Alabama Softball Opens Fall Practice Friday Afternoon
9/23/2016 10:17:00 PM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The 2017 Alabama softball squad took the field as a team for the first time this school year Friday afternoon, hosting its first team practice.
Fall practice largely starts with fundamentals, as the team worked on throwing and fielding drills Friday afternoon. The team will continue with its practice slate through the rest of the fall semester, including eight exhibition games at Rhoads Stadium during the month of October.
Head Coach Patrick Murphy, who enters his 19th season at the helm of the Crimson Tide, emphasized the fundamentals early in practice.
"We're going to do everything from bunting to team defense and base running and try and get through everything so that when the spring rolls around, it's just reviewing," Murphy said. "I want to make sure everyone knows what they need to do on a specific play so when it happens in a game, everyone will be covered."
The Crimson Tide return 14 players from last year's team, including All-American pitcher Sydney Littlejohn and SEC All-Freshman catcher Reagan Dykes. New additions to the team this season include freshmen Elissa Brown (Eclectic, Ala.), Gabby Callaway (San Diego, Calif.), Bailey Hemphill (Lafayette, La.) and Claire Jenkins (Cullman, Ala.). Last season, Alabama made its 11th Women's College World Series appearance, finishing sixth nationally with a 51-14 record. The Tide coaching staff was named the NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year for the 10th time in program history.
The Tide will play eight exhibition games during the month of October at Rhoads Stadium. Tickets to each of the four doubleheaders are just $5.
Fall Softball Schedule
All Games will be played at Rhoads Stadium
Saturday, Oct. 8 vs. Middle Tennessee State (DH) – 1:30 p.m. CT
Sunday, Oct. 9 vs. Spring Hill College (DH) – 1:30 p.m. CT
Sunday, Oct. 16 vs. Alabama State (DH) – 2 p.m. CT
Sunday, Oct. 23 vs. Wallace-Hanceville (DH) – 1:30 p.m. CT
