DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Softball opens the 2019 season as part of the First Pitch Classic hosted by Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. The three-day tournament runs Friday, Feb. 8 through Sunday, Feb. 10.
 
Laura Watten is once again set to lead the Wildcats into the season, as the Maroon and Gold enter 2019 as the defending champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). For the Cats, it was the first of its kind for BCU since 2012. The BCU Athletics Hall of Fame coach enters the campaign just three (3) wins away from her 700th career victory as a collegiate head coach.
 
Bethune-Cookman opens the First Pitch Classic against Indiana on Friday, Feb. 8, at 11:15 a.m. That's followed by a meeting with Virginia at 1:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Wildcats once again play two contests, beginning with Georgia at 11:15 a.m., and followed by a 1:30 p.m. game against St. John's. The final game of the weekend for BCU comes against the host Owls of FAU on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 1:30 p.m.
 
All games will have live stats available here. You can also purchase a subscription to view the games here.
 
The Cats come into the year with all four pitchers back from a season ago. Alexis Bermudez, the 2019 MEAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year, is back in the pitcher's circle for the Wildcats, as well as junior hurler Destiny Enriquez (Norwalk, Calif.), sophomore Victoria Guzman (San Jose, Calif.) and junior Mariah Estrada (Palm Desert, Calif.).
 
Gone from last year's team is All-America performer Ryan Jackson, who transferred to the University of Arkansas. However, senior outfielder Cheyenne Smith (Lake Elsinore, Calif.), as well as senior all-conference second baseman Brianna Sanders (San Marcos, Calif.). All-MEAC shortstop Jacki Smith (Burlington, Wash.) returns to the infield that is solid all-around, despite losing seniors Iesha Waters and Bryanna Campos – who now serves as the Director of Operations for the softball program.
 
The catcher position may have lost two players, but that allows sophomore Kayla Traylor (Riverside, Calif.) to suit up fulltime behind the dish as the expected starter in that position.
 
New assistant coach Kelley Montalvo joins the staff from Barry University in her hometown of Miami. And it's assistant coach Shaelynn Braxton returning for her second year with the program to round out the coaching staff under the legendary guise of Watten.
 
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