CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University Softball team kicks off their 2025 season today and tomorrow at the Charger Chillout in Albertville, Ala.
 
The Lady Statesmen will get the ball rolling at 11:00 a.m., (CDT) this morning as they will face the Mountain Lions from Young Harris College. The Green and White will follow that match up against YHC with a 1:30 p.m., first pitch against former GSC foe in Shorter University.
 
Tomorrow the Lady Statesmen will get to face an in-region opponent in the Golden Bears from Miles College at 11:00 a.m., (CDT). Following that, DSU will finish the weekend with the Panthers from Kentucky Wesleyan College at 1:30 p.m. (CDT).
 
Scouting The Lady Statesmen

• Delta State under the direction of first-year head coach Mark Shirley was picked to finish 12th in the GSC Preseason Coaches' Poll after finishing last season with a 12-41 overall record and were 6-24 in GSC play.
•  Delta State returns three hitters in Kyleigh Wheaton, Abbi Cataldo, and Calli McConnell whose batting average exceeded .300 last season. Wheaton, a Gentry, Ark., native, led the Lady Statesmen with a .343 batting average. Cataldo started in all 53 games as an outfielder and posted a .315 batting average with 32 RBI and 13 homeruns. McConnell, a junior infielder, recorded a .303 batting average with a .439 slugging percentage.
• The lone pitcher returning from last season is senior Emma Enderud. The Oxford, Kansas native posted a 6.32 ERA in 140.2 innings pitched.

Scouting the Mountain Lions

• The Young Harris Softball program was selected to finish third in the Conference Carolinas preseason poll. The 2024 season concluded in the Conference Carolinas Championship for the Mountain Lions, who finished with a solid 29-24 overall record (15-9 in conference play).
• Young Harris returns several key players this spring, with Shelby Duncan, Gracie Hughes, and Grace Young leading the way as players to watch. Duncan slashed .333 at the plate last season, tallying 51 hits and driving in 22 runs. Hughes posted a .369 batting average, recording 65 hits, including 10 home runs, and driving in 45 runs. Young contributed across the board, finishing with a .329 batting average, 55 hits, six home runs, and 29 RBI.
• The Mountain Lions bring back significant experience in the circle heading into the 2025 season. Grace Young and Gracie Hughes will anchor the pitching staff this season. Young posted the best ERA (3.49) on the team in 2024, making 23 appearances with 16 starts and striking out 57 batters. Hughes led the team in appearances with 30, recording a 3.52 ERA, a 7-3 record, and two saves.

Scouting the Hawks

• Shorter will enter their first year in the Conference Carolinas picked 15^th in the preseason coaches' poll. Last season, the Hawks were in the Gulf South Conference where they held a 2-45 overall record and went 1-29 in GSC play.
• Juniors Alex Hollingsworth and Ashton Stevens were listed as Conference Carolinas players to watch on the offensive side of the ball for Shorter. Last season, Hollingsworth played 41 games for the Hawks, posting a .207 batting average with three home runs and 11 rbis. Stevens led the Shorter offense last season with a .333 batting average with six stolen bags.
• In the circle, Alana Lloyd was listed as a Conference Carolinas player to watch for SU. Last season, Lloyd had 14 starts with 22 strikeouts and two complete games.

Scouting the Golden Bears

• Miles College enters the 2025 season picked to finish third in the SIAC West Division Preseason poll. The Golden Bears are currently 0-5 after participating in a loaded Mardi Gras Tournament in Youngsville, La.
• The Golden Bear offense is led by preseason first team All-SIAC selection in senior utility player Desalynn Nesbitt. Nesbitt leads all hitters in the 2024 season with a .317 batting average with three home runs and 17 runs driven in.
• Miles returns one pitcher in senior Shakayla Terry. The Montgomery, Ala., native struck out 52 hitters and held opponents to a .308 batting average in 16 appearances.

Scouting the Panthers

• Kentucky Wesleyan enters the 2025 season picked 10^th in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference preseason Coaches' Poll. Last season, the Purple and White finished with a 17-31 overall record and went 7-19 in G-MAC play.
• One of KWC's top hitters in senior utility player Augusta Garr returns to the lineup for the Panthers. In 2024, Garr posted a .321 batting average but provided speed on the basepaths for Kentucky Wesleyan with five stolen bases and scored 30 runs.
• In the circle, Kentucky Wesleyan only returns one pitcher in Immi Mann. In 2024, Mann had six appearances with one start but led the Panthers with three saves striking out seven batters.