NATCHEZ — When the Cathedral Green Wave found out they were officially becoming a part of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools, the softball team quickly realized their backs were up against the wall.

“Softball had already started, and that was my biggest concern,” Cathedral softball coach Gary Blackwell said. “Another main thing was I wanted to make sure we would be eligible for the playoffs and such.”

The Lady Wave are coming off a season where they reached the state semifinals, and Blackwell said he expects his team to still be competitive even in a different association and with little time to practice.

“We’ve got some younger players that are very athletic and have gotten bigger and stronger this year,” he said. “They are going to be able to step up.”

Blackwell said he already has 15 games scheduled for Cathedral and plans to get the team in multiple tournaments.

A big bump in the road, though, is the fact softball season is switching to fall instead of spring, stretching some players thin who participate in other sports.

For Abby Brown, the test will be a tough one.

“I’m cheering, running cross country, playing soccer and softball,” she said. “It is going to be hard, but the softball coaches said if you can just make one or two practices a week that it will be good.”

Blackwell said he realizes that the first season will be a transition that will take some getting used to.

“It is one thing that we are worried about,” he said. “All the coaches have come together and we know we are going to have to work together and that it is going to be give and take. It may come down to a game or two where we don’t have everybody. We have to work together and hopefully it can work out.”

One plus for the Lady Wave, however, is some team members are coming right out of summer league play, thus have stayed in playing shape.

“That’ll be a plus for sure,” Blackwell said. “We just have to get the mix together and find out what our chemistry will be and who is playing well.”

For junior pitcher Elizabeth Smith, she sees her summer league experience as one that will definitely play an advantage.

“We won’t be as tired and we’ll have more ‘umph’ in us just to get out there and play,” she said.

Cathedral begins their season August 11 at home against district foe Brookhaven Academy. Other members of the Lady Wave’s new district include Simpson Academy, Adams County Christian School and Columbia Academy.