Preview: 2015 TCC Softball (with video)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 30, 2015) – The Tallahassee Community College Eagles softball team will kick off their 2015 season at the JUCO Kickoff Tournament and Showcase in Clearwater, Fla. January 30-31.
As a part of the annual event, the Eagles will play three games over two days, beggining at 4:20 p.m. Friday against St. Petersburg College. Tallahassee will wrap up the weekend with games against Gordon (Ga.) State College and Richard Bland (Va.) College on Saturday.
On Thursday, the Eagles learned they were ranked No. 3 by the FCSAA and No. 9 by the NJCAA in the respective preseason polls.
After a successful 2014 season, the team’s expectations and goals are high as they head in to the 2015 campaign. Karley Yeager, a sophomore third baseman, says the goal is to replicate what the team did last year.
“Coming into this season we are expecting the same thing [as last season]," said Yeager. "We want to do well in conference, hopefully get another conference championship, and head to the state tournament. I would love to get back to Utah again this year.”
The Eagles are returning five players, with three of them starters, from last year’s squad. Most notable of those players is sophomore pitcher Mariah Rivera, who will anchor the Eagles’ pitching staff.
Last season, Rivera earned a plethora of honors for her play. The most prestigious of those was being named a NJCAA Division I Second-team All-American. Rivera also garnered region and conference accolades, among them being named the Panhandle Conference Pitcher of the Year and earning FCSAA All-State and All-Panhandle Conference Honors.
The Eagles also bring in two new pitchers this season in Gabrielle Decker and lefty Alexandra Cook.
Tallahassee also returns outfielder Taesha Duboise and infielder Danielle Patterson to this year's team. Both players earned second-team All-Panhandle Conference honors as freshmen. Duboise batted .336 with 19 RBI and Patterson hit .342 with 19 RBI and stole 27 bases.
Coach Patti Townsend believes this team has high potential.
“The sky is the limit for this team," said Townsend. "It is what they choose to do and what they choose to work on and get better. I am looking for big things from this team.”
Even though the expectations are high the Eagles know the road ahead won’t be easy as they make their way through the Panhandle Conference.
Townsend, speaking on conference opponents, says, “They are all strong in different ways. Chipola, they like to be fast with some power, Northwest Florida State is going to be extremely disciplined with power and speed as well, and Gulf Coast State has a new coach…so it will be interesting to see [them], and Pensacola State always scrapes right in there.”
The Eagles' first home game is Wednesday, February 4 with a doubleheader against Andrew (Ga.) College beginning at 2 p.m.
For more information on the Eagle softball team, visit www.TCCeagles.com and connect through social media, all at TCCEagles, for updates throughout the season.