HARROGATE, Tenn. — It isn't a name being overlooked now.
 
If anything, teams are now circling Lincoln Memorial University when their softball schedules become finalized.
 
And, rightfully so.
 
The Lady Railsplitters, who are ranked No. 13 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 Preseason Coaches Poll, earned such respect following their best season in program history that featured a 38-15 record, South Atlantic Conference championship and Southeast Region finalist nod.
 
"Well, maybe last year, we snuck up on a few people," third-year coach Ritchie Richardson said, "because going into the season, early, we weren't on the NCAA Division II Softball map. And so now after the season that we had, we're pretty firmly entrenched as a good team, one of the top teams and predicted to be first place in our conference, and national rankings and all that stuff."
 
"And so, in my mind, that just serves as incentive for other teams to want to beat you even more and can serve as a feather in their cap if they're able to get a win against a really good team. So, I don't think there'll be any sneaking up on opponents this year. I'm sure that the teams we have down here the first weekend are well-aware of our standing, and we'll probably get their best game, even though it's the first weekend of the season."
 
LMU won't have as quiet of an entrance to this season. Considering over the first three days the Lady Railsplitters have six games on slate, including a top 25 matchup with No. 21 Southern Indiana on Friday, February 7 to open the 2020 campaign at the Dorothy Neely Softball Complex.
 
But, LMU knows that is what comes with achieving what it knew it was capable of a year ago. The only difference is those surrounding know what LMU softball is about, so now the Lady Railsplitters have to use those firsts to create new ones without getting caught up in the fame.
 
"I think for us, the challenge is to not become complacent," Richardson said, "and I know in our practices, we've tried to stress to the players 'Don't get caught reading your own press clippings'. What was accomplished last year was a different team — this is a new team. And with all this news coming out, it's easy for a young team, especially to get the idea that, 'Hey, we're pretty good and all we have to do is show up and we'll win ballgames.'
 
"So, our focus has just been on … It's still about taking care of the process. You still have to play the games, and we've got to do better at taking care of the process this year than we were last year to be successful."
 
Pitchers
 
Not many teams can say they made it to the NCAA Super Regional —at the Division I or II level— and bring back every pitcher from that season with 17 starts or more the following year.
 
The Lady Railsplitters can.
 
"Our pitching is part of being better at the process than last year," Richardson said. "The three girls, Bailey, Faith, and Justice were outstanding, and our national ranking especially, largely was determined on the fact that we're bringing back three pitchers."
 
Of the returners, senior Justice Smith's 76 strikeouts, 3.41 ERA and 11-2 record paced the group, while Griffith had a team-high four saves over a best 131.1 innings pitched and Howe had an 11-4 record over 97 innings pitched.
 
Add the three — Smith, Griffith and Howe — plus newcomer Emma Frost and you get a four-headed tandem that will be a force to reckon with.
 
"It's a talented group," Richardson said. "Emma Frost certainly will help us on the mound. We've got a deep pitching staff. I think of our pitching staff as maybe not having a 1-2-3-4, but having four girls who could go out there on any given day and win a ballgame for you, so [Frost] just adds to the good depth that we already had."
 
 
Catchers
 
Paired with the loaded pitching staff is a one-two punch behind the plate.
 
Arguably the most productive of the returnees at the catchers' position is the youngest of the duo, sophomore McKenzie Henry. A native of Louisville, Tennessee, Henry excelled in her debut campaign for LMU, most notably with the bat in her hands. Starting and playing in all but one game in 2019, Henry recorded the most home runs on the entire roster with 13 in total, placing her in a five-way tie for fifth place in school history across a single season. Tallying 54 RBI and 27 walks while posting a .608 slugging percentage next to a .993 fielding clip, Henry landed a spot on the All-SAC Honorable Mention squad for her efforts.
 
"There may not be a better catcher in the conference, or maybe in the country, and I've seen some good ones out there," Richardson said "but she certainly, in my mind, ranks up there with the very best. McKenzie is outstanding."
 
Rounding out Lincoln Memorial's catching lineup is junior Audrey Petoskey, a native of Highland, Michigan, who could potentially have a breakout season in the designated player role when she isn't catching behind the plate. Building upon a consistent freshman season, Petoskey started 20 games a year ago, putting up 16 hits, 17 RBI, a pair of homers, and a .302 batting average.
 
"Audrey has some of the best power I've coached in over 20 years," Richardson said, "and this year, she's really put it together. I'm excited. I feel like she can catch a number of games for us this year."
 
Infield
 
Representing all three of the Lady Railsplitters' pre-season All-South Atlantic Conference selections, LMU's infield lineup projects to be one of the best in the Southeast Region.
 
This is due in part to perhaps one of the greatest softball players in school history, senior second baseman Ty-Kella Goins. A three-time All-SAC first team honoree, Goins has worked her way into a number of record books for Lincoln Memorial, becoming the third player in program history to achieve a D2CCA All-America selection in 2019. Starting all 53 games a year ago, Goins led the way in nearly every offensive category for the Lady Railsplitters, including hits (69), runs scored (52), slugging percentage (.654), and leading the nation in doubles with 24.
 
Posting a .385 batting average, 37 RBI, and six home runs, the second baseman landed 22 multi-hit games a season ago, and was just as stout defensively. Landing a remarkable .990 fielding percentage in 121 putouts, Goins enters 2020 searching for an All-SAC-caliber performance for the fourth consecutive year, as one of the best at her position in NCAA Division II.
 
