LEBANON, Tenn.--As the spring season dawns upon us, anticipation is high for Cumberland Softball as they gear up for another thrilling campaign on the diamond. 

The Phoenix posted a record of 27-18 (.600) overall and 13-11 (.542) in conference play last season, the team was filled with young talent that will continue to grow and improve this season. 

Cumberland returns four players that earned All-Conference honors last season while losing two. The Phoenix graduated Second Team All-Conference member Madison Koczersut, Honorable Mention honoree Ashtyn Blair, and pitchers Bailey Griffith and Emily Cooper. 

Cumberland brings back the 2023 Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Conference honoree Anna Lay. Lay was a catalyst for the Phoenix at the top of the lineup recording the highest average on the team and seventh-best in the league hitting .409. Couple that with 45 stolen bases and will continue to be a  threat for Cumberland. She led the conference in stolen bases and had the fifth-highest average and on-base percentage in the league last season. 

Also in the outfield, the Phoenix return Gold Glove center fielder and two-time Second Team All-Mid-South Conference Member Ashley Evans. Evans, a senior from Hillsboro, Tenn.,  posted the second-highest average on the team hitting .336 with eight stolen bases. Evans also drove in 15 runs last year while scoring 32. 

Returning behind the plate is Second Team All-Conference member Abby Chappell. She hit .210 in her freshman season with one home run and 29 RBIs. Chappell also scored 19 runs. Last season, Chappell shut down opposing run games with her arm throwing out nine runners. She is expected to catch and also play in the infield when Brylee Bartley is behind the plate. Bartley caught 18 games for Cumberland last season hitting .302.

The infield will be anchored by shortstop Jacey Hatfield. Hatfiled is a sophomore from Smithville, Tenn. and earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors last season. She has impressed with her glove and range at her position while hitting .282 with 18 RBIs. Kenzie France also returns for her senior campaign. France has played both corner infield positions, but is expected to be primarily at first base. Last season, she hit .306 with two home runs and 22 RBIs. She has notched double-figure doubles in each of the last two seasons. 

Cumberland also returns infielders Abbie Peach, Briana De La Maza, and Sara Brogdon. In the outfield, the Phoenix brought back Gracie Arneman. 

The Phoenix lost their two pitchers from last season, so they expect returners Kaitlin Higgins and Annalee Moore to step into those roles. Higgins made 14 appearances last season starting two games. She threw 27.2 innings with 2-2 record and three saves. Moore made 11 appearances with a 3.94 ERA and 1-0 record last season. Cumberland also brought in Kyia Quigle and Steffani Schrader, both junior transfers from Columbia State. Quigle tossed 88.1 innings in 18 starts and Schrader logged 70.0 innings in 16 starts. 

The Phoenix expect big things from freshman Karsyn France. France comes to Cumberland from Parrish, Florida and will hold down the hot corner this season. France won a state championship her senior season at Parrish Community High School where she helped the Bulls go 69-18 in four seasons. 

Cumberland will open up the season tomorrow at Billy Dee Ross Stadium after weather has already altered the schedule. Conference play will return to four-game series as the Phoenix will have their first conference series on March 15-16 at Campbellsville.