Softball Opens State Tournament Play at 11 a.m. Friday

Eastern Florida's softball team opens the NJCAA District/FCSAA Tournament at 11 a.m. Friday against Gulf Coast State College at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach.

The Titans, by virtue of their second place finish in the FCSAA Southern Conference – their best in six seasons - are making their 12^th straight tournament appearance under head coach Ed Yanes.

The Titans also finished second in the conference in 2007 going 11-5 with a 35-15 overall record and 2010 going 13-7 with a 29-22 overall mark.

The Titans finished this season 12-8 and 24-28. Gulf Coast finished third in the Panhandle Conference with a 7-9 record. The Commodores finished 31-16 overall.

The tournament is double elimination. The Titans are seeking their first postseason victory since 2011 when they went 2-2.

The players are ready.

"Coming into the state tournament, I think our mind set is going to be back," said sophomore right fielder Sarah Hart of Satellite Beach, Florida and Satellite High. "I think we are going to be able to beat anyone."

All 16 teams competing will be on equal footing.

"Everybody down there, when we get there on Friday, is 0-0," said Titans assistant coach Bob Yanczewski. "Nobody has a record. Everybody has a chance. You've got to play your game. We are going to play our game. We are going to surprise some people."

Sophomore first baseman Hannah Roberts and freshman flex player Karli Smith, both All-Southern Conference first-team picks, have been the big sticks for the Titans.

Roberts leads in hits with 54 and triples with four.

Smith is second in hits with 49. She leads in home runs with six, doubles with 13, extra base hits with 21, total bases with 84, runs batted in with 46, batting average at .374, on base percentage at .453 and slugging percentage at .641.

Lyard leads in runs with 39 and stolen bases with six.

In the pitching circle All-Conference first-team pick sophomore righty Alexa Snyder is 17-15 with a 2.71 earned run average and 129 strikeouts in 186 innings. Smith is 5-7.

Snyder pitched in the Titans final game in the 2015 tournament and learned some lessons.

"Go hard, let the defense work for me," she said. "It was a great experience last year and it's definitely something I'll remember forever."

Sophomore infielder Katie Darrah of Melbourne, Florida and Eau Gallie High also played in last year's tournament.

"We need to play better as a team and have more energy," said Darrah. "The regular season boosted our confidence a lot knowing we can beat the No. 1 team in the state which was Indian River. I think we can beat anybody."

The Titans are ranked 10th in Florida. Also coaching the Titans are Kim Overbey and Cat McDaniel.