Highlighted by the annual Blue/Gold game and Southern Conference Championship ring ceremony on October 12, the Chattanooga Mocs softball program will host five contests as part of the RBI Fall Classic schedule, head coach Frank Reed announced Monday.
With on-going renovations occurring at Jim Frost Stadium over the next few weeks, September's contests will commence at Warner Park Field #5 before the team returns to its home stadium in October. Adults will be ticketed $5 with children 10 and under FREE.
All proceeds benefit the softball's RBI booster club.
Chattanooga is coming off a historic spring 2019 season, finishing 37-17 (.685) overall while claiming the programs 14th Southern Conference Tournament title behind a 10-1 run-rul victory over top-seeded UNCG in a winner-take-all championship. UTC punched its 11th ticket to the NCAA Tournament since 1994 and was selected to participate in the Oxford Regional.
"It's always exciting to start a new year," said head coach Frank Reed. "One thing you have a tendency to do is to look back when you were successful the year before. You try to figure out what to do to get back to that point.
"It makes it a little more challenging and puts a little more pressure on us because everyone wants to be successful again. We feel like we have a good group to do that and now we just have to get to work," Reed added.
SEPTEMBER
Chattanooga kicks off the slate on September 24 with a 5 p.m. doubleheader against Cleveland State (NJCAA). CSCC advanced to the TCCAA Semifinals during the spring season and finished 25-22. A weekend has been set aside for an instructional Fall Camp held September 28-29 to round out the month.
OCTOBER
UTC returns to action against city-neighbor Chattanooga State (NJCAA) on October 3 at 5 p.m. The single game will feature a normal seven-inning format. Chatt State advanced to the NJCAA Championships in the spring behind a 42-8 overall mark.
The Mocs square off against NCAA DII-member Lee University on October 10 at 5:30 p.m., also formatting to a standard seven-innings. Lee battled to a 22-31 record a few months ago, but returns 10 upperclassmen for the 2019-20 campaign.
Saturday, October 12 will be a day to remember for the Chattanooga softball program. In addition to its annual Blue/Gold intra-squad scrimmage (11 a.m.) and FREE cookout, Southern Conference Championship rings are to be presented to members of the 2018-19 squad. Ceremony details and timelines will finalize ahead of the event.
UTC's fall competition schedule wraps up on October 18 with a re-match against Chatt State at 5 p.m. A single seven-inning format will once again be in effect for the finale. The team continues practice and training through the first week of December in preparation of spring 2020.
FALL SCHEDULE
Tues., Sept. 24 – vs. Cleveland State – 5 p.m. (DH) – Field #5
Sept. 28-29 – Fall Camp – MORE INFO SOON
Thurs., Oct. 3 – vs. Chatt State – 5 p.m. (7 inn.)
Thurs., Oct. 10 – vs. Lee University – 5:30 p.m. (7 inn.)
Sat., Oct. 12 – Blue/Gold Game & Ring Ceremony – 11 a.m.
Fri., Oct. 18 – vs. Chatt State – 5 p.m. (7 inn.)
NOTES*
- In addition to the festivities on October 12, Chattanooga softball plans to announce the 2020 spring schedule in its entirety in-between action of the Blue/Gold scrimmage. This is subject to change and relies on specific opponent permission.