The MCC Women's Softball Team will have many new faces in the dugout when it begins the 2012 season.

A new head coach and 11 new players will join the four returning players. This team is young, but talented, and the Lady Bears squad is aiming for contention in the MCCAA Eastern Conference Championship.

Rod Studaker is the new head coach (taking over the program in June 2010). Coach Studaker was Assistant Coach to long-time MCC Coach Barry Hershon. Rod Studaker is a 2004 inductee to the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Studaker and Assistant Coach Dan Cunningham have signed seven 2011 high school graduates to play this season for MCC. Four additional players have joined the team as walk-ons.

"We feel we have a roster with a bunch of players who can play more than one position. As a result, we have depth at every position – especially at pitcher and catcher," said Coach Studaker.

The pitching staff will include returning pitchers Briana Hicks (Waterford Mott HS) and Ashley Mousseau (Capac HS), and recruits Jennifer Price from Lakeville HS and Justine Powers from Owosso HS.

Coaches Studaker and Cunningham will have plenty of help as Charlie Barden, Mike Denton and Britt Newland join the staff as Assistant Coaches.

The Lady Bears begin practice in January 2012, play 10 games during the Florida Spring Training trip in mid-March and then open with an MCCAA league doubleheader at home on March 31, 2012 against Delta CC.

MCC Softball will play all home games at Kearsley High School.