BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State head softball coach Shelly Hoerner along with junior Ally Walters and sophomore Callie Kuykendall addressed the upcoming season at media day for both baseball and softball.
 
App State softball begins their 2018 campaign on Friday, Feb. 9 in the Mercer Invitational in Macon, Ga. The Mountaineers will travel to Montgomery, Ala., and Greensboro, N.C., before returning to Boone for their home opener on March 3.
 
 "The expectation is to bring our 'A' game every single game. We need to play hard. We need to compete," Hoerner said. She touched on the team's "family first" mentality as well: "You have to love one another to play for one another."



Walters, a utility player from Orange City, Fla., played in 42 games during the 2017 season as an outfielder. She batted .237 with three home runs, tied for third best on the team. With only one error out of 39 chances, Walters looks to bring a strong level of defense to the infield this year.
 
In an effort to build culture, each player on the team created a puzzle piece that fits into a larger team puzzle. "My main value was passion, just passing along the game to other people. I also put 'fun' on mine. The game is fun. It has to be fun," Walters said.
 
Kuykendall, a pitcher from Canton, N.C., looks to boost the pitching staff after transferring to App State in the fall. "If I'm determined and I can be a positive influence on my teammates, then that rubs off," Kuykendall said. When asked how the team balances the values of competition and family, Kuykendall responded, "We're all really close. We're the first to cheer each other on, but we know we also have a job to do."
 
For a full schedule of the Mountaineers on the softball field, click here.
 
To watch the full press conference, click here.