TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The wait is finally over for Indiana State as the Sycamores will open the 2018 season on Friday when they travel to Tennessee for the Chattanooga Challenge.
Or is it? Inclement weather has already forced one round of rescheduling for the tournament and the forecast for Friday (70 percent change of rain) and Saturday (100 percent) looks to wreak havoc on the schedule as it currently stands.
But the Sycamores are optimistic for an early and hot start to the weekend against a field of teams that includes host Chattanooga, Sacred Heart, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech.
Perniciaro Era Begins
When Indiana State opens the 2018 season this coming week at the Chattanooga Challenge, the Michael Perniciaro era will officially begin. Perniciaro, commonly known as "Coach Pooch," was named the head coach of the Sycamores on June 19 and took over the reins of the program from interim head coach
Tori Magner, who remains on staff as an assistant coach.
The VolunTrees
As the 2018 season gets underway this week for Indiana State, the Sycamores will spend the first four weeks of the season playing in (or very close to) the state of Tennessee. Trips to Chattanooga (Feb. 16-18), Nashville (Mar. 2-4) and Memphis (Mar. 9-11) are all in the Volunteer State while the trip to Bowling Green, Kentucky (Feb. 23-25) will take the Trees less than 30 miles from the Tennessee border.
Young Saplings
Maybe they aren't quite Trees yet? Indiana State's 2018 roster features only four upperclassmen - three juniors and one senior. The majority of the 18-member roster includes eight freshmen and six sophomores.
Get In Gher
Last season
Della Gher (pronounced: GEAR) set the school record for saves in a single season (5). Now she sets her sights on the career record. The sophomore hurler needs only one save to tie and two saves to set the Indiana State record for career saves. That record, six, is currently held by Darcy Wood (2005-09).
For the latest information on the Sycamore Softball team, make sure to check out
GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram.