HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team will begin preparations for the upcoming 2019 season on Monday, when the Lady Lions report to campus.
 
Southeastern returns 15 letter winners and five positional starters from last season's squad, which put together the winningest season in school history. SLU finished 38-21 overall to set a new single-season school record for victories, while also posting a school-record-best 18-9 Southland Conference mark – good for a second-place finish.
 
SLU will be replacing five All-Southland Conference performers from last season's team. Fourth-year Southeastern head coach Rick Fremin and his staff hope the 10 talented newcomers added to this season's roster will help mitigate the losses of a banner 2018 senior class.
 
For Fremin, it's that group's leadership that will be as difficult to replace as the production on the field.
 
"We lost a lot of leadership and we started addressing those issues during the latter part of last season," Fremin commented. "We've been really pleased with several of our players – Rebecca Skains, Tanner Wright, Alley McDonald, Ali McCoy and Cameron Beal, among others – who have assumed those leadership responsibilities."
 
Early returns are encouraging, as the Lady Lions went through the fall undefeated. Fremin liked what he saw from his team during fall competition.
 
"This team found its identity as quickly as any team I've coached," Fremin said. "We have more depth than we've had since I've been here and we have a nice balance of speed and power. That said, this is a young team and will have a lot of new players who will have to adjust to Division I competition. We're looking forward to this year, because with such a young team, we think we're going to continue to improve with more experience as the season progresses."
Southeastern will be replacing its two top pitchers from a season ago in 2018 seniors Rachel Hayes (16-9, 2.50 ERA) and Lacey Hill (12-7, 3.37 ERA). McDonald (5-4, 3.08 ERA) and Wright (5-1, 3.18 ERA) will assume bigger roles, while freshmen Sophie Hannabas (Mansfield, Texas) and Briahna Bennett (Alexandria, Louisiana) are poised to make an immediate impact.
 
"(New assistant coach) Lana Bowers did an excellent job getting this staff to work together in the fall," Fremin said. "We lost some leadership and W's with those two seniors, but this year's staff has the potential to be much deeper. We may have more options than we've had in the circle in past years."
 
Ella Manzer returns behind the plate, while Madisen Blackford has also made the move to catcher. Manzer's improvement over the course of her freshman season is an encouraging sign for her next three seasons.
 
"Ella continues to progress and we've been pleased with what she gives us behind the plate," Fremin stated. "We're very excited about her offensive improvements. We expect a lot of Ella, from leading our defense, working with our pitching staff and holding runners on."
 
Skains returns at first base, while Jaquelyn Ramon – the school's all-time stolen base leader - is expected to make the move from shortstop to second baseman. Newcomer Lindsey Rizzo (Watson, Louisiana) solidified a spot at shortstop in the fall, while returner Madison Watson and newcomer Mima Doucet (Lafayette, Louisiana) vie for playing time at third base.
 
"We're really encouraged with our infield group and where they are heading into the season," Fremin said. "Rebecca (Skains) was lights out offensively and defensively this fall and is poised to have a huge senior season. (Lindsey) Rizzo was extremely consistent at shortstop. Madison Watson showed great power in the fall and we're hopeful that will carry over to the spring."
 
The Southeastern outfield will have a new look, as South Alabama transfer Bobbi Smith (Choudrant, Louisiana) is expected to take over in centerfield. McCoy and Ramon, as well as newcomers Karlee Kraft (Ponchatoula, Louisiana) and Emily Henderson (Stonewall, Louisiana) will be among a myriad of players competing for playing time in the outfield.
 
"We're replacing two of the best outfielders I've ever coached in Kinsey Nichols and Maddie Edmonston," Fremin commented. "We have a lot of depth out there, but not a lot of experience. That group will need to rise to the occasion during preseason practice to be where we need them to be once the season starts."
 
Southeastern will open the 2019 season on Feb. 7, hosting San Jose State at 5 p.m. at North Oak Park.
 
Southeastern opens Southland Conference play with a three-game series versus Stephen F. Austin on March 8 and 9 in Hammond. SFA, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (March 22-23), Lamar (April 12-13), Central Arkansas (April 19-20) and McNeese (April 26-27) are the teams slated to visit North Oak Park.
 
The Lady Lions will travel to league foes Houston Baptist (March 15-16), Northwestern State (March 29-30), UIW (April 5-6) and Nicholls (May 3-4). The top eight teams in the league standings will advance to the Southland Conference Tournament, scheduled from May 7-10 in Natchitoches.
 
