CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri's softball team opens its season with three games at the Jackson State Tournament this weekend.

Southeast faces Tennessee State and Jarvis Christian College Saturday, and host Jackson State Sunday.

The Redhawks play their first 29 games of the 2017 campaign outside of Cape Girardeau.

2017 Southeast Missouri Season Outlook

Southeast Missouri head coach Mark Redburn enters the upcoming 2017 season with his largest roster.

Southeast returns five position starters and four pitchers from a team that went 16-33 overall and finished 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 10-17 mark. The Redhawks welcome 11 newcomers, including a pair of Division I transfers, giving Redburn his deepest squad since he took over the Southeast helm.

"We have a lot of depth," said Redburn. "First and foremost, this is a fun group to be around. They are full of energy, enjoy playing this game, they're smart, intelligent and pick up on things very quickly. I'm really excited about the season."

Southeast lost 13 one-run games a year ago. Offensively, the 2016 Redhawks placed themselves among the top-10 teams in school history in doubles (6th, 69), stolen bases (3rd, 58), walks (8th, 138), home runs (6th, 35) and slugging percentage (.412). Three of Southeast's top four hitters return for this season.

"I feel confident with the players returning and the people that can play behind them," said Redburn. "We want to play well and it's going to be a battle. Everybody is looking to improve and we want to be in a top-four finish in our conference. I believe we have the tools in place to do that."

Here is a breakdown of the 2017 Redhawks:

Catcher
Juniors Riley Hayes (Jefferson City, Mo.) and Abby Tillotson (O'Fallon, Mo.) will share the bulk of the work behind the plate this season.

Hayes played in 37 games and made 33 starts, hitting .289 with eight runs scored, five doubles, two home runs and 12 RBIs a year ago. She missed the last 10 games of season with a concussion. Hayes did not play this past fall as a precautionary measure.

"We're looking forward to Riley being back there this year," commented Redburn. "She is ready to go."

In Hayes' absence, Tillotson was able to get a lot of reps. One of two players to hit over .300, Tillotson saw action in 30 games and logged 23 starts. She hit .339 with five runs scored, four doubles and seven RBIs.

"Abby did a good job filling Riley's place and gained some valuable experience in the process," added Redburn.

Freshman Rachael Donald (Dupo, Ill.) completes the catchers. Donald was a Second-Team All-Metro selection at Dupo High School. She hit .489 with two home runs and 41 RBIs as a senior, helping lead Dupo to the 2A championship game.

Infield
Southeast lost two starters on the infield, but is in good shape with a strong blend of returnees and newcomers.

Junior Darby Pruett (Corning, Ark.) takes over at third base after starting 31 of 41 games last season. Pruett hit .271 with 12 runs scored and ranked third on the team with four home runs. She should be the Redhawks every day starter at the hot corner.

"Darby will probably be a power hitter and has had a couple of years to get experience at third base," said Redburn.

Pruett played behind Haylee Krack, who led the Redhawks with eight home runs as Southeast's starting third baseman last season.

Back at shortstop is sophomore Sarah Messex (Sullivan, Mo.), who played that position for the first time in her rookie campaign a year ago.

Messex was one of two players to start all 49 games, notching 46 starts at short. She hit .200 and collected 23 hits, 15 runs scored, four doubles, a home run, 15 RBIs and seven stolen bases as a freshman.

"Sarah adapted well to playing a position she had never played before," said Redburn. "This year, I am hoping the offense comes around for her now that she has the defense down."

The right side of the infield features two new faces in sophomore Parker Bandy (Springfield, Ill.) and freshman Ashley Ellis (Arnold, Mo.).

Bandy, who will be at second base, comes to Southeast from a seasoned Illinois State softball program.

She appeared in 19 games and made three starts as a freshman for the Missouri Valley Conference Redbirds in 2016. Bandy was a part of three conference championship teams and earned All-State honors in multiple seasons as a prep at Glenwood High School.

"Parker brings a lot of experience after playing in a great program at Illinois State," quoted Redburn. "It will be nice to see how she develops at Southeast in the next couple years."

Meanwhile, Ellis prepares to make her debut as Southeast's starting first baseman.

Ellis was the Suburban West Conference Player of the Year at Fox High School. She started all four of her prep seasons and hit .453 with 16 home runs and 56 RBIs as a senior.

"Ashley has great hands at first base, moves really well and plays smart," said Redburn. "On top of that, she is strong at the plate. I think she will have a phenomenal career at Southeast."

Sophomore Mackenzie Long (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and freshmen Madison Harris (Imperial, Mo.) and Addison Barnouski (O'Fallon, Ill.) are others who may see playing time on the infield.

Long returns after seeing limited action in 2016. She started two games at second base and finished with two hits and two runs scored in just 15 at-bats.

