Lady Tigers open season with new coach

on Thursday and hosting Wood River for two games on Saturday.

Chris Asbury assumes the head coaching spot this season, after Joy Memmelaar succumbed to her battle with cancer in the off season.

Asbury has been an assistant the last few years, and he likes the numbers they had turn out this year for softball.

"We had about 35 girls this year. We kept 24, so we made about 10 or 11 cuts, as a few didn't show up for day two and three of tryouts, so we're happy with the turnout."

The Lady Tigers went 21-10 overall last year, winning the district tourney, and finishing second to Bishop Kelly in the state tournament.

Coach Asbury lost six seniors from last year's squad.

"We lost over 75 percent of our run production, but defensively, we're solid. There's no new infielders, three senior outfielders, so defense is going to be the key to our game, and we had a lot of young freshmen and sophomores step up last year and swing the bat really well, so we'll be all right."

The Lady Tigers return Nickayla Skinner in the pitching circle. Last year as a freshman she went 19-6 with a 193 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.71.

"She's, in my mind, one of the tops in the state at 4A," said Coach Asbury. "She's added, I would say, three or four miles an hour on her fastball, and she's got a lot more movement on her pitches. The rise ball is coming along -- still not there -- but I'm very pleased with that.

"Our number two pitcher, Charde Huntington, she's coming along, hitting her spots better, location and working on some velocity things, and Breann Christiansen, our number three pitcher, hits for strikes. Speed-wise, people are going to get to her after a few innings, but in emergency situations, she'll throw strikes."

The Lady Tigers open this Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. at home against Timberline. They host Wood River for two games on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.