COVINGTON, Ga. — For the Alcovy High School softball team, the 2020 season will be about establishing a new identity.

Head coach Miranda Lamb bid farewell to six seniors from last year’s squad. Now, with just three girls who’ve seen playing time at the varsity level set to return, Lamb will be looking to remain competitive on the diamond while also preparing her team for success down the line.

“I let the girls know up front, ‘If you listen to me this year — if you will listen to me, do what I ask, do the little things right — it will pay off for us,’” Lamb said. “Will that be this year? I’m not sure yet. Could that be next year? I hope.”

The Lady Tigers are coming off a season in which they posted an 11-14 mark and went 2-8 in Region 3-AAAAAA play before being promptly swept out of the region tournament by Heritage High School.

Lamb understands that a lack of varsity experience could hinder her club this coming season, but she isn’t ready to hide behind that excuse. She isn’t satisfied with the way Alcovy closed out the 2019 campaign. After failing to qualify for last year’s state tournament in Columbus with a senior-laden squad, her yearning for a shot at the postseason is stronger than ever before.

“I was upset that we didn’t make it to state last year,” Lamb said. “I was upset because that group of seniors, those are who were freshmen when I came to Alcovy. I really wanted that for them.”

Lamb took full ownership of the blame for the Lady Tigers not getting a shot to make a postseason run last fall. But during the offseason, she came to the realization that she cannot simply want success for the players in hopes that they will eventually share the same desire.

The kids have to want success for themselves, too.

“I realized — growing as a person, as an educator, as a coach — that I can’t want it more than they do,” she said. “So now this year I’m trying to turn it to, ‘How can I make them want what I want?’

“I’ve played in a state playoff game; I’ve never coached. That is a goal of mine to do. So hopefully, hopefully this team will one day get me there.”

In order for Lamb to get a taste of the postseason in her third year at the helm for the Lady Tigers, she’ll need another strong campaign from Lexie McDonald in the circle. Entering her third season on the varsity squad, the junior has cemented her spot as the formidable ace of Alcovy’s staff.

Joining McDonald in the rotation will be sophomore Alexis Hernandez, who’s made great strides this offseason through her travel ball club. Due in part to a lack of depth in the pitching department, she’ll be called on to serve as the second half of a one-two punch the Lady Tigers will utilize throughout the fall.

As for the battle at the plate, Alcovy will be leaning on McDonald and juniors Emma Thompson and Emma Mercer to provide pop in the heart of the order. Rising freshman Ashlyn Hoy has also emerged as a potential option to be penciled in at the top of the lineup due to an impressive summer.

“Ashlyn is just a natural athlete and loves the game,” Lamb said, “so she wants to do well at the game, which helps me in the long run.”

Alcovy will open its 2020 campaign at home against Eagles Landing High School on Monday, Aug. 10. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m.