The Lee University’s women’s fast-pitched softball team is very confident that their 2008 season will be much stronger than last year’s season. The young squad has most of its players back from last year in addition to the new freshmen ready to get into game play.

Severely limited from injuries last season after March, the Flames are back with players stronger, healthier and in better shape. All four pitchers from last year, Jessica Kerr, Sara Mitchell, Brittany Rowe and Sarah Warren, are back along with freshmen Kylee Krings. Sarah Warren was out most of the season last year after having surgery. However, she is back this year healthy and in better shape, ready for an outstanding senior year. With her being gone last season, this will be an opportunity for Lee to play her without opponents’ knowledge of her talent, which will prove to be a huge asset to the team.

Head Coach Emily Russell expects that “this year’s record will be as good as, if not better than, last year’s mark.” All of the injuries hurt the Lady Flames in March when they entered into conference play, where a substantial amount of games are played.

Last year Oklahoma Christian, who would go on to win the national championship, knocked off the Flames in their tournament run. This year, however, the Lee team will enter conference play with a deep squad, which will improve their overall record throughout the season.

Another asset for the Lady Flames, along with their depth, is their youth, meaning they will be playing together for the next few years. Freshmen are positioned all over the field: Hernanza Ruiz, a short stop from Venezuela; Danielle Balough, an infielder from California; Lindsay Shein, an outfielder from Florida who also played for the Lee Flames volleyball team this fall; Kylee Krings, also from California; and Tiffany Walker, a third baseman, pitcher, and transfer student from a junior college in Chattanooga, are all players that Russell is eager to see perform this season.