BRUNSWICK, Ga. - For the first time since May 16, 2024, the College of Coastal Georgia softball team will be back in action this weekend for their season opener as they travel to Tifton, Ga. for a non conference DH with the Fillies of ABAC. 

SERIES PREVIEW:
Saturday, Feb. 1 - DH beginning at 2:00 p.m.

The Mariners (0-0) come in off another impressive season as they went 39-14 in 2024, winning their third Sun Conference Regular Season title in the process and making it all the way to the Williamsburg bracket finals in the 2024 NAIA Opening Round. 

While success has been the norm for the Mariners since 2021, they will now have to turn to others to replicate their success as CCGA has now lost three of the best players to ever come through the program in the form of Sarah Thinger, Rori Rhodes, and 3x All American Bryce Peacock. 

While firepower has been lost, a ton has returned for the Mariners, including reigning Sun Conference and NFCA Freshman of the Year Finalist Rylee Mills who looks poised for another big run through the conference and perhaps has her eyes set on bringing home the third straight Sun Conference Player of the Year award to Brunswick. Through 118.1 innings pitched last season, Mills compiled a 1.95 ERA and 58 strikeouts while also hitting .368 from the left side of the plate with a team leading 14 doubles. Also returning is Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winner Mackenzie Southerland who will lock down the hot corner once again for head coach Mike Mininck. Sutherland recorded 67 putouts and 70 assists while making just three errors on the season for a fielding percentage of .979, one of the best in the country. 

While the duo of Mills and Southerland look to lead a young team, players such as Emma Jones, Rily Andrews, Alyssa Haggerty and Zoe Johnston-Hadaway all will play a vital role in the success of the Mariners in 2025. 

Nine freshman will make up the remainder of the Mariners healthy lineup as CCGA will need to depend on unproven talent to continue their expected success in the Sun Conference. Kaitlyn Carolino, McKenzie Collins, Rylie Smith, Maddy Lee, Ella Romano and Avery Callaway have all had excellent fall seasons, and could see themselves thrust in a starting role right out of the gate if necessary due to injuries and roster depth. 

This will be the first season for the Fillies (0-0) as a member of the NAIA and the Southern States Athletics Conference. The Fillies are returning all nine starters from a season ago that saw tremendous success as a juco last season. 

First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.