Gamecocks Back to Field Preparing for 2014 Season
Jan. 14, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Over the weekend, South Carolina’s softball team reported back to campus and began their month-long buildup to the 2014 season after the long Christmas break.
The 22 student-athletes met with the strength coaches on Saturday morning before a team meeting with head coach Beverly Smith and her staff. The squad then went back to work in the batting cage, picking back up where they left off from team practice in October and individual workouts in November. A short conversation with assistant coach Calvin Beamon revealed the team had kept up its skill level over the layoff.
Sunday included another practice day that allowed the team to hit the field. Getting back onto Beckham Field’s turf always is a favorite of the student-athletes. Senior outfielder Chelsea Hawkins said, “It was really exciting to get back to practice on Saturday. Everyone kept their energy throughout Saturday, and it was probably better on Sunday. It was a long day, but we got to do a lot of live hitting. It was really good to see that everyone put in work over the break, and you could tell they all worked hard.”
Even a two-year starter like Hawkins knows this team has added some big pieces, saying, “Any spot that anyone gets is definitely going to be well earned with all the depth we have.”
Most of the team had returned during the week before Saturday’s practice, with some of the upperclassmen taking part in the team’s poster shoot. The selected players put on their uniforms, eye black and other gameday wares for this year’s shoot.
With Monday off, the Gamecock staff held meetings to prepare for the next week. During one of those gatherings, the coaching staff heard that 600 season tickets have been sold, which is nearing half of the permanent seats installed in Carolina Softball Stadium. That mark would also put the Gamecocks in the top three all-time in program history of average attendances before the first game is played. Fans can order their tickets online at GamecocksOnline.com/tickets.
The team keeps practicing this week before holding a clinic on Monday. The team also has a big event next Thursday, Jan. 23, as the team will sign autographs for the attendees at the My Carolina Alumni Association Baseball/Softball Preview Party at the USC Fieldhouse at 6 p.m.
