Charlotte 49ers softball begins the 2025 season with a mixed bag of emotions as they are riding an American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament Championship in 2024 but now are in a position of transition.
The program is under new leadership, with Head Coach Courtney Breault taking the helm; the Niners will look to rebuild the championship ways of the old regime in this foundation-building season.
Establishing a new culture
Breault and company will be tasked with maintaining what made the previous program championship caliber but will also have to establish the right culture for how she wants the team to be.
“There’s a lot of ways to have success, and we are excited to continue to build and grow what this program can be,” said Breault on the Diamond Niner Gals Podcast.
Using the few returns from last year's team paired with a hefty dose of transfers, it will be up to Breault to mix that into a successful foundation-laying season for Charlotte.
The dynamic 6
After a championship season from the program, very few remnants of last year's team remain as the roster bolsters only six returners from last season, five position players and one pitcher.
“There has definitely been freedom for them,” said Breault on the Diamond Niner Gals Podcast. “I think that those six have done a very good job at stepping right in from the beginning and wanting to lead and wanting to help all of the new faces…That group of six knows how to win and know what it takes to get it done.”
Those six players have the chance to help integrate all the new faces into the program and to establish themselves as critical pieces of the foundation of what the program is moving forward.
Standouts
On the returning circuit, outfielder Olivia Williams stands out as she was a key player last year, playing in 53 games and getting the start in 29 of them. Williams hit .267 (27-101) on the year and proved a problem for opponents on the base paths as she stole a team-high 10 bases on 10 attempts.
On the mound, RHP Brooke Bowling returns to the 49ers. Last season, she made 21 appearances, bolstering a 5-1 record in 43 innings pitched, posting a 4.07 ERA with 35 strikeouts. As Charlotte's only returning pitcher, she has the opportunity to solidify herself as a key member of the pitching staff this season.
Key matchups
The 49ers will take on a plethora of top-tier programs, including hosting former Head Coach Ashley Woodard and the South Carolina Gamecocks. The schedule also includes LSU, UCLA, Liberty, Auburn and Clemson, which is all before the first month of the season ends.
Early test
Charlotte will not have to wait long to test themselves and their depth as they begin the season playing in the Tiger Classic in Baton Rogue, where they will play five games in three days, including two clashes with #10 ranked LSU.
The season starts Friday, Feb. 7, at Noon against Southeastern Louisiana.
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