Season Of High Expectations Begins For Lady Tigers Softball

First year head coach, Iyhia McMichael isn’t afraid of the high expectations that have been set for the Lady Tigers. In fact, her expectations maybe higher than anyone else’s.

"I hold myself to high expectations," McMichael said before the first outdoor practice of the season. "I’m constantly evaluating myself and thinking of the things I could do differently, or do better. Expectations that others have can’t be higher than the ones I that I have."

Those expectations are driven by a playoff team that didn’t graduate a single senior. This year’s team will only have four, Taylor Austin, Jana Deen, Alex Smith and Jayla McEnturff.

"I’ve been dealt a pretty good hand," McMichael said of her team. "I haven’t really seen a lot of them myself, but I saw enough at some fall ball tournaments to have an idea. We should have a good team."

The real evaluation began this week though, as McMichael is starting at ground zero with the players.

"I’m not going to start with any preconceived notions of what certain players do, or don’t do," she said. "In fact, I want them to get rid of those notions. Everybody is going to contribute. It’s not going to be a one-person team."

Some of the expectations for this season also have to do with the pedigree Coach McMichael brings to the job as an All-American collegiate player, and an All-Star professional player. This is still, however, her first head coaching job.

"I’m just excited about it," she said. "It’s going to be fun, because I get to create something from all the bits and pieces that the players bring.

"Coach (Traci) Pierce and Desha (Carson) have been phenomenal in helping me get started, and now we just need some good weather so we can get on the field."

Practices officially began on Tuesday, and the first varsity scrimmage will be against Harmony on Monday, in Wills Point. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Nacogdoches will visit on Monday February 4, with the varsity and junior varsity participating.

The regular season starts on February 12, in Van.