After failing to reach the playoffs in 2015, the Central softball team hopes to turn things around this season.

Central went to the NCAA Regional Tournament in 2014 and entered the 2015 season as the preseason favorite for a GNAC title, but the Wildcats failed to meet those expectations with a record of 20-23.

“Last season we had a lot of talent, but we didn’t reach our full potential,” senior pitcher Brielle Copodonna said.

This season Central is ranked fifth in the 2016 GNAC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll.  Rival Western Washington University is picked to win the conference.

Junior first basemen Kailyn Campbell, a First Team All-GNAC selection, thought being picked first last season inflated their heads.

“I think we have really high expectations this year. Just from last year to this year, were kind of, I’d say, a little unsatisfied with what happened,” Campbell said. “But I think this year we have a different mindset for the season.”

The Wildcats struggled defensively last season. Central ranked second to last in the GNAC in fielding percentage.

Part of the reason for the defensive struggle was losing junior shortstop Taylor Ferleman to a broken wrist 16 games in. This forced the coaching staff to move around players into different positions.

According to head coach Mike Larabee, the infield is pretty set, but the outfield is very competitive with six outfielders competing for three spots.

“I think no matter who’s playing in the outfield we’re gonna have an awesome outfield,” junior utility player Sammy Morris said. “We’re gonna have a lot of speed and a lot of talent.”

Larabee said they made defense a priority in their program.

“[Two weeks ago was] a really good week for us, we’ve kinda modified our practice a little bit and spent a couple days just focusing on defense,” Larabee said. “You should see a lot higher field percentage this season.”

First Team All-GNAC selection senior Austin Wilkerson will be doing much of the catching duties this season.

Larabee said he likes that she can stop the running game, but she just needs to stay healthy.

Pitching wise, the Wildcats are bringing their number one starter, junior Kiana Wood, back.

Wood had a 6-9 record with a 2.99 ERA, which was fourth in the GNAC.

She averaged 5.91 strikeouts per game in 2015 and will share the bulk of the pitching duties with Copodonna.

“If Kiana [Wood] starts the game and gets into a little trouble we can bring Brielle [Copodonna] in to close it out and vice-versa,” Larabee said.

Copodonna had to make an adjustment to a new role last season. She had to become comfortable in the role of closer after spending most of her career as a starter.

“When you start a game there’s a different energy, when you close a game you really have to be on top your game, no mistakes, your closing to shut the other team down,” Copodonna said.

Some of the changes Larabee made to his team are on the pitching side where he believes a good team begins.

“Coming into the season, I had six different pitches and he narrowed it down to a riseball, changeup and dropball, and we’re just focusing on those three pitches and perfecting them,” Copodonna said.

Wood agrees with Larabee’s approach to pitching. She said it focuses on the main pitches he feels like they can throw better against their opponents.

Offensively, the Wildcats thrived last season with a .328 batting average—third in the GNAC.

Some of their key returning offensive players are Morris, a Second Team All-GNAC selection, Campbell, Wilkerson and Taylor Ferleman.

Larabee said that Morris, who hit .388 with 11 stolen bases, would probably be hitting leadoff.

Campbell had a .395 batting average that ranked fourth in the GNAC. She is projected to be hitting third in the lineup.

Wilkerson hit .366 last season with 34 RBIs is projected to bat cleanup.

Before breaking her wrist, Ferleman hit .447 in the 16 games she played.

“I feel very good one through nine right now,” Larabee said. “We got a really good combination of power and speed and kids that can bunt and slap.”

One player that Central will be without is junior pitcher and infielder Alyssa Egan. She is out for the season with a torn ACL and had some meniscus damage.

Even after the struggles of last season, Larabee and his staff have changed his players outlook on softball.

Morris feels that the team has been the most prepared since she has been in the program.

The view the coaches “take on softball is so different than I’ve been taught my entire life,” Copodonna said. “I think we’ve reached our potential and gone beyond what I thought we’d be.”