OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 4, 2016) – Make sure to take a roster with you when preparing to watch Oklahoma Christian's softball team in 2016. Odds are you'll probably need it.

Nine of the 17 players on the squad that will begin its season Friday against Missouri Southern in the Southeastern Regional Invitational in Durant are new to OC, and a handful of the eight returning players are changing positions. With an expanded roster, it's also quite possible positional platoons will be used and frequent position changes could be employed during games.

The Lady Eagles certainly will have a new look, but one thing longtime coach Tom Heath expects is that they will continue the program's tradition of success, even if it comes in fits and starts at first.

"These freshmen have brought a lot of energy to this team," Heath said. "It will be a fun team to watch."

The biggest change could be in the pitching circle. Shea Coats, the record-setting anchor of the OC staff the past two seasons, transferred to NCAA Division I Oklahoma State, so pitching coach Steve Gault – who has been with Heath since year one of the OC program – will use a more of a committee approach this season.

Sophomore Madison Nordyke (7-5, 3.98 ERA) now is the veteran of the staff, as another pitcher from last season, junior Haley Squier, now will focus strictly on her outfield duties. Nordyke showed consistent improvement throughout her freshman season and is ready to step into a larger role, Gault said.

Three freshmen will round out the staff. Left-hander Madison Hagood can throw 65 mph and has added a changeup to the fastball she developed while starring at a small Texas high school. Kelsie Upton, a transfer from Northern Oklahoma-Enid, gained a bit of junior-college experience in the fall before arriving at OC, while Kayla Eichler comes from the same Edmond Memorial program that produced Squier.

"They are all different," Gault said. "When we change pitchers, the hitters are going to see something completely different than what they had seen. We will probably have games in which we use all four pitchers."

OC is blessed with plenty of experience at catcher. Junior Niki Davidson (.264, 4 HR, 32 RBIs) – an All-Heartland Conference selection as a freshman – and senior Kelsie Finch (.208, 2 HR, 22 RBIs) split time there last season and both will play a lot this season.

Freshman Kirsten Scott gives the Lady Eagles a third option. Sophomore Michaela Brown also can catch and often will serve an important role as OC's bullpen catcher, Gault said.

Junior Jordan Chism (.261, 4 HR, 29 RBIs), last season's starting third baseman, will move across the diamond to play at first base, while sophomore Sheridan Bond (.244, 19 RBIs) established herself as the Lady Eagles' second baseman last season.

After six seasons of having an experienced shortstop – thanks to Davee Croy, then Kendra Pierce – the Lady Eagles will break in a freshman at the position this season, as Lacey Davison and Bridget White will see the majority of the action at that important defensive spot. White will also see lots of time at third base, with Scott also in the mix.

Squier, a second-team All-South Central Region selection last season after hitting .346 with one home run and 36 RBIs, will move from right field to left field. Speedy freshman Avery Walker will be the primary center fielder, with White also capable of helping in that spot. Freshman Alexus Vanlandingham will start in right field, but the versatile Finch and Eichler (when she's not pitching) also could play there.

Unlike last season, OC figures to have a smorgasbord of available pinch hitters when one is needed. Nordyke (.296, 2 HR, 26 RBIs), Niki Davidson, Upton, freshman Jourdan Bruce, Finch, Scott and Eichler all are potential designated player possibilities when they aren't playing a field position. Sophomore Veronica Cassel also is capable when called upon, particularly as a pinch-runner.

Coming off a 33-21 season in which OC took series from both of the Heartland Conference's co-champions, St. Mary's (Texas) and Lubbock Christian (Texas), the Lady Eagles were picked fifth in the Heartland Conference preseason poll. That was fine by Heath, even though he fully expects his team is capable of contending for the league crown.

"Undersell and overperform has always been a good philosophy," Heath said. "There will be games we look great and, especially early on, some games when we could struggle. This is a team that just needs experience and that comes with playing the game."