Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Raider Softball Aiming for More Improvement in 2017
2/8/2017 4:01:00 PM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Softball coach Jeff Breeden enters his fifth season at Middle Tennessee with one goal for his team: to keep improving.
"I think we're going to play all aspects just a little better than we've played in the past," he said. "If we can get on a roll early and get a little swagger about us, all of the wins will take care of themselves.
That goal was accomplished in each of Breeden's first four seasons at the helm of the Blue Raiders. They improved their wins from seven in 2013 to 10 the following year, then 22 in 2015 and rounded out with a 23-31 record in 2016.
In order to keep the ship going in the right direction this season, Breeden said his team has to compete not just in every game and every inning, but on every single pitch.
He will get his first chance to see whether or not his players have bought into that mindset on Friday, when the Blue Raiders take the field for the first time this season in a double-header with Tennessee and Georgia Southern in a Georgia Southern-hosted weekend tournament.
"I just want to see our kids compete," Breeden said. "When people come out to watch us play, I want them to leave there saying you could tell Middle Tennessee loved to play the game and they competed every pitch. If we compete every pitch, the end result will take care of itself.
"This weekend isn't the most important, but it is still important to do well. I just want to see us knock a little rust off, then we'll see what happens. I think we'll perform well."
Middle Tennessee fans will see some new faces on the diamond in 2017, in particular in the infield. Breeden and his staff brought in six infield recruits this season, and he expects to see big things out of some of them.
"There will be some freshmen that start right off the bat for us on Friday, but they all can play," he said. "They all come from high-caliber summer league teams and good high school teams, and they had a good fall with us. Some of them are going to be freshmen, but they won't be in awe or anything against anybody we play. We expect them to step in and play like veterans."
Outfielders Precious Birdsong, a junior and Preseason All-Conference USA selection, and Kirstyn Cuccia, a sophomore, are two of the notable returners to the lineup. The two led the team with .347 and .372 batting averages in 2016, respectively.
In order for the Blue Raiders to improve at the plate, though, they will have to get more contributions from elsewhere in the lineup.
"There are a lot of people that we're depending on," Breeden said. "If we can hit right around .300 as a team, that means we're going to compete and have some good stuff."
In the circle, MT will have to replace Kelci Cheney, its most experienced pitcher from a season ago. Two transfers – Gretchen Greer and Cori Jennings – will help lead the way, along with returning senior Megan Chocallo and redshirt junior Pattie Ruth Taylor. Freshman Sarah Pinkston and Veronica Westfall will round out the staff.
Breeden is confident the combination of Greer, a JUCO All-American in 2016 at Columbia State Community College, and Jennings, a junior left-hander who transferred from Chattanooga, as starters will more than replace the void left by Cheney.
"I think our improvement will come with our depth," Breeden said. "[Greer and Jennings] together, I think, will be more productive than Cheney was last year because they won't have to carry the whole load. I think that will lend itself to some of our pitchers being fresh down the stretch."
With only four seniors and 10 girls in their first year in the program, the Blue Raiders will have to get leadership from a lot of different places. If they can, Breeden said his young team should mesh well as the season goes along, and the type of improvements he is looking for will inherently come.
"I think we'll get leadership from our seniors and our junior class," he said. "We have a tough schedule and our league is going to be tough, but our team chemistry is one thing that's noticeably better right now. That will take us a long way. I also think our skillset will be better all the way around."
The first chance for Middle Tennessee fans to see their Blue Raiders at home will be March 1 against Austin Peay. It is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.
"I think we're going to play all aspects just a little better than we've played in the past," he said. "If we can get on a roll early and get a little swagger about us, all of the wins will take care of themselves.
That goal was accomplished in each of Breeden's first four seasons at the helm of the Blue Raiders. They improved their wins from seven in 2013 to 10 the following year, then 22 in 2015 and rounded out with a 23-31 record in 2016.
In order to keep the ship going in the right direction this season, Breeden said his team has to compete not just in every game and every inning, but on every single pitch.
He will get his first chance to see whether or not his players have bought into that mindset on Friday, when the Blue Raiders take the field for the first time this season in a double-header with Tennessee and Georgia Southern in a Georgia Southern-hosted weekend tournament.
"I just want to see our kids compete," Breeden said. "When people come out to watch us play, I want them to leave there saying you could tell Middle Tennessee loved to play the game and they competed every pitch. If we compete every pitch, the end result will take care of itself.
"This weekend isn't the most important, but it is still important to do well. I just want to see us knock a little rust off, then we'll see what happens. I think we'll perform well."
Middle Tennessee fans will see some new faces on the diamond in 2017, in particular in the infield. Breeden and his staff brought in six infield recruits this season, and he expects to see big things out of some of them.
"There will be some freshmen that start right off the bat for us on Friday, but they all can play," he said. "They all come from high-caliber summer league teams and good high school teams, and they had a good fall with us. Some of them are going to be freshmen, but they won't be in awe or anything against anybody we play. We expect them to step in and play like veterans."
Outfielders Precious Birdsong, a junior and Preseason All-Conference USA selection, and Kirstyn Cuccia, a sophomore, are two of the notable returners to the lineup. The two led the team with .347 and .372 batting averages in 2016, respectively.
In order for the Blue Raiders to improve at the plate, though, they will have to get more contributions from elsewhere in the lineup.
"There are a lot of people that we're depending on," Breeden said. "If we can hit right around .300 as a team, that means we're going to compete and have some good stuff."
In the circle, MT will have to replace Kelci Cheney, its most experienced pitcher from a season ago. Two transfers – Gretchen Greer and Cori Jennings – will help lead the way, along with returning senior Megan Chocallo and redshirt junior Pattie Ruth Taylor. Freshman Sarah Pinkston and Veronica Westfall will round out the staff.
Breeden is confident the combination of Greer, a JUCO All-American in 2016 at Columbia State Community College, and Jennings, a junior left-hander who transferred from Chattanooga, as starters will more than replace the void left by Cheney.
"I think our improvement will come with our depth," Breeden said. "[Greer and Jennings] together, I think, will be more productive than Cheney was last year because they won't have to carry the whole load. I think that will lend itself to some of our pitchers being fresh down the stretch."
With only four seniors and 10 girls in their first year in the program, the Blue Raiders will have to get leadership from a lot of different places. If they can, Breeden said his young team should mesh well as the season goes along, and the type of improvements he is looking for will inherently come.
"I think we'll get leadership from our seniors and our junior class," he said. "We have a tough schedule and our league is going to be tough, but our team chemistry is one thing that's noticeably better right now. That will take us a long way. I also think our skillset will be better all the way around."
The first chance for Middle Tennessee fans to see their Blue Raiders at home will be March 1 against Austin Peay. It is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.
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