This season may be challenge for the Lurleen B. Wallace Community College Lady Saints softball team, but head coach Tommy McDaniel is confident his team will be just fine.

The Lady Saints are coming off a 24-14, 2009 season and have three returning players from last year’s squad in sophomores Kasee Carter, Jasmine Simmons and Jaleah Ramsey.

Despite the heavy freshmen presence on the team, McDaniel said his team is made up of a lot of “talented” players.

“I think this year is going to be a challenge for us,” he said. “I think we’ve got a talented group of ladies, but at the same time, we’re young.

“So, how fast they mature and how fast they can play at the speed of the college level will determine how successful we are.”

McDaniel said he has a good idea of who is playing where on the field.

“Luckily, we’ve got some depth and nothing is set in stone,” he said.

This season, the Lady Saints will be relying on three freshman pitchers in Candace Guy of Bay Minette, Colby Holmes of Tallahassee, Fla. and Kayla Beth Logsdon of Enterprise.

“Our pitching has really gotten better since the fall,” McDaniel said. “We have three freshmen pitchers who we’re counting on. So, I’m very confident they can get the job done this year.”

As far as what the important games are this season, McDaniel said finishing at .500 is key for the team.

“We don’t have a conference and nothing is life or death,” he said. “We’ve got to play one game at a time and finish with a .500 record.”

In comparison to the last two seasons, McDaniel said he needs to be more “patient” with the experience of his players.

“I think being more patient knowing we’re going to start seven to eight freshmen every game is a key,” he said. “I hope like heck they catch on quick.”

Since the beginning of January, the Lady Saints have hit the weight room and practice field to get ready for their first game at the Darton Tournament in Albany, Ga. on Feb. 5-6.

“Practice has gone well,” McDaniel said. “ We’ve had some sickness, but with the shape the team is in, I’m very pleased where we are now.”