Lining up right next to Goins at shortstop in every game a year ago was freshman sensation Sierra Hucklebee, who gained the SAC Freshman of the Year award along with an Honorable Mention plaudit for her highly consistent play. Recording a .341 batting average on a .604 slugging percentage, Hucklebee powered in 56 hits, 16 of which were doubles, three of which were triples, and seven of which were home runs. With 39 total RBI, the Knoxville native went a perfect 10-for-10 on the base pads and brings in high expectations for her upcoming sophomore stint.
 
"I don't know if there's a better middle infield in the country in Division II softball than Kella and Sierra," Richardson said. "They get almost everything you hit at them defensively, and they're outstanding at the plate as well. They set the temp in a lot of ways for our program."
 
With one of the biggest transitions from '19 to '20, junior infielder Emma Webb will make the jump from third to first baseman this season after receiving All-SAC second team honors last spring.
 
Leading the Lady Railsplitters on a fierce .390 batting average, Webb's 64 hits ranked second on the entire squad. Scoring 36 runs while accounting for 15 doubles, Webb started every game last season and has received pre-season All-SAC second team recognition alongside Hucklebee.
 
"Emma can play anywhere you want to put her," Richardson said, "and this year, we're moving her from third to first base to make room for others on the roster who are also developing. As an All-Conference performer a year ago, we certainly trust her to make that transition to first base."
 
As a vastly-experienced freshman in 2019, Knoxville product Kelsie Tuggle is projected to receive a significant boost in playing time, appearing in 30 games a year ago. Notching 11 hits in her debut season with Lincoln Memorial, Tuggle grabbed three doubles and a home run while picking up 11 RBI. The now-sophomore plans to split time at third base alongside fellow classmate Tori Voiles, a product of Rogersville, Tennessee. While Voiles only appeared in four games last season, she connected on three hits in just seven at-bats, scoring a run on three RBI.
 
"Kelsie and Tori are two players that I think have really developed over the offseason, and I think you'll see a lot of them both at third base this year," he said.
 
Junior Elise Bruce and sophomore Victoria Mounce finish up the infield unit for the Lady Railsplitters, who despite not seeing the field much in 2019, have made great strides over the fall and should see more playing time this go-around.
 
"Elise is another player who can probably play for anybody in the country defensively," Richardson said. "She can be very productive. Victoria was a starter in scrimmage games and was fantastic for us. She's come a long way and now all of a sudden, you feel pretty confident in putting any of those infielders in any game as the season goes along."
 
Outfield
 
The Lady Railsplitters have a problem in the outfield, but it's one every coach would love to have as Richardson has seven players who could all start day one.
 
With five returners and two newcomers, LMU has options everywhere it looks.
 
"As probably the deepest part of our roster, the outfield will be extremely tough to determine who will play on any given day," Richardson said, "due to the level of competition in practice. They're all ball hawks in the outfield, and I have the prospect of potentially having the best outfield I've ever had the opportunity to coach."
 
The first returner Bella Buccellato, who played a large role in centerfield as a sophomore in 2019, started in 37 of 48 games played, becoming the new single-season program record holder in the hit-by-pitch category as she gained 17 free bases as a result next to eight walks. With a .962 fielding percentage, 22 hits, 12 RBI, eight doubles, and her first career home run, the Wake Forest, North Carolina, product is poised to make another leap into 2020.
 
At the center of all Richardson's preseason praise is junior Grace Cochran, who performed well enough to land an All-SAC Honorable Mention spot in 2019. Playing in all but one of LMU's games last spring, Cochran connected on 41 hits, 13 of which were doubles, on 20 RBI and 32 runs brought home. The Grimesland, North Carolina, native also placed first on the team with 28 walks on a .318 batting average after playing her freshman season in the infield.
 
As one of only three seniors on the entire squad, next to Goins and Smith, Savannah Daniel should see improved playing time in the outfield, as well. Starting 13 of 35 games last spring, Daniel possessed a .361 batting average with 13 hits, 21 runs scored, six RBI, and a pair of doubles. The Chattanooga native was called upon multiple times down the stretch of 2019, stealing a perfect nine bases and proving herself towards a potentially more prominent role a year later.
 
Coach Richardson has also been high on sophomores Sami West and Kelsey Hoskins in the outfield, with preseason practices and scrimmages serving as a testament to their improvement. West made six appearance last season and rained in three hits, one of them being a triple, and collected a pair of walks in eight at-bats.
 
Hoskins, meanwhile, didn't make an appearance in '19, but will have the opportunity to change that in 2020 as both her and West should get looks at the designated player role in the lineup.
 
Lastly, Lincoln Memorial brings in two freshman outfielders to their already-impressive array of talent at that position. According to Richardson, Madison Henry, sister of McKenzie, has the potential to start in the outfield come the start of the season. Guiding William Blount High School to a 35-8 overall record while being named to All-District, All-Tournament, and All-State teams as a junior, Henry will be primed for significant minutes in her LMU debut.
 
Alongside Henry in the outfield is fellow freshman Laken Phillips, hailing from Morristown, Tennessee. As a three-time All-Tournament and two-time All-Conference high school performer, Phillips will have a chance sooner rather than later to see her first plays in the blue and gray.
 
"I wouldn't feel skeptical at all about putting any one of our players out there in our outfield," Richardson said. "With Grace, Bella, Savannah, Sami, and Kelsey you have five quality players right there. Then, you add the potential that both Laken and Madison bring to the table, and it will be hard to figure out the perfect lineup between that group. But it's nonetheless a good problem to have."
 
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms —@LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram — for more LMU softball coverage.