No matter what, Andalusia softball coach Marcus Taylor wants only one thing from his team this season — to give 100 percent.

“That’s probably the biggest expectation is to continue to get better as the season goes on,” he said.

Last year, the Lady Bulldogs finished their season at the Class 4A South Regional tournament in Gulf Shores with an 18-18 record.

Taylor said his approach to the game will change as the season progresses.

“It depends on what the situation dictates,” he said. “No matter what the situation dictates, we’re going to give 100 percent and we’re going to hustle everywhere we go. We’re going to do the little things right. However, there are several things you can’t control in softball or in any sport — but you can control the hustle and effort that’s being given.”

Right now, there are two players that are set in stone in where they are going to play —junior Paige Caraway at pitcher and junior A.C. Riley at catcher.

“Everybody else will have to play everywhere else,” Taylor said. “There will be a lot of girls that will play in different positions until we find the right fit for everybody.”

Taylor said practices have gone well so far and that some girls have impressed him as the first-year Andalusia coach.

“Right now, I’ve been very happy with how we’ve competed,” he said about practice. “Some girls have surprised me.”

This year, the Lady Bulldogs will be in Class 4A, Area 3 with Clarke County, Hillcrest-Evergreen and Thomasville.

Besides those three area teams, Andalusia will be facing the other five teams from Covington County as well, namely Straughn, Red Level, Opp, Florala and Pleasant Home.

“Without a doubt, the area games are the most important,” Taylor said. “The good thing with our schedule this year is that we’re playing a lot of teams from around here.”

Andalusia’s first game is next Tues., Feb. 16 on the road in Red Level. The game will start with the junior varsity team at 4 p.m.