Softball team opens season Saturday at JUCO Kickoff

The Eastern Florida State College softball team will open the regular season this weekend at the 15^th annual JUCO Kickoff at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater.

The Titans will open the season with two games on Saturday, beginning at 11:30 a.m. against Gulf Coast State College, who is eighth in the Region 8 Coaches Preseason Poll. The teams have met twice in the past five years at the JUCO Kickoff with each team winning once.

Then at 4:30 p.m. the Titans will play Pasco-Hernando State College. Pasco-Hernando won the only meeting in the past five seasons.

"We are excited, we get to open with one of the top teams in the state in Gulf Coast and we are looking forward to getting a test right away and then play Pasco-Hernando who is one of the best D2 JUCOs every year," softball coach Shelby Petik said.

Sam Clark is back after being an All-Southern Conference team player in her freshman season, hitting .358 in 46 games. Teammate Faith Campos hit .290 last season in 38 games while Gracie Snell started 47 games is back after hitting .254 as a freshman.

"We have a great group of returning players, we added one transfer player and a lot of talented freshmen," Petik said. "I am really excited, we are returning Brooke Theisen who was out last year so I am excited for her and all of the returners were starters at some point last year so they bring a lot of experience. Four of the five pitchers are freshmen, extremely talented middle infielders and fast outfielders."

Eastern Florida State College is 7-5 in the past three seasons at the JUCO Kickoff.

The Titans will play at Lake Sumter State College on Feb. 1 before the home opener on Saturday, Feb. 3 against South Florida State College. The doubleheader at Titan Softball Complex will begin at 1 p.m. and admission is free to home games.