, we can take some big strides in 2018."
 
2018 Southeastern Louisiana Softball Schedule
Date – Opponent – Location – Time
Feb. 9 – Howard (Lion Classic I) – Hammond – 3 p.m.
Feb. 9 – Kennesaw State (Lion Classic I) – Hammond – 5 p.m.
Feb. 10 – Howard (Lion Classic I) – Hammond – 3 p.m.
Feb. 10 – Arkansas (Lion Classic I) – Hammond – 5 p.m.
Feb. 13 – Louisiana Tech – Hammond – 5 p.m.
Feb. 16 – Omaha (Lion Classic II) – Hammond – 3 p.m.
Feb. 16 – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Lion Classic II) – Hammond – 5 p.m.
Feb. 17 – Belmont (Lion Classic II) – Hammond – 1 p.m.
Feb. 17 – Omaha (Lion Classic II) – Hammond – 3 p.m.
Feb. 18 – Detroit (Lion Classic II) – Hammond – 12 p.m.
Feb. 20 – at Mississippi State – Starkville, Miss. – 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 22 – at UL Lafayette (Ragin' Cajun Classic) – Lafayette – 4 p.m.
Feb. 23 – vs. UMBC (Ragin' Cajun Classic) – Lafayette – 9 a.m.
Feb. 23 – vs. North Florida (Ragin' Cajun Classic) – Lafayette – 11:30 a.m.
Feb. 24 – vs. Memphis (Ragin' Cajun Classic) – Lafayette – 11:30 a.m.
Feb. 24 – vs. UMBC (Ragin' Cajun Classic) – Lafayette – 4:30 p.m.
March 2 – vs. Creighton (Mizzou Tournament) – Columbia, Mo. – 10 a.m.
March 2 – at Missouri (Mizzou Tournament) – Columbia, Mo. – 12 p.m.
March 3 – vs. Drake (Mizzou Tournament) – Columbia, Mo. – 10 a.m.
March 3 – at Missouri (Mizzou Tournament) – Columbia, Mo. – 12 p.m.
March 6 – at Southern Miss – Hattiesburg, Miss. – 6 p.m.
March 9 – Abilene Christian – Hammond – 5 p.m.*
March 10 – Abilene Christian (DH) – Hammond – 12 p.m.*
March 14 – Ole Miss – Hammond – 5 p.m.
March 16 – at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (DH) – Corpus Christi, Texas – 1 p.m.*
March 17 – at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – Corpus Christi, Texas – 12 p.m.*
March 20 – Alcorn State (DH) – Hammond – 3 p.m.
March 23 – Nicholls – Hammond – 5 p.m.*
March 24 – Nicholls (DH) – Hammond – 12 p.m.*
March 30 – at Lamar (DH) – Beaumont, Texas – 4 p.m.*
March 31 – at Lamar – Beaumont, Texas – 3 p.m.*
April 3 – at ULM – Monroe – 6 p.m.
April 6 – Houston Baptist – Hammond – 5 p.m.*
April 7 – Houston Baptist (DH) (Senior Day) – Hammond – 12 p.m.*
April 11 – UL Lafayette – Hammond – 6 p.m.
April 13 – at Northwestern State – Natchitoches – 5 p.m.*
April 14 – at Northwestern State (DH) – Natchitoches – 12 p.m.*
April 17 – at Jackson State (DH) – Jackson, Miss. – 3 p.m.
April 20 – Central Arkansas (DH) – Hammond – 4 p.m.*
April 21 – Central Arkansas – Hammond – 12 p.m.*
April 24 – Southern – Hammond – 5 p.m.
April 27 – at Sam Houston State (DH) – Huntsville, Texas – 3 p.m.*
April 28 – at Sam Houston State – Huntsville, Texas – 12 p.m.*
May 4 – at McNeese – Lake Charles – 6 p.m.*
May 5 – at McNeese (DH) – Lake Charles – 12 p.m.*
May 9-11 – at Southland Conference Tournament – Lake Charles – TBA
 
Southeastern home events in bold
* - Southland Conference contest