One of the first things new Lexington softball coach Katelynn Lewis noticed when she arrived in town was the community support.

Lewis, who coached Marietta for three years, was hired in May to lead the Lady Bulldogs’ fast-pitch and slow-pitch teams.

“It’s been a great experience,” she told The Register. “I’ve had nothing but warm welcomes. My parents have been amazing. The parent support I’m amazed by. It’s been amazing to have a community that is so welcoming. Everyone’s willing ... to get the girls whatever they need.”

Lexington graduated seven seniors from a fast-pitch team that finished 22-10 and won regionals last season.

The Lady Bulldogs were eliminated in the super regionals by eventual Class 3A state champ Washington.

Five of those seniors signed to play college softball, leaving Lewis with some holes to fill in her starting lineup.

“We’re replacing a big group,” she said. “I’m piecing where I see fit.”

Lewis, whose team started practicing July 15 and played their first game at Prague on Monday, has inherited “a good mix” of players with the right kind of attitude.

“The girls that I have and that have shown up ... the biggest thing is work ethic,” she said. “They have the work ethic that I’m looking for to build a foundation on.

“Our goal is to improve every day. We want to compete at a high level; we want to win games. But ultimately, we want to play fundamentally sound softball and improve every day.”

Pitching will be a strong suit for the Lady Bulldogs. In Emma Garrett, a left-handed sophomore, Alaysha Hinds, a right-handed freshman, and Marleigh Givens, a right-handed senior, Lewis has three quality arms to throw at opponents.

Garrett is a “spin pitcher” who “moves the ball around.”

“A lot of pitchers either throw for speed and power or throw for movement, and she throws for movement,” Lewis said.

Hinds is a power pitcher who “throws hard.”

“She is a good opposite to Emma,” Lewis said. “They are both different in their own way.”

In Givens, a basketball player cleared to play softball after twice tearing knee ligaments, Lewis has a wildcard who hasn’t pitched since her freshman year.

“If we get Marleigh rehabbed,” Lewis said, “then we have three completely different looks.”

Lexington pitchers will benefit from the addition of assistant coach Tori Miller, a recent South Alabama graduate who pitched for the Jaguars.

“She has been a great asset for me,” Lewis said. “I pitched in high school, but being able to hand my pitchers over to a (Division 1) pitcher to help has been awesome.”

Returning starters Peyton Harmon and Cote Garver are models of consistency, Lewis said.

“She’s really calm and cool and she is a leader by example,” Lewis said of Garver. “She’s a good energy to have on the field.”

Harmon will likely fill the role of all-around utility player.

“She has enough softball IQ that I can throw her just about anywhere and she would know the position,” Lewis said.

Sophomore Charlie Ross, a track team sprinter who hits for power, played first base last season but is expected to catch or play center field for the Lady Bulldogs.

Another player to watch is sophomore Gracie White, a power hitter who is expected to start at shortstop.

“She’s young, but she has the athletic ability and the drive to want to be out there,” Lewis said. “She’s not very big; she has fast hands and she gets around the ball.”

Lexington plays its first home game of the season against Holdenville on Aug. 17.

Lewis’ message to the team during practices has been “not just making a play to make a play but understanding why you’re making that play.”

“That makes for better players,” she said. “Knowing why and what the next play is, not just doing it because I was told.”

Lewis spent the summer building relationships with her players.

“Softball is a game of failure,” she said. “If you’re batting .300 it means you’re failing seven out of 10 times. That’s our big thing right now — understanding the why and the mental side of the game.”