2019 Southeastern Louisiana Softball Schedule
 
Date – Opponent – Location – Time
Feb. 7 – San Jose State – Hammond – 5 p.m.
Feb. 8 – Southern Illinois (Lion Classic I) – Hammond – 3 p.m.
Feb. 8 – Northern Illinois (Lion Classic I) – Hammond – 5 p.m.
Feb. 9 – Northern Illinois (Lion Classic I) – Hammond – 1 p.m.
Feb. 9 – Mississippi Valley State (Lion Classic I) – Hammond – 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 – Mississippi Valley State (Lion Classic I) – Hammond – 12 p.m.
Feb. 13 – at Louisiana Tech – Ruston – 5 p.m.
Feb. 15 – Prairie View (Lion Classic II) – Hammond – 3 p.m.
Feb. 15 – Missouri State (Lion Classic II) – Hammond – 5 p.m.
Feb. 16 – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Lion Classic II) – Hammond – 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 16 – UTSA (Lion Classic II) – Hammond – 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 17 – SIU-Edwardsville (Lion Classic II) – Hammond – 11 a.m.
Feb. 22 – vs. Alcorn State (The Snowman) – Starkville, Miss. – 10 a.m.
Feb. 22 – vs. Georgia Tech (The Snowman) – Starkville, Miss. – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 23 – at Mississippi State (The Snowman) – Starkville, Miss. – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 23 – vs. TBA – Starkville, Miss. – TBA
Feb. 24 – vs. TBA – Starkville, Miss. – TBA
Feb. 27 – Kent State – Hammond – 4 p.m.
March 1 – vs. Tennessee Tech (Alabama State Tournament) – Montgomery, Ala. – 10 a.m.
March 1 – vs. Eastern Kentucky (Alabama State Tournament) – Montgomery, Ala. – 2 p.m.
March 2 – vs. Southern (Alabama State Tournament) – Montgomery, Ala. – 1 p.m.
March 2 – at Alabama State (Alabama State Tournament) – Montgomery, Ala. – 5 p.m.
March 3 – vs. Eastern Kentucky (Alabama State Tournament) – Montgomery, Ala. – 11:30 a.m.
March 6 – Southern Miss – Hammond – 6:30 p.m.
March 8 – Stephen F. Austin – Hammond – 5 p.m.*
March 9 – Stephen F. Austin (DH) – Hammond – 12 p.m.*
March 15 – at Houston Baptist (DH) – Houston, Texas – 1 p.m.*
March 16 – at Houston Baptist – Houston, Texas – 12 p.m.*
March 19 – at Alcorn State – Lorman, Miss. – 1 p.m.
March 22 – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (DH) – Hammond – 4 p.m.*
March 23 – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – Hammond – 12 p.m.*
March 29 – at Northwestern State – Natchitoches – 5 p.m.*
March 30 – at Northwestern State (DH) – Natchitoches – 12 p.m.*
April 2 – ULM – Hammond – 5 p.m.
April 5 – at Incarnate Word (DH) – San Antonio, Texas – 5 p.m.*
April 6 – at Incarnate Word – San Antonio, Texas – 12 p.m.*
April 10 – at UL Lafayette – Lafayette – 6 p.m.
April 12 – Lamar – Hammond – 5 p.m.*
April 13 – Lamar (DH) – Hammond – 12 p.m.*
April 16 – Jackson State – Hammond – 5 p.m.
April 19 – Central Arkansas (DH) – Hammond – 4 p.m.*
April 20 – Central Arkansas – Hammond – 12 p.m.*
April 23 – at Southern – Baton Rouge – 3 p.m.
April 26 – McNeese – Hammond – 5 p.m.*
April 27 – McNeese (DH) – Hammond – 12 p.m.*
May 3 – at Nicholls – Thibodaux – 6 p.m.*
May 4 – at Nicholls (DH) – Thibodaux – 12 p.m.*
May 7-10 – at Southland Conference Tournament – Natchitoches - TBA
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events (softball, baseball, football and basketball), effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.
 
HOME RUN CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the softball program are encouraged to join the Home Run Club. Lady Lion softball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Home Run Club and S Club (softball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern softball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @SLUlionsoftball on Twitter and Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.