The softball team will open up the 2016 season this Saturday as they host Bellarmine University out of Louisville, Ky. in a doubleheader beginning at 12 noon from Butler Field.
The Lady Flames are coming off a 36-19 season a year ago and were 18-11 in the Gulf South Conference, finishing fourth. Lee closed out the final year of the NCAA D2 transition by finished third at the NCCAA National Tournament.
This season the Lady Flames are fully eligible for postseason play and awards. Lee was picked to finish fifth in the GSC preseason poll. Valdosta State is the preseason pick with four first-place votes and 92 total points. Alabama Huntsville came in second (87), followed by Shorter (86) and North Alabama (80).
A Look at the Lady Flames
Head coach Emily Russell will enter her 14th season as leader of the Lady Flames. Her teams have earned 20 or more wins in all 13 seasons and have eclipsed 40 wins in six of those seasons.
The Lee squad will be led offensively by senior shortstop Amanda Lynn and First Baseman Lexie Dean. Both players were named to the preseason All-GSC team. Lynn hit .352 out of the leadoff spot and stole 32 bases to rank as the all-time career stolen base leader in school history. Dean led the team with a .417 batting average and a .480 on base percentage.
In the circle, senior Angie Hughes will be back for her fourth and final season to anchor the Lady Flames’ pitching staff. The flame thrower from Blairsville, Ga. was 18-9 with a 3.27 ERA last season and struck out 196 batters in 173 1/3 innings of work. Sophomore Leigh Beatenbough will also return after leading the team in ERA (3.05) a year ago.
Freshmen Hallie Davis (Cleveland, Tenn., Walker Valley) should make an immediate impact in the outfield for the Lady Flames along with Stevie Baird (Goodletsville, Tenn.) at third base and Madyson Stallcup in the circle.
Lee will also benefit from the return of Annabeth Pruett and Hailey Clark who were sidelined last year with injuries.
Focusing on the Knights
The Knights ended 2015 with a 32-16 mark and were 20-8 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, making it the second-best season in school history.
Sophomore Marlee Tevis led the team in ERA (1.02) last season and the Lady Flames should see her in the circle in of the games on Saturday.
Senior Ally Foster is a player to keep an eye on for the Kentucky club. Foster is All-American and First Team GLVC selection. The pitcher/outfielder led the team in batting average (.323), slugging percentage (.631) and home runs (11) while also posting a 1.04 ERA to go along with 268 strikeouts.
Up Next
After the twin bill with the Knights the Lady Flames will visit the University of Montevallo on Thursday before playing in the Gulf Coast Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala. on the weekend.
Lee will play five games in three days with contests scheduled against Miles College, Midwestern State University, Montevallo, University of Missouri-St. Louis and Tuskegee University.
Russell’s club will return home for its GSC opener on Saturday Feb. 13 against West Florida.