Southwest Softball Team Opens Fall Season

The Southwest softball team will travel to Muscle Shoals, Alabama this weekend on September 4 to open the 2010 Fall Season. The Lady Saluqis will play Blue Mountain College at noon, followed by Jefferson State Community College at 4 p.m., and the host team, Northwest-Shoals Community College at 6 p.m.

Southwest returns seven starters off last year's 30-29 squad including pitcher Chrissy Darnell, who struck out 234 batters as a freshman, breaking the Lady Saluqis' single-season record. Also back are second baseman/outfielder Lauren Alexander, centerfielder Bianca Cowan, first baseman/shortstop Veonka Link, rightfielder Rachel Martin, catcher Raven Pickett, and third baseman Collin Jo Wood. In addition, catcher/infielder Brittany McKee returns to the team after sitting out last season.

Joining them on the 2010-11 Lady Saluqis' team is a talented group of freshmen: outfielder Brittany Cline (Olive Branch High School), outfielder Paige Copeland (Bolton High School), infielder Morgan Kirk (North Little Rock, Arkansas, Central Arkansas Christian Academy), pitcher/infielder Elizabeth McGlawn (King William, Virginia), pitcher Megan Newman (DeSoto Central High School), shortstop Stephanie Steen (Collierville High School) and pitcher Brittany Wilson (Collierville High School).

The Southwest softball team will also participate in play-days at Columbia, Tennessee (September 11-12), Dyersburg, Tennessee (September 18-19 and October 10), Rhodes College (September 25 and October 2), and the University of Memphis (October 9). The Lady Saluqis will play at their home field, Buckhead Creek Recreation Complex, on September 26 against the West Tennessee Express, and on October 1 against Dyersburg State and Northwest-Shoals.