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Cannon Crompton/sports@cherokeescout.com Hiwassee Dam’s Bella Stiles makes contact with the ball at practice on March 12. -
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Hiwassee Dam – The Eagles’ softball team will look to build off of a successful season last year that saw them make the playoffs. They finished last season with a 12-7 overall record and went 10-2 in the 1A Smoky Mountain Conference.
Prior to their season beginning, the Cherokee Scout spoke with Hiwassee Dam head coach Chet Kendall about how they are preparing for their first game of the year.
Q: What are your goals for this season?
A: “The goals are to win our first game, and to win our last game, and to stay healthy and just have fun.”
Q: What will the team work on this season to achieve those goals?
A: “Well, I have been doing this a very long time, and I have come to find it the more simple you make it and it’s just repetition after repetition after repetition. So we will just be taking a lot of ground balls, a lot of at bats and let the reps take care of us.”
Q: What will the team build on from last season?
A: “Last year we lost some seniors who were very important, so we’re building and we’re going to have a very young infield. It’s just going to be building a game again.”
Q: Who are some players that will stand out this season?
A: “Olivia McNabb, Brinkley Payne and Katie McNabb. Right now, those are the players who will stand out.”
Q: Are there any games or matchups that stand out to you this season?
A: “Andrews. So the most important game for us is that matchup.”
Q: What will the team do to prepare for the first game, which is against Andrews?
A: “Make the fundamental play and put the ball in play. That’s the two most important things.”
The Lady Eagles’ softball team will kick off their season with a busy week. Today, Hiwassee Dam travels to Franklin for the team’s second game of the season, with the first home game set for 4:30 p.m. Friday against Andrews.