HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College softball team was tabbed as the No. 3 team in the South Atlantic Conference preseason poll, the SAC office released today. The Cobras open up the 2018 season at home Feb. 3 against the Warriors of Southern Wesleyan. The Navy and Gold head into the season under the tutelage of fourth year Head Coach Travis McCall.
Looking Back
The Cobras finished the 2016-17 season with 41 wins, which was the team's first 40-win season since 2002. The Navy and Gold earned a SAC tournament berth as a No. 4 seed and finished as the runner-up to Carson-Newman. Six players (Mindy North, Maria Williamson, Cacey Simmons, Kelsi Bachmann, Hannah Price, and Taylor Forehand) earned regular season All-Conference honors, with all returning this season. Two players earned All-Tournament team distinction, including Simmons. Coker had a player named to the Division II Collegiate Commissioners Association All-Southeast Region First Team and D2CCA All-American Second Team. The team placed ten members on the Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athlete Team for the 2017 season, including returners Rebekah Addison, Katelyn Chambers, Forehand, Anna Gluhosky, Hannah Goodman, Simmons, and Williamson.
At one point during the season, the Cobras were regionally ranked tenth by Down South Softball. In the final 2017 NCAA Southeast Regional ranking, Coker was tabbed tenth.
Home Cooking
The Navy and Gold dominated within the friendly confines of the Saleeby-Stokes Softball Field in 2017, going 19-7, batting .316 and outscoring opponents 163-64.
2018 Season Outlook
"Practice has gone fairly well so far," stated McCall. "Anytime you are able to get out consistently and put some work in on the field during the preseason, without having to deal with weather, that's a great thing. We are able to get a lot of extra work in without classes being in session and that's been very beneficial so far."
The Cobras have gathered six newcomers to partner up with the 17 returners for this season's roster. The fresh faces include four freshmen and two transfers.
"We have a mix of four freshman and two junior college transfers," said McCall. "Fortunately, we have a bunch of experienced players on our team so they have been able to help all the new players out and it's been a relatively smooth transition for all of them."
Junior Maria Williamson was named to the SAC preseason first team as a first baseman. In 191 at bats last season, she finished with 68 hits, 13 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, and 58 RBI. Throughout her 58 games played, Williamson scored 30 runs, walked 13 times, and touched 128 total bases. Her numbers include a .356 batting average, .393 on base percentage, .670 slugging percentage, and .979 fielding percentage. Williamson was named Coker's SPC Credit Union Student-Athlete of the Month for March 2017.
Mindy North, also a junior, earned the utility position on the SAC preseason first team. In her 39 games, she went to the plate 80 times and came away with 23 hits, one double, two triples, five RBI, and eight walks. North scored 19 runs, while stealing 12 bases. She finished with a .287/.360/.350 slashline and a .938 fielding percentage
Taylor Forehand was tabbed as a first team pitcher on the conference preseason poll. The right-hander was chosen as a SAC Pitcher of the Week during the 2017 season. Her 32 appearances and 23 starts saw her finish 13-3 with one save. Forehand pitched two complete games on her way to a total of 128.2 innings pitched. She allowed 124 hits, 57 runs (38 earned), five home runs, and 37 walks. Forehand struck out 97 batters for a 5.28 strikeout-to-seven inning ratio. She recorded a 2.07 ERA.
Cacey Simmons was named to the SAC preseason second team as an outfielder. In her 52 games, she went to the batter's box 149 times, making contact 47 times, with five doubles, six triples, and two home runs. Simmons scored 40 runs, drove in 32, and walked 13 times. She was also 15-18 on stolen bases. Simmons batted a .315 average, had a .383 OBP, and slugged .470. Her fielding percentage was an impressive .946.
The Cobras were selected third in the preseason poll, with 87 points and one first-place vote. Carson-Newman earned the top spot with six first place votes and 106 points. For the official release by the SAC, click here.
2018 Schedule
A 55-game schedule is in front of the Cobras, highlighted by games against six teams ranked in the top ten in the final regional poll of 2017 and 20 games against South Atlantic Conference opponents. The Navy and Gold will also host two tournaments in back-to-back weekends in February. The first weekend in March, Coker will travel to the North Georgia Tournament. There will be a Pink Game March 24 against SAC opponent Tusculum for breast cancer awareness. Senior Day happens on April 14 versus conference foe Mars Hill.
McCall expressed, "As far as our schedule is concerned, we are looking forward to going out and competing each and every time we play. We practice all year and get 55 opportunities in the regular season to showcase what we can do. We are extremely excited about the opportunity in front of us to have a great spring!"
The 2018 Cobras will debut on February 3 when they host Southern Wesleyan University at 1:00 p.m.