By By BRUCE HIXON Sports Editor
They came within one victory of tripling their win total from the previous season.
While that was a significant accomplishment for the Jefferson Davis Community College Lady Warhawks softball program, just think what it could have down if it had not started last season 0-14.
After the nightmarish start, JDCC played nearly .500 ball the rest of the way on its way to a 20-37 overall record and an 11-9 Alabama Community College Conference record.
If the Lady Warhawks are to improve on those marks, they will have to do so with a fairly young group in 2005. JDCC has just four sophomores on its 14-player roster.
The Lady Warhawks will build their lineup around sophomore centerfielder Nichole Young (Crestview, Fla.). A year ago Young was an All-ACCC selection when she led JDCC hitters in batting average (.391.), hits (63) and stolen bases (20).
Much of JDCC's success may hinder on well its young infield performs.
Freshman Katie Simmons (Demopolis) will probably step into the first base role. Teran Kilgore (Talladega) may also get some time in that spot.
The Lady Warhawks coach has shuffled the middle part of her infield. Freshman Sonie Demko (Baldwin County) has moved from shortstop to second base, while freshman Jessica Cunningham (Milton, Fla.) has moved from second base to shortstop.
The lone expected sophomore in the infield is at third base where Kristen Phillips (Prospect, Tenn.) is expected to patrol.
In the outfield, Young will probably be flanked by freshman Carleen Clark (Tate HS, Fla.) in leftfield and the combination of sophomore Kelly Stewart (Cintronelle) and freshman Makeyia Burt (Escambia County) in rightfield.
Behind the plate, freshman Stacy Sanders (Hazel Green) will get much of the work. Jenna Jinright (Prattville) will back her up.
The Lady Warhawks pitching staff should have more depth this season with freshman righthanders Nikki Madden (Laurel Hill, Fla.) and Lakyn Newton (Greenville) and Stewart, also a righthander.
JDCC will make the move up from Division II to Division I this season.
In recent years, the ACCC race has usually started and ended with Wallace State-Dothan.
See SOFTBALL Page 8A
JDCC Lady Warhawks
Softball Schedule
Feb. 11 Wallace-Dothan Tournament
Feb. 16 Okaloosa-Walton 4 p.m. (DH)
Feb. 19 Central Alabama Away 1 p.m. (DH)
Feb. 21 Chattahoochee Valley Away 1 p.m. (DH)
Feb. 25-26 Meridian Tournament
Mar. 3 Pensacola Home 1 p.m. (DH)
Mar. 6 Danville Home 1 p.m. (DH)
Mar. 9 Hibbings Home 11 a.m.
Mar. 9 Jefferson State Home 3 p.m.
Mar. 11-12 Okaloosa- Walton Tournament
Mar. 16 Wallace-Dothan Away 1 p.m. (DH)
Mar. 18 Bevill State Home 1 p.m. (DH)
Mar. 20 Chattahoochee Valley Home 1 p.m. (DH)
Mar. 22 Bishop State Home 1 p.m. (DH)
Mar. 30 Alabama Southern Home 1 p.m. (DH)
Apr. 1 Bevill State Away 1 p.m. (DH)
Apr. 3 Enterprise State Home 1 p.m. (DH)
Apr. 6 Faulkner State Away 1 p.m. (DH)
Apr. 9 L.B. Wallace Home 1 p.m. (DH)
Apr. 11 Wallace-Dothan Home 1 p.m. (DH)
Apr. 14 Bishop State Away 2 p.m. (DH)
Apr. 15 Enterprise State Away 1 p.m. (DH)
Apr. 20 L.B. Wallace Away 1 p.m. (DH)
Apr. 21 Faulkner State Home 1 p.m. (DH)
Apr. 23 Alabama Southern Away 1 p.m. (DH)
Apr. 28 Pensacola Away 4 p.m. (DH)