The 2009 softball team set the goals for the 2010 team a little higher for the upcoming season. A team picked in the preseason to finish eighth went on to finish second during the regular season. This year's squad looks to improve on that finish and earn a berth in the National Tournament. Gone are All-Conference players in Amy Vogel, Amber Summerow, Tameron Sealey and senior leader Mandi Pike, but with a good mix of junior college players and freshmen recruits this year's squad looks to take that next step. Here is a look at this year's team by positions:

Pitching - Junior Rachel Stowe will anchor this year's staff. The All- Conference performer from a year ago was 16 - 8 with 1.87 ERA. She looks to only get better this year. Junior College transfer Nicole Denney (Central Florida CC) will anchor down the number two starter for the Cavaliers. She came from the very tough Florida Junior College league and will provide valuable innings. Freshman Ally Cochran (Pisgah HS) looks to return to the mound after a couple years off. She has been working extremely hard and will provide the Cavs with a quality third option.

Catching - Handling the catching duties this will be returning SO Olivia Huffman and junior college transfer Stephanie Morrison. Huffman had a solid year at the plate last year hitting .276 and driving in 17 RBI's while hitting in the four hole. She continues to improve with her defensive skills and will do a solid job behind the dish. Stephanie Morrison (Columbia Basin CC) will be a late arrival to the squad as she finishes up basketball season, but will be a positive impact player. She will not only see quality innings behind the plate, but due to her athleticism she will also find some playing time in the outfield.  

Infield - A bunch of new faces will be battling for starting positions for the Lady Cavs in the dirt this spring. First base will see the return of Senior Erin Cross getting the start. If Erin can avoid the small setback she experienced in the past seasons, she will be expected to help lead the Cavs. Backing her up will be JR Morgan Mills and FR Jessica Allen. Mills has made huge progress the last year after her shoulder surgery and will not only be expected to play at 1st but also DH this upcoming year. Second, third and SS will all be new this year. Junior Kristine Valdez (Columbia Basin CC) will get the start at 2nd. She was a two time all-conference performer while at CBCC and continues to work hard. 3rd will have a battle between incoming JR Maggie Rogers (Stanley CC) and FR Ally Cochran. Rogers has two years of junior college ball, while Cochran continues to work on making the transition to the hot corner. SS for the spring you will see SO transfer Priscilla Silva (Central Arizona CC), get the starting nod. A late addition to the squad she comes from an excellent program where she started every game as a freshman.

Outfield - Leftfield will be locked down by 4 year starter SR Kerby Barkdoll. Kerby a SR captain is extremely athletic and continues to grow as a leader and a player. She will be backed up by JR Cayla Starnes. Cayla continues to fight the injury bug, but works hard every day in practice to improve. Junior College All-American Jamie Lokken (Columbia Basin SS) will patrol CF this year for Cavs. She set the home-run record with 16 as a freshman and followed that up with 15 as a Sophomore, to go along with 56 RBI's and a batting average of .515. Right field may see a new face every game to start the season with Morrison, Stowe, Denney, and SO Sarah Lima to have an opportunity to play throughout the year.

Schedule - Once again Coach Swanson has made the schedule very demanding. This year, the first month an half is loaded with teams rated in the top 25 in the nation at the end of last year. SCAD, Brenau, Mobile, Shorter, and William Carey all are on the schedule along with DII Mars Hill, Brevard and Lee's McRae. If the Lady Cavs want to improve on last year they will have to come out of the gate swinging. The AAC is going to be a very tough conference this year as many teams are improved and it may be a wide open race. Milligan and UVA-Wise have the edge going into the year, but expect a challenge from Union, TWC, VI, Montreat and newcomer Reinhardt for this year's conference crown.