New Lady Bobcats head softball coach, Kim Charles, will be taking over the program in the upcoming fall; after former head coach, Eric Tedders, resigned for family considerations.Charles will be in charge for the first time at the high school; however she has been an assistant coach, as well as a traveling coach to many of the girls. Charles does not foresee problems with the girls adjusting to her as the head coach.

“I don’t think it will be a big adjustment. I am excited about the job. I wasn’t expecting the job. I didn’t expect Coach Tedders to resign.”

Charles spoke candidly while assessing the Lady “Cats” capabilities, in addition to what skills she plans to emphasize with her young squad.

“I think our biggest issues will be pitching, and hitting the ball in the gaps. I think we’re going to hit the ball; we’ve just to hit the ball in the holes, and hit the gaps. Our pitchers are all young, with the exception of one, and when I say young, I say sophomore and freshman.”

Charles believes that the team may be “speedier” than last year’s team; however she feels that the team’s hitting, “has got to get stronger.”

Charles inherited a team that brought back six starters, having lost only three senior position players off of last year’s squad. She heads into the upcoming campaign with only three seniors again. Therefore, developing depth on her young pitching staff will be paramount to the team’s success.

“We’re developing the young, because the young is our depth.”

Charles expects some of the young Lady “Cats” to climb the tree from junior varsity to varsity.

“I think our JV will be real strong. Our JV was strong last year. It’s kind of (difficult) knowing which players are going to move up to varsity; and there will be a few of those.”

Charles expects her young team to adapt smoothly to her transition as the head coach, due to a familiarity with the program and the players. She did not shy away from high expectations of her young squad.

“Our goals are, we would like to finish in the top three of the region (top four go to state), and go to state.”

2012 JUL GILMER GHS SBALL Summer Softball Practice and Interview from Fetch on Vimeo.