CONWAY – With the opening weekend of the 2020 softball season just four days away (Feb. 7), the Coastal Carolina softball team is starting the season looking to replace the starting positions vacated by two players that were mainstays on the left side of their infield.

Departures

Alexis Alvino and Chelsea D'Avilar vacated their respective positions that included a combined 340 starts and helped the Chanticleers to 134 wins in a four-year span.

Alvino played in 224 games in her career and ranks 13th all-time in school history with 223 starts, all at shortstop. Offensively, the former Chanticleer had 131 hits in her career, including 25 home runs and 82 RBI. 

D'Avilar anchored third base over the past four seasons for CCU, where she recorded a career .933 fielding percentage. In 2019, D'Avilar ranked in the top 20 of all players in the Sun Belt Conference with a .981 fielding percentage on 103 chances.

Returners

The Chanticleers' right side of the infield will be strong with veterans Kassidy Smith and Taylor Sweigart are the incumbent starters first and second base, respectively.

The senior Smith will be entering her final season ranked fourth all-time in school history with 37 home runs. In 2019, Collinsville, Ill., native led the Chanticleers with 15 home runs and became one of four people in school history to knock in six or RBI in a game (Feb. 8 v. Rider). The Chant first baseman was named 2019 Sun Belt All-Tournament Team, where she had four hits, including two doubles and a home run, scored three runs, forced four walks, and drove in two runs.

Second Team All-Sun Belt second baseman Taylor Sweigart returns to the Chanticleer line up in 2020 after missing the final 23 games last season due to injury. Despite just playing 37 games, Sweigart had an excellent season in the leadoff spot for the team. From her freshman season in 2018 to her sophomore season in 2019, the Mertztown, Pa., native improved her game in all aspects. