TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — The Tahlequah High School slow-pitch softball team has historically been the cream of the crop with multiple state championship game appearances.

For the fast-pitch softball team, it has been a different story lately with a modicum of success. Last season, it finished 12-18 after getting swept in two games in regionals.

However, with a new season comes renewed spirit and optimism of what dreams may come.

“We’re always hoping to get to the state tournament every year,” THS softball coach Ronnie Rogers said. “For us in fast-pitch, a big step would be winning the regional tournament. That’s always a tough step for our fast-pitch program.”

The softball team will be missing one face that many who attended THS softball games had gotten used to seeing over the past four years as Shelbi Bowin will now be playing softball at Northeastern State. However, her little sister Katie, a junior this year, is still around as well as several others as THS as the majority of the Lady Tigers starters from last season still in tact.

“We didn’t lose but one starter from last season,” Rogers said. “(Shelbi was) a veteran hitter and our shortstop. That’s the nucleus of our team right there but fortunately we’ve got a lot of young kids coming back who got a lot of experience last year. We started three freshmen last year and I think we’ve got some pretty good freshmen this year.”

The Lady Tigers entered the first day of practice with five seniors including power hitter and third baseman Paige Crow who comes in with more experience than anybody who will put on a Lady Tiger uniform. They also have two juniors including Katie and incumbent pitcher Angelia Dry, three sophomores and five freshman.

Rogers is also optimistic about the sophomore trio of Erica Sampson, Jessica Patrick and Ashley Boswell

“They played about every game last year,” Rogers said. “Our sophomore bunch have a lot of experience and they played a lot of summer ball this summer.”

The Lady Tigers start the season on the road for two games starting with the season opener on Aug. 14 at Wagoner and then at Fort Gibson on Aug. 16 before the home opener against Sapulpa on Aug. 18.

The Lady Tigers also have home games against Muskogee on Aug. 25, Sequoyah on Sept. 3 and Stilwell on Sept. 25. The Lady Tigers round out the season with four straight home games finishing with Skiatook on Oct. 2.

The Lady Tigers will also have road games against Muskogee on Sept. 16, At Sequoyah with Jay on Sept. 22 and end the road schedule on Sept. 23 at Coweta.

The regional tournament starts Oct. 9-11 with the state tournament starting Oct. 16-18.

“If we get the pitching to come along for us, I think the hitting will be much improved,” Rogers said. “At least I hope it is. If we can get it all together I think we’ll be better than we were last year. You always hope for the best.”