Lady Rams ready for season kickoff

With a new season swiftly approaching, the Lady Rams softball team is ready for action.

Last season the Lady Rams had a (20-29) record including a (10-10) record at home. Head coach LaTaya Hilliard-Gray brings her team into another season of MEAC competition.

"Being that I played in the MEAC [Hampton University], it [CIAA/MEAC transition] brought a lot of excitement for me," Gray said. "I'm enjoying it and I feel that we are growing. It's really exciting."

The Lady Rams will open their season playing in the MEAC/SWAC Showdown on Feb. 7-8 in Atlanta.

Day one of the showdown, the Lady Rams face Jackson State University and Alcorn State University. The next day they square off against Alabama A&M University and Mississippi State University.

The team will travel to Durham to face rival and soon to be MEAC competitor, North Carolina Central University. Their home opener is on March 7 with a double-header against Gray's alma mater Hampton University.

Two more home games will follow on March 10 versus Gardner-Webb and March 17 against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Gray professes that all her players play a part in her program. She always tells them she expects them all to be leaders. Five seniors return this season, Leslie Hollis, Amber Shore, Kendall Sutton, Georgette Twitty and Elyon Taylor. These women have been with the program through the CIAA to MEAC transition.

"This is a key year for them [seniors]," Gray said. They were recruited for CIAA play. "This was my first true class I recruited, since I have been head coach."

Gray says the group is growing and they've stepped up and handled the challenge well.

Last season, five hitters had a batting average of at least .300 and were led by catcher Kayla Woodbury, with just over a .400 average. The Lady Rams had some high scoring games putting up 20, 19, or 17 points and at other times they were held scoreless or limited in runs.

Gray has that type of roller coaster scoring as a top priority to change this season.

"When performing at bat, we need to be more consistent," she said.

"Right now, we're working on mental preparation and positioning the ball."

Gray said that if the team continues to make contact with the ball like they are doing and start positioning the ball more, they're going to have a higher batting average than they have now.

This strategy Gray hopes will get the team more wins.

Coach Gray says the three strongest factors are the team's chemistry, versatility, and that they're all on the same page and have the same goals.

Gray says that the team is going to take the season game by game. "We practice well, and we expect to play well."