After a 2006 campaign that had the Nicholls softball team in the conference tournament for the first time in three years, the 2007 team is hoping to take last year’s success and turn it into a conference championship. Head coach Jenny Parsons is returning for her third year and she said this year’s team is fortunate to have a number of players returning on offense and defense.

“Luckily, we have a good core of players that know what is ahead of them, and are ready to continue the success we had last year,” Parsons said.

Although losing seniors such as first team all-conference second baseman Brandi Hahn, second team all-conference designated player Meghan Mulcahy and centerfielder Teri Clouatre, the Colonels have 11 players returning that had considerable playing time last year, including reigning conference Hitter of the Year, Kat Harrell, senior third baseman Leah Peterson and conference honorable mention selection Danielle Clayton.

“The good thing is that we’ve only had to groom a couple of players in new positions rather than half of the lineup like some clubs have to do,” she said.

The Colonels have a few new faces to the lineup- freshmen Ashley Martin, Leah Bland and Brynn Lambert.

Martin, a native of Nacogdoches, Texas, will see time in the outfield and may also split catcher duties with senior Jackie Pacheco. Bland, a standout player at Thibodaux High, will play in the outfield, while Lambert, a Gonzales native, will be looked upon to produce in the batting order.

Last year Nicholls was second in the conference in batting with 53 home runs and a combined .274 hitting percentage. In the future, the team could lay claim to having the hardest batter to strike out in the nation in Harrell and one of the nation’s leaders in doubles in Peterson.

“We work on hitting everyday, and we find our players are very confident at the plate,” Parsons said.

One spot the Colonels may need to improve on by the start of the season is the mound. The pitching staff ranked eighth in the conference with a 4.30 ERA, gave up 377 hits and walked a conference high 180 batters.

Though the team will be without Ally May, the return of Krystalin Ensiminger, Alexandra Austin and Jessica Barskdale has Parsons optimistic about the staff’s potential.

“The pitchers have a different attitude this year, and they know that getting more strikes and cutting down on walking batters is their main objective,” Parsons said. “You don’t have to be a strikeout pitcher to win games, but you can’t defend against walks and home runs either.”

Of the key players on the Colonels team, Parsons said she thinks that outfielder and pitcher Kodi Butler and second baseman and outfielder Rachel Pugh will make names for themselves this year.

“I believe Kodi (Butler) is going to have a better offensive year, and Rachel (Pugh) will be in a starting role, which will take some of the pressure off of our key players,” Parsons said.

The season will kick off for Nicholls Friday in the Alexis Resort Kickoff Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., with the tournament as just one of the highlights on the schedule including a home and away series with Sun Belt champion Louisiana-Lafayette, and participating in a tournament at Georgia State.

In order to upend defending Southland Conference champ Texas-San Antonio, Parsons said she knows her team will have to be solid in every facet of the game.

“Pitching, hitting, defense, all of it, we have to be focused on the right things in order to do what we want to accomplish, which is win the regular season title along with getting to the tournament,” Parsons said.