Southern Utah and Portland State might not sound like traditional softball powerhouses, but don't be fooled.
Ohio starts its season tonight in Tempe, Ariz., in the Kajikawa Classic against the two schools from the northwest. Both are powers in their respective conferences.
Portland State is the reigning champion of the Pacific Coast Conference, while Southern Utah has won four of the last six Summit League (formerly the Mid-Continent Conference) championships.
A major reason for Southern Utah's recent success is Ohio coach Jodi Hermanek, who led the Thunderbirds to two of those conference titles in four seasons as head coach before coming to Athens last season.
It's going to be interesting (facing my former team)
especially as the first game right out of the box said Hermanek. Every game on our schedule is of value and extreme importance to us but facing my former assistant coach and some players I recruited makes my competitive fire burn a little bit more.
Tonight's competition is a tough way to start off the season, but the Bobcats have been gearing up since school started in September.
In addition to playing seven offseason games in the fall, they have been working out and practicing in The Convo, Peden Stadium and on the tennis courts, as well as hitting in the indoor batting cages.
It was an extremely successful offseason for us
Hermanek said. The girls have been working extremely hard for way too many months to get to this point.
Entering her second season as Ohio coach, Hermanek said that not having the steep learning curve that comes with having a new coach has helped the team's workouts tremendously this offseason.
Our progress has been in acceleration mode since our first practice
Hermanek said. We picked up exactly where we left off last spring
and it just makes us more prepared and confident in the game that we have.
After finishing sixth in the Mid-American Conference last season, the Bobcats enter the season as the preseason pick to finish third out of six in the MAC East. Some teams might use the poll as a motivational tool, but the Bobcats have taken their middle-of-the-road ranking with a grain of salt.
We've got our own impression of how we think we're going to do
and I never really pay attention (to the polls)
said junior pitcher/outfielder Melissa Bonner. I just have my own feelings
and I think we're going to do well.
Hermanek also said she uses preseason poll as more of a guide about what other coaches think of her team.
You take it a little bit into account
but nothing over-extreme
she said. Honestly