Harris was a First-Team Class 3A All-State, All-Conference, All-Region and All-District pick at Windsor High School. She was a four-year starter who hit .510 with 42 runs scored, 10 doubles and seven home runs as a senior.

Barnouski, who is expected to pitch for the Redhawks as well, was a First-Team All-Metro honoree at O'Fallon Township High School. She ended her high school career with a .514 batting average, five home runs and 34 RBIs.

"Addison will likely play third base and be in the designated player role when not pitching," said Redburn.

Outfield
Southeast's top hitter in junior Claire Wernig (Imperial, Mo.) shifts to left field this season.

Wernig started every game and played primarily in right field during the 2016 campaign.

She owned a .320 batting average, the highest of any starter. Wernig led the Redhawks in hits (54), runs (32) and ranked second in doubles (9) and stolen bases (13). She was the team's second-leading hitter in conference play with a .309 clip.

"We moved Claire to left field because we felt like it was a better fit for her," Redburn said. "It's been an adjustment, but she's still steady as always at the plate."

Newcomers Mykaela Arellanes (Foristell, Mo.) and Rachel Anderson (Edwardsville, Ill.) fill out the outfield.

Arellanes, who debuts in right field, played in 20 games and made two starts as a freshman at Mid-American Conference member Northern Illinois last season. She had one hit, scored three runs and posted one RBI for the Huskies. Arellanes was a three-time All-Conference, All-Region, All-District and All-State honoree at Holt High School prior to enrolling at NIU.

"Mykaela adds some speed for us and hits from the left side of the plate," said Redburn. "She will likely be at the top of the lineup and has some pop in her bat."

Anderson is projected to be Southeast's starting center fielder.

She was named the St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro Spring Softball Player of the Year at Edwardsville High School. Anderson hit .543 with a .922 slugging percentage and set new school records in runs scored (52) and triples (9) during her outstanding prep career.

"You would never know Rachel is a freshman based on how she plays out there and how aggressive she is," said Redburn. "She runs well and will probably hit in the No. 2 spot for us. Rachel, too, hits from the left side and is a great weapon to have at the top of the lineup."

Senior Nicole Deering (Nashville, Ill.), sophomore Brittany Stevens (St. Louis, Mo.) and freshmen Randi Dae Conway (Morganfield, Ky.), Claudia Gallo (Arnold, Mo.) and Brooke Rheinecker (St. Louis, Mo.) widen the outfield depth.

Deering participated in 40 games and made 11 starts in left field a year ago.

Stevens started 43 games as a freshman, hitting .235 with 15 runs scored, 28 hits, seven doubles, two triples, three home runs, 17 RBIs and seven stolen bases. She led the team in triples and tied for third in doubles.

Conway joins the Redhawks from Union County High School. She was part of multiple district championship teams and hit over .450 in her career as a four-year starter.

Gallo attended Fox High School, earning All-Conference, All-District and All-State accolades.

A four-year starter at Lindbergh High School, Rheinecker hit .536 with 35 stolen bases en route to First-Team All-State and All-Region honors her senior season.
    
Pitching
This year's pitching is extremely deep and will be led by the Redhawks top two returning starters.

Junior Madeline Krumrey (Wildwood, Mo.) and sophomore Haley Thogmartin (St. Louis, Mo.) are back as Southeast's one-two punch inside the circle.

Krumrey led the Redhawks in appearances (30), starts (24), complete games (6), saves (2), innings pitched (138.1) and strikeouts (86) last season. She threw five of her complete games in league play. Krumrey enters her third year as the team's No. 1 starter.

"Madeline will again lead the staff," said Redburn. "She kind of had to go through the fire her first couple years. Now, she has some offense and a pretty strong steady defense behind her. I look for her to have a big year."

Thogmartin pitched in 25 games and started 18 as a freshman. She led the Redhawks with nine victories and ranked second on the team in complete games (5), strikeouts (51), and innings (96.2).

"Haley has really come on as our No. 2 pitcher," quoted Redburn. "She will again give us a lot of quality innings."

Senior left-hander Mackenzie Hoelting (Winfield, Mo.) and fellow senior Aubrey Denno (North Newton, Kan.) also return.

Hoelting made 24 appearances and four starts inside the circle in her first year with the Redhawks in 2016.

"Mackenzie has a year under her belt and gives us a different look," added Redburn.

Denno worked 20 innings in 15 games and one start. She made all but one of her appearances in relief.

Alexis Estes (Lane, Ill.), the latest addition to Southeast's pitching staff, transferred from Lincoln Land Community College. A graduate of Clinton High School, Estes helped lead her team to back-to-back Central Illinois Conference titles.

Barnouski rounds out the pitchers. She fashioned a 17-3 record with 170 strikeouts in 134 innings as a senior at O'Fallon Township High School.