UTC Softball Looks To Open Season With Chattanooga Challenge

After impending weather forced a cancelation in travel plans last weekend, the Chattanooga Mocs softball program will look to open the 2021 season for the second time, now by hosting the annual Chattanooga Challenge at Jim Frost Stadium.
 
Chattanooga will host the likes of WKU, Indiana State and Kennesaw State with the tournament running from Friday, February 19 through Sunday, February 21.

UTC opens play against WKU on Friday at 3 p.m. before taking on Indiana State following the conclusion of game one.
 
General public tickets are NOT available for upcoming home games. Only guests of the student-athletes are permitted to attend at this time.
 
Full weekend preview including fan, stadium and game information is below.
 
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE | CENTRAL
Friday, Feb. 19
vs. WKU – 3:00 p.m. (STATS)
vs. Indiana State – 5:30 p.m. (STATS)
Saturday, Feb. 20
vs. Indiana State – 3:00 p.m. (STATS)
vs. Kennesaw State – 5:30 p.m. (STATS)
Sunday, Feb. 21
vs. Kennesaw State – 1:30 p.m. (STATS)
*All times Eastern – no games will have video stream.
 
FAN/STADIUM GUIDELINES & PROTOCOLS
· At this time, outside fans are NOT permitted at upcoming home games at Frost Stadium. Currently, the ONLY guests permitted to attend are individuals marked on the student-athlete pass lists.
 
· All players, coaches, staff and their guests attending the games MUST adhere to mask mandates and social distancing guidelines. Anyone violating these game day protocols may be asked to leave Frost Stadium and risk losing ticket privileges for subsequent games.

· Participant guests may park in the parking lots beside the stadium and enter through the main gate at the front of Frost Stadium. All participant guests will be on a pass list and will undergo a COVID check-in upon entrance to the stadium. Masks must be worn at all times. Water fountains will not be operable. The concession stand will be open with limited prepackaged items.

· The first three rows behind the backstop will be CLOSED to participant guest seating. Every other row in the stands will be closed off. Chairback seats will be arranged in groups of four. Guests are encouraged to sit amongst their own party and refrain from bunching up with our guest parties.

CHATTANOOGA NOTES | FULL
MOCS PICKED THIRD IN PRESEASON POLL
· Chattanooga (28) received a pair of first-place votes and was picked to finish third in the Southern Conference after a vote among league members. UNCG (31) and Mercer (29) edged UTC atop the poll while Samford (22), ETSU (16), Furman (14) and Western Carolina (7).
 
COLTHARP TABBED PLAYER OF THE YEAR
· Junior infielder Emily Coltharp was named the 2021 Southern Conference Preseason Player of the Year, marking the third-straight Moc to earn the honor after Aly Walker in 2019 and 2020. Coltharp led the SoCon in 2020 in batting average (.415) and on-base percentage (.519).
 
HOME COOKIN' IN 2021
· Chattanooga will gear up to host a stretch of 14 consecutive home games between the annual Chattanooga Challenge and Frost Classic tournaments, as well as visits from Butler and EKU. It's will tie the longest homestand since 2005.

FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA SOFTBALL
For the most up-to-date information and news regarding Chattanooga Softball, please follow @GoMocsSB on Twitter & Instagram and Chattanooga Softball on Facebook.