NATCHEZ — Expectations are high this year for the Trinity Episcopal softball team.

With the team a year older and another summer under their belts, Lady Saints head coach Chris Hutchins said he’s been exceptionally pleased with the how his girls have improved.

Trinity will host its opening game against Brookhaven Academy at 7:15 Friday night, and Hutchins said he’s expecting to improve on last year’s 9-9 record.

“The girls have worked hard with a positive attitude,” Hutchins said. “I expect our team to be improved from last year. They’ve worked hard to improve their own performances across the board.”

Hutchins said summer ball has been a consistent theme for his players the last few years, and this year’s summer games helped his girls get better.

“It allowed some bit of familiarity between players and the coaching staff,” Hutchins said.

“More and more schools play together over the summer because it’s so difficult to have organized practices given summer vacations and other activities the kids participate in.”

Two players have stood out to Hutchins so far, he said, in terms of leaderships and high expectations for on-field performance.

“I have to mention our pitcher, Katie Steele,” Hutchins said. “She’s the leader of the team, and she worked extremely hard over the winter to become a better pitcher.

“Her leadership style is simply leadership by example, and she’s done a great job of that. I think she’s been a focal point for Trinity softball for a number of years, and she’s beginning to reap the benefits from hard work as our has improved position by position over time.”

Junior center fielder Randa Morace is also someone Hutchins said he’s expecting big things out of.

“She’s taken a leadership role in the outfield,” Hutchins said. “She embraced that role last year and continued to improve her play. I look for her to be a widely recognized center fielder in our district.”

And speaking of district, Hutchins said he’s embracing Trinity’s move up to the Double-A classification, including the chance to play cross-town rival Adams County Christian School.

“(Moving up) inherently brings larger schools onto your schedule, and so we expect improved district competition,” Hutchins said.

“We’ve won district the last two years, and my goal as coach and the girls’ desire is to do what we can to factor in a district championship again this year.”

As far as ACCS, Hutchins said he thinks it’s fantastic that two schools from the same city can meet each other on the diamond.

“I think when we play them, the games will be extremely close,” he said. “We’re happy for the opportunity.”

Overall, Hutchins said despite losing a few seniors from last year’s squad, he thinks his players will respond well to the challenges this season will present.

“The girls are one year older, and the younger players are stepping up,” Hutchins said. “While we’ll be young, we’ll have softball experience, which has been lacking from Trinity teams over the years.”