Over the past four years of winning seasons, the softball team has high expectations for their new coach.

“So far, I love Coach Long, he’s just a great guy; he’s young but it’s all a learning experience for everybody, but I think just coming into the program he has done really well,” said senior Diane Perish.

“I think he is different, but it’s a good different; it’s good to have a change,” said senior Micah Webb.

Coach Long, coming from Dezark high school, is excited about the change in schools.

“Takes some getting used to: The girls getting used to me, me getting used to the girls; the girls are the same, they don’t change from school to school. I see a lot more talent here, a lot more potential, a lot more to build on,” said Coach Long.

With the new coach, this team has positive expectations on how this season is going to go.

“I think were going to do great, because we have all of our returning varsity members and we have some good additions in the freshman class,” said Webb.

The first game of the season was pretty good, according to Perish.

“We started our first game 11-1 and we run ruled them in the 6th or 5th inning, so I mean thats pretty good to start off the season, but we got Beebe on Monday, never know how its going to go,” she said.

Long is looking forward conference championship and eventually bigger goals.

“Hope it goes great, but we are taking it one game at a time right now and focusing on the next game ahead,” said Long.

Coach Long will go on to do many great things for this team.