Softball team to host Southern Conference Round Robin

Eastern Florida State College will host the Southern Conference Round Robin this weekend at the Titan Softball Complex.

The round robin will begin Saturday at 10 a.m. with four games scheduled. The host Titans will play Indian River State College to open the day. Then at noon, the Titans will play South Florida State College.

"We are really excited to the conference season started, especially being at home where we are comfortable. There is no advantage like a home field advantage," Eastern Florida State College softball coach Shelby Petik said. "The Southern Conference is one of the stronger conferences in Region VIII, but anybody can win on any given day. Indian River and Miami Dade are traditional powerhouses but if we can go out and play our best ball and they play their best ball, it will be a good weekend."

At 2 p.m. Indian River State College will play Miami Dade College and then at 4 p.m. Miami Dade will play South Florida State College in the final game of the day.

On Sunday the Titans will wrap up the round robin against Miami Dade College at noon.

Eastern Florida State College's Kayla Domon already has 21 stolen bases this season which is tied for fourth in Region VIII. The 21 stolen bases is on pace to be one of the best seasons in Titan history. Mandy Hedetniemi-Taylor already has 48 strikeouts on the season which is tied for ninth in the state.

"We are really going to rely on Trinity (Howard) and Mandy as they have stepped into the starter roles to start the conference season, but we have some good pitchers that can come in and give some different looks as well," Petik said. "We have a couple of hitters that are swinging hot bats and we hope that carries over into conference play."

It is the first time the Titans will host the conference round robin in the past decade. Admission to Titan Softball Complex is free.