MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Entering its final year as a provisional member of the NCAA Division II as well as the Gulf South Conference the Auburn Montgomery softball team looks to build on its past success heading into the 2019 campaign, as the Warhawks will bring a more experienced squad to the field this year to face stiff competition from conference and non-conference opponents.
 
TEAM OVERVIEW
 
Last season the Warhawks went 29-16 overall with a 19-14 mark in the GSC, finishing seventh in the conference standings. AUM would have made the GSC Tournament with their record, but could not as they are still transitioning to NCAA Division II. Nevertheless, the league's coaches have recognized the Orange & Black as a contender in the conference, having picked the Warhawks to finish sixth in the preseason coaches' poll.
 
"I like to use the word cautiously optimistic when talking about this season," said head coach Eric Newell. "We had a really good Fall and we've got the core of our starting lineup returning. We're a year older and a year wiser, and I think that weekend in and weekend out we learned a great deal from playing all the Gulf South opponents for the first time. I'm excited about the opportunity to have another year to feel our way through the league."
 
THE PLAYERS
 
AUM returns eight starters and 14 players overall who saw time last season, including all three starting pitchers in the rotation. The Warhawks will look to replace team leaders Amy Persinger and Kalee Sparks who were lost to graduation this past season.
 
"Amy (Persinger) platooned a lot of positions for us and led us in a lot of ways while Kalee (Sparks) anchored left field and was a great player for us," added Newell. "We feel like we're returning seven or eight starters from last year's team that were freshmen and sophomores so those freshmen and sophomores are now sophomores and juniors. We also had an excellent recruiting class in 2018."
 
Junior pitcher Chanel Newcomer looks to improve upon her impressive sophomore campaign, having led the team in strikeouts with 104 over 132.0 innings pitched. Newcomer went 14-8 as a starter while picking up a team-high four saves last season. Sophomore Michaelyn Foster (8-2) and senior Natalie Johnsey (6-6) also return to the circle for the Warhawks, as the three hurlers combined to start 44 of AUM's 45 games last season.
 
"Chanel (Newcomer) was our top pitcher last year as a sophomore and she'll be our top pitcher against this year," said Newell. "Following close on her heals is a plethora of pitchers. Michaelyn (Foster) gave us a lot of innings last year, she'll do the same this season. Natalie (Johnsey) is coming back from an injury and has looked good in her limited action in the bullpen, so we're excited about the possibility of her coming back and pitching pain free. Throw in Cydney Sizemore, Savanna Holmes and Jade Ingram and we have a lot of depth in the circle."
 
AUM will have junior Abby Krueger to rely on once again behind the plate, along with sophomore Morgan Duschell and freshman Caris Wright who will be pushing Krueger for playing time. Krueger started 41 games at catcher with Duschell catching four.
 
"Abby Krueger has turned into the mainstay back there and had a tremendous Fall for us," said Newell. "She had a solid career here but I look for her to spread her wings and become more influential on our team. Morgan (Duschell) and Caris (Wright) will back her up with Morgan getting playing time at other positions as well."
 
The infield will see some familiar faces as well, with a couple of newcomers added into the fold who will see playing time.
 
"At first base we have a lot of options, with Savanna Holmes providing some home run power there and transfer Caroline Burns who is a great contact hitter that should have a lot of RBI's this season," said Newell. "You've also got a Kendall Tucker who is a great leader on and off the field, so we've got a good competition going there."
 
"Second base is kind of a dogfight as well," added Newell. "Michaelyn Foster probably leads the way – defensively she's our best option there. Caroline Burns, Brooke Perrigin and Gracie Harris, who played there last year, can all give us time there, and we don't know how that will shake out. Gracie (Harris) hit over .300 for us last year so we've also been looking at her in the outfield a bit."
 
For the second year in a row it looks as though a freshman will get the starting nod at shortstop for the Orange & Black.
 
"At shortstop Olivia Aycock has looked really sharp as a freshman," said Newell. "She does a lot of things right, offensively and defensively, and really understands the game well. She's someone that is really hard to strike out. Backing her up is Kasidy Thompson who has been a good player for us. Yaya (Thompson) has been pushing Olivia hard and is someone that had a really good Summer and Fall."
 
At third base there will be no surprise who the opening day starter will be, as sophomore Hannah Dailey returns as the only Warhawk to start every game last season.
 
"Hannah Dailey had a tremendous freshman year last season, and we've been giving Yaya (Thompson) reps there as well," said Newell. "That way we have some depth at third and short."
 
It will be a new-look outfield for the Warhawks, with several players getting the opportunity to take Sparks' spot in left while also vying for time at center and right with the departure of Persinger.
 
"The outfield is where we took our biggest hit this offseason, but we feel we have a lot of options moving forward," Newell said. "The leading candidate in left field is Jasmine Thompson. She had a really good Fall and she's arguably the fastest player in the conference. Gracie Harris, Brooke Perrigin and Morgan Duschell have also been given time in left to see how they could work out. In centerfield Parker Pinholster has been a mainstay for us, but Jaycie Walker may seem time or anybody else we've also tried in left. In right Duschell is your starter and you've got a plethora of players that can push for time."
 
Designated player will also see a familiar face, with junior Jaycie Walker looking to pick up where she left off in 2018. Walker led the Warhawks in batting average (.378), slugging percentage (.685), on base percentage (.477), doubles (18), triples (3), home runs (5), total bases (87) and walks (24).
 
"Jaycie is going to be our DP," said Newell. "You're going to have to out-hit Jaycie to be our designated player and she could go down as one of the best hitters in AUM Softball history."
 
THE SCHEDULE
 
AUM will open the season at the Gulf Coast Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala., where they will face a familiar early season foe. The Warhawks will open the season with #3 North Georgia on Friday, Feb. 1. The Orange & Black faced off against the then #7 Nighthawks last season on opening day after having played the then #8 North Georgia on opening day in 2017.
 
The Warhawks will then play Embry-Riddle on Saturday, Feb. 2, followed by the University of Mobile later that day.
 
The Orange & Black will then host the 2019 AUM Invitational at the AUM Softball Complex from Feb. 7-9. AUM will play Talladega College and Brewton-Parker College on Thursday, Montreat College and Georgia Southwestern on Friday, and Spring Hill College and Talladega again on Saturday to close out the tournament.
 
After a midweek matchup with Albany State on Feb. 12 the Warhawks will open GSC play at the University of West Alabama on Friday, Feb. 15, in a three-game series with the Tigers. AUM will then host league foes West Florida on Feb. 22-23 and the University of Montevallo on March 1-2.
 
The Warhawks will then hit the road for an 11-game road swing, playing series at Miles College and GSC foe Union, before taking part in the NTC Invitational in Kissimmee, Fla., where they will face California (Pa.), Dominican College, Millersville University and Indiana (Pa.) on March 13-14, respectively.
 
AUM will be back home in Montgomery after a doubleheader at Georgia Southwestern on March 20 when they host Mississippi College March 22-23 for a three-game GSC series. The Warhawks will then play non-conference foe Columbus State on March 27 at home.
 
The Warhawks will travel to play league foes Valdosta State (March 30-31) and Shorter University (April 5-6) before playing a non-conference doubleheader at Spring Hill on April 10. AUM then will host GSC foe West Georgia on April 12-13 before hitting the road once again to take on non-conference opponent Talladega on April 16 in a twin bill.
 
After a three-game road swing at Christian Brothers on April 19-20 the Warhawks will close out the season at home against Lee University in a three-game series on April 27-28.
 
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