Experienced players and depth will be the key as the West Lincoln Bears kick off their slowpitch softball season Aug. 16, on the road as they take on the Franklin County Lady Bulldogs in a classic game in Meadville.

The Lady Bears will have four seniors: Brianna Fauver, Micah Redd, Addie Spring and Malori Hall, providing leadership and guidance.

“We are looking forward to another great year in 2A softball,” said West Lincoln head coach Andrew Redd. “The girls are excited and ready to start playing.”

Redd, 46, will be starting his 16th season at the helm. The Lady Bears look to improve on a 21-7-1 record last year and posted 6-0 record in district play.

The Lady Bears have six returning starters coming back to help in the field: Malori Hall at third base; Micah Redd, outfield; Brianna Fauver, outfielder; Layton Sills at shortstop; Hanna Moak at catcher and Alli Mullins at outfield.

“We have plenty of experience players returning, plus some new starters that has played a lot of softball,” continued Redd. “We have 14 upperclassmen that can play several positions which gives us a lot of depth this year,”

West Lincoln lost four starters to graduation last year: Karley Smith, leftfield; Bentley Sills, first base; Heather Moak, pitcher and Destiny Allen, left-center field.

Micah Redd is among the veterans returning and had a .455 batting average in 2013. Layton Sills also batted 455, Hanna Moak .389, Hall .333, Mullins .302, and Fauver .265.

West Lincoln’s assistant coach is Greg Allen. Redd has 24 players on his squad.

The Lady Bears’ first home game will be against the Wesson Lady Cobras on Aug. 21. The junior varsity game will precede the varsity game.

WEST LINCOLN 2014 Team Roster

Seniors

Brianna Fauver, Micah Redd, Addie Spring, Malori Hall

Juniors

Hanna Moak, Millane Lewis, Layton Sills, Alli Mullins, Ashley Thomas, Peyton White

Sophomores

Makennah Redd, Anna Brooke Davis, Sara Jane Doty, Demeshia Deer

Freshmen

McKenzie Pyles

Eighth Graders

Maddox Redd, Jana Case, Megan Gerald, Skylar Hall, Morgan Newman, Haley Moak, MaKayla Shelton, Georganna Allen, Abigail Edwards

West Lincoln Schedule

AUGUST

16-at Franklin Co. (classic), 21-at Franklin County 5:30/7 p.m., 21-Wesson 5/6 p.m., 25-at Brookhaven 5/6 p.m., 26-at Bogue Chitto 5/6 p.m.

SEPTEMBER

2-at Wesson 5/6 p.m., 4-Brookhaven 5/6 p.m., 6-West Lincoln Tournament, 9-Franklin Co. 5/6 p.m., 11-Pisgah 5/6 p.m., 16-Lawrence Co. 5/6 p.m., 18-Amite Co. 5/6 p.m., 23-at Puckett 5/6 p.m., 25-at Pisgah, 27-at Brookhaven Tournament, 30-at Amite Co. 5/6 p.m.

OCTOBER

2-Puckett 5/6 p.m., 4-at Bogue Chitto Tournament, 7-at Lawrence Co. 5/6 p.m., 11-Bogue Chitto (DH) 11 a.m./12 p.m., 14-1st Round South, TBA, 18-2nd Round South, TBA, 21-South State Finals, TBA, 25-State Championship (Freedom Ridge Park).