PREVIEW: UMO's Sansbury cautiously optimistic, but confident, too

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 3, 2017 9:59 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Every challenge has been accepted and conquered.

Adversity thwarted.

Character built.

The potential is there to do great things.

That's what third-year University of Mount Olive softball coach Mandy Sansbury has seen from her team in the fall and preseason.

Can the Trojans put it all together with seven freshmen and two transfers -- part of an 18-player roster -- roaming the dugout?

Sansbury may get some answers Saturday.

UMO launches its 2017 campaign at home against Virginia State. The doubleheader begins at 2 p.m. Less than 24 hours later, perennial Southeast Region power Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) steps into the cozy confines of Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. That twinbill starts at 1 p.m.

"The transfers and freshmen were what I was most concerned about, and they're such a talented group that I think having my older kids take them under their wing -- the chemistry with the team hasn't been as challenging as I thought it was going to be," Sansbury said.

"It's been a fairly smooth transition and I think that all of them have the ability to contribute."

But who and where?

The Trojans lost three big guns from 2016 -- lead-off hitter and field general Kelsey Akers, savvy pitcher Madi Johnston and Savannah Becker, an ice-in-her-veins batter who emerged as one of three players to drive in 30-plus runs last spring.

Anna Ingram returns behind the dish and ranked second on the team in total plate appearances with 152 last season. The Rosewood grad boasted a .982 fielding percentage, batted a crisp .303 inside the box and swatted two home runs.

Caitlyn Ewers and Kylie Ward return inside the circle, but combined to file just 66 2/3 innings of work. Ewers compiled a 2.67 earned run average and retired 22 opposing batters on strikeouts.

Kristin Power is back at second base. Sansbury commented that Kayla Allen, JenniBeth Burge, Kelly Huffman and Charlene Thompson will patrol the outfield. Their efforts during fall ball prompted Sansbury to tweak her defense.

"From what I've seen so far in the fall and now, I think we do have a stronger lineup one through nine," Sansbury said. "I think our team batting average might be higher because all of us are contributing."

UMO hit .307 as a team last season.

Matching that number could be daunting.

Once the Trojans complete their season-opening six-game stand at Chapman Field, they'll hit the road for 24 of their next 30 games. That stretch includes meetings against four South Atlantic teams -- Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba, Wingate and Tusculum (Tenn.).

They'll play heavyweights Rollins and Flagler, and then battle three Conference Carolinas foes before returning home March 24.

Sansbury agrees it's a difficult schedule, one that could test the team's morale.

"We've discussed morale," she said. "Every day is a new day, and we're going to go out and compete. Our pre-conference schedule is its own season. Our conference schedule is its own season. The conference tournament is its own season.

"So I think you have to realize that you're preparing for something. You schedule the best competition so you can be the best."

The Trojans compiled 33 wins and reached the semifinals of the conference tournament a year ago. They're two years removed from consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional and last won a regular-season league crown in 2012.

League coaches projected UMO as the third-best team in their preseason poll.

Sansbury doesn't feel slighted at all.

She'd rather see opponents under-estimate her team this season since there are some new faces in the lineup. The Trojans' motto has been to play each pitch, play every out, leave your best effort on the field, have fun and enjoy the game.

"(And) I'm perfectly fine with that," Sansbury said.