Tennessee softball co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly talked about the Lady Vols getting into "Attack Position" Wednesday at Lee Softball Stadium.
The message pertained to batting stances, but the coaches might as well have been talking about their approach to team drills which open Saturday.
"We don't want what happened last year to happen again,'' said 2009 freshman All-American Jessica Spigner, referring to UT's 2-1 upset loss to Jacksonville State in the NCAA Regional Championship. "Fall is when we build what gets us through February, March, April, May and June next season.''
It's telling that Spigner threw in June. It's been two years since UT played in the Women's College World Series.
"We've got a team capable of that, and that is our goal every year,'' Ralph Weekly said. "We have more talent now that we've ever had.''
It always starts in the circle in softball, and sophomore Cat Hosfield is more prepared than ever before.
Hosfield took the summer off from travel ball to focus on conditioning and specific pitching drills.
"My legs are bigger and stronger, and I'm doing a lot more on the weights,'' said Hosfield, who prior to last season hadn't had an injury-free season since her sophomore year of high school. "I've picked up a couple of miles per hour on my fastball, and I'm throwing my other pitches harder, too.''
Perhaps more importantly, Hosfield is locating her pitches after wearing down last season.
Senior All-American catcher Tiffany Huff is another player with a healthier outlook after having surgery in June to repair a torn labrum.
Huff suffered the shoulder injury last fall, but opted for a non-surgical treatment that enabled her to play last season.
"I lost power and accuracy in my throws, and it started to affect me more at the end of last season,'' Huff said. "I'll be cleared by December, so I'll be ready for next season.''
Good thing. UT opens the season in February at an Orlando tournament featuring Michigan, UCLA and Ohio State.
Ralph Weekly said UT should feature a mix of veteran stars and incoming talent.
"We could have as many as four freshmen starting, and we're faster than we've ever been,'' Weekly said. "But right now, all positions are open.''
That's fine with Huff, who said one of the upperclassmen's charges is to "shape the culture" in a competitive manner for the 10 incoming freshmen.
Spigner, projected to start at third in addition to pitching behind Hosfield, said there's a new air in the clubhouse.
"We've got something we're working for, and we're excited to get to it,'' she said. "The hunger and motivation is higher than before ... last year took a lot out of us, and that's not going to happen again.''
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