LAKELAND, Fla.—
Kayla Watkins only got to see 23 games in her first season as the head coach of the Southeastern softball team.
The Coronavirus pandemic brought the season to a conclusion just 24 hours after their third and fourth Sun Conference games of the season.
"We're just really excited to be on the field," said Watkins on the start of the season. "Thankful is another feeling. Talking with colleagues around the country and they are not getting (to play) and that is not lost on us."
It didn't give Watkins too much of a chance to get a feel for the league, but now having gone through a full offseason program Watkins is excited to start the 2021 season Friday afternoon with a doubleheader against Florida National.
"We are still very much trying to learn some tendencies, but knowing our girls a little bit better and how we play and what our personalities are and are a little more settled," said Watkins.
With the NAIA's decision to grant all softball players from the 2020 season two additional semesters of eligibility, the Fire return most of their roster from last year. Infielders
Sam Holcomb and
Hannah Bonner took Kansas City up on their offer to return for the 2021 season after both hitting over .300 and playing all 23 games last year.
Holcomb is a five-year starter with a career .314 average with 100 RBIs and 42 stolen bases. The Niceville native has a career .947 fielding percentage, having committed just eight errors over the past 74 games.
Bonner has slashed .323/.419/.400 during her 73 games at SEU. Last year, the Palm Harbor native posted a .304 average with three doubles, a triple, and a home run.
Kaley Sarasty made quite the first impression, starting all 23 games of her freshman year at shortstop and posting a team-best .333 average. She also fielded .952 with just four errors in 84 chances.
Britt Robinson is coming off her best season at SEU. Heading into her fourth year with the program, Robinson hit .300 last year with five doubles, two triples, and 12 RBIs.
After missing last season,
Haleigh Harrell looks to return to the field after posting a .305 average as a sophomore in 2019 and earning NAIA All-American honors as a freshman when she set the program record for hits in a season with 79.
In the pitching circle,
Peyton Varela went 5-5 with a 1.94 ERA last year with 33 strikeouts in 65 innings of work. As a freshman
Megan Froehlich went 6-3 with a 2.80 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 55 innings.
