Reigning OVC Champs ready to kick off season with opener in Louisiana

The Southeast softball team is taking advantage of the nice weather to compete in Louisiana this weekend. The season begins Feb. 11 with a four-game series against Alabama A&M, Southern and Nicholls.

With a number of players stepping up last season, head coach Mark Redburn has been impressed with what he's seen this offseason.

“This offseason, we seemed to be better prepared than what I expected,” Redburn said. “We have a young team with new transfers and sophomores who've seen a lot of action. I’m pretty happy for the opener; we’ve been going at it, and we’re just ready to get outside and compete.”

Despite the fact his team is young, coach Redburn maintains the same high standards and has the same high expectations for his players.

“We are competitors, and we want to feel and work to the level towards a championship,” Redburn said. “We want to make the tournament, conference, regionals and so on.”

Senior pitcher Rachel Rook and outfielder Kaylee Anderson are living examples of Redburn’s expectations. Not only are they leaders on the team, both are striving to make their final year as a Redhawk their best yet.

“This program has been built to a champion level, and those are our expectations,” Rook said. “We hold ourselves to a higher standard, and I believe that is what makes us successful.”

Rook is confident with what she has seen and is ready to take the field with her teammates.

“We have a pretty young team compared to my first few years here. We have a lot of talent with that, too,” Rook said. “I think we can find a groove early on, and us upperclassmen have a lot of experience in a lot of roles and situations to help newer players grow and develop their game.”

Not only is Rook a leader on the diamond, she is a dominant pitcher who previously won the 2021 OVC Pitcher of the Year Award.

“I’m very grateful for the award. It’s a reflection of the work that I have put in for myself, but it’s also a reflection of the support I’ve received here at Semo,” Rook said. “My teammates and coaches have been behind me every step of the way, and I can't express my appreciation for them enough.”

Outfielder Kaylee Anderson believes her leadership is an asset to the team.

“Being a fifth-year senior, I have a lot of different experiences within our program. I’m always willing to share as much as I can with my teammates as we navigate through the season,” Anderson said.

Anderson is confident in this team and believes they will accomplish great things this season.

“All we have talked about since day one is winning another ring and moving on to the postseason,” Anderson said. “I know we are all excited to get out and finally play after these three and a half weeks of practicing. This is where all of our hard work from fall and winter gets to play out.”

The Redhawks will begin their 56 regular season game schedule with a four-game series Friday against Alabama A&M at 1 p.m.