Coming off of a trip to the NJCAA National Tournament in Yuma, Arizona, the Three Rivers softball program is gunning for a trip back out west with a young squad in 2022.
The Raiders, ranked 11th in the preseason national poll, had a 44-6 record as their season ended with a 6-5 loss to Seminole State College in the double-elimination national tournament. Only a few players from that team will be returning this season as coach Jeff Null has a young team with nine freshmen.
"We're returning a few position players and one starting pitcher," Null said. "They are a talented group so the expectations are good. We have some players that were bench players last year and now have starting roles and I know they're excited to start. Since we lost so many players from last year, I don't mind being kind of under the radar, although being ranked (11th) in preseason doesn't really help with that."
The Raiders season started a little earlier than expected with a last minute addition of a doubleheader against Dyersburg State on Tuesday, but the Raiders didn't mind the early reps as they took their first game 9-1 in five innings with returning pitcher Makale Floyd tossing a no-hitter despite giving up a run. It was Floyd's first game back coming off of a rib injury last year.
"It felt great to be pitching in an actual game again," Floyd said. "Overall as a team, our goal is to come together and have fun playing the game so we can do our best to win."
The Raiders dropped the second game 9-1.
Tuesday's twin bill was also a first look at some of the newcomers including freshman Helena Garcia having a big game in the opener with six RBIs, including a grand slam in the third inning.
"She had a heck of a first college game," Null said. "She's going to be a huge bat for us in the middle of the lineup and you can't ask for better than a grand slam in your college debut."
Some other newcomers that will be in Null's lineup are freshman Ann-Marie Simpson in the leadoff spot while patrolling centerfield and sophomore transfer Alyson Marcum in the starting rotation. Marcum played for defending national champion Florida Southwestern last year.
Among the returning players are catcher Kyla Puckett, who was third on the team last year with 14 home runs and drove in 34 in 42 games. Molly Spangler played in all 50 games and ranked fourth on the team with 46 RBIs while Kenlee McAuliffe, Makayla Bryant, Emma Keen and Makale Floyd also return.
The next time the Raiders will be in action is Thursday as they'll host Jackson State Community College.
Robert Augsdorfer - Daily American Republic