Auburn Softball News And Notes

The Auburn Tigers under first year head coach Mickey Dean open the 2018 today with the first practice of the year. Initially scheduled as an outdoor practice open to the public, the Tigers moved indoors and the practice will not be open to the public. The Tigers are currently scheduled for a practice every day until January 10th. The Tigers will practice between three and three and a half hours per day aside from a short day on Tuesday as classes begin on Wednesday.

Once again, the Auburn Family’s new found love of softball continues to show as season tickets were, once again, sold out. There are still options for fans, specifically the “Pick Six” option, which allows fans to pay a flat rate  and select any of a handful of non-conference games. Smart buyers will note that if one of the six is the first game of one of the tournament days, it affords the ticket owner the ability to watch all the day’s games. For example, a ticket holder for the Tiger Invite to see Auburn take on Delaware will also allow the holder to watch the later game against St. Francis. Each “Pick Six” package is $45 for reserved seating and $30 for standing room only. Go here for more information.

Young lady softball fans can sign up to be a bat girl! To sign your little ball player up to be a 2018 bat girl, go see the information in this link. This is for young ladies from age ten to eight grade. But, be aware, that this is a first-come, first-served deal that rapidly fills up.

Coach Dean and the staff closed the recruiting period with three signings on November 18th. This included Aspyn Godwin, Tate Moseley and Haley Nillen. There was a premium put on hitting, and not just for power. According to AuburnTigers.com, “Godwin ,who hails from Daphne, Ala., is a three-time All-State selection and was picked as the Hitter of the Year while playing for Daphne High School. She hit .426 with 44 doubles and 41 home runs with 136 RBI to go along with 66 stolen bases so far in her varsity career.“

Tate Moseley will likely be a replacement for Victoria Draper, once the speedy slapper runs out of eligibility. 

Haley Nillen rounds out the trio. Spring, Texas, she was excellent on defense, but not a slouch from the plate.

Auburn will hopefully welcome back two players from injuries. Tannon Snow and Kendall Veach have both been missing in action. Veach was last year’s surprise as she took over for Tannon Snow, who had a season ending illness that sent her back to California to be near her family. Snow was starting at first base for the Tigers before Veach took over when Snow was sent home. It is expected that Snow will take back over at first and Veach will move to third base, which is unoccupied for the first time in four years as legend Kasey Cooper graduated. Veach’s rehab has been quick and she should be on the field at full speed following a meniscus tear. Snow is expected to be brought along much slower. 

Elsewhere, Carmyn Greenwood will miss the entire season after shoulder surgery following a dislocation of her shoulder in hitting. That will open left field up for competition. Expect sophmore phenom, Alyssa Rivera to move to left and open up right for Morgan Podany, Bree Fornis, freshman Jenna Olszewski and KK Crocker. 

Auburn’s full 2018 schedule was released. The Tigers will host multiple smaller name teams in back to back tournaments inside Jane B. Moore field beginning with the Plainsman Invite and ending with the Tiger Invite. In between is a match with the Troy Trojans at Troy. The Tigers then fly across the country to take on some bigger names such as Notre Dame and Wisconsin in the Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, California on the 22nd of February. Also joining this premier tournament is Long Beach , Oregon State and San Jose State. 

Auburn will then play host in the Wilson/DiMarini Classic the first week of March. 

Then, the real meat of the schedule arrives in form of the LSU Tigers as Auburn has to travel to Baton Rouge to play what is typically a very good team. LSU are the SEC runner ups after losing to Ole Miss 5-1. 

This likely represents the hardest road test for the Tigers as Ole Miss is unlikely to reload to the team of destiny fans last saw. 

However, Auburn takes on Alabama at home on March 18th. This is easily the series of the year, probably across all of SEC and possibly nationwide. Auburn hasn’t won a series at home against Alabama and looks to finally break that cycle. This will be a massive game with serious Women’s College World Series tournament implications as well as serious bragging rights. 

Auburn also gets Tennessee at home the first week of April in what should be a very good matchup. 

The Tigers will end the year with Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas A&M. One of these teams won’t make the SEC tournament and these three series will be the perfect set of games to really work on things for the Tigers before the SEC tournament begins in Columbia Missouri on May 9th. 

Make sure to follow me on Twitter for all of your softball news: @Best5Zach.

 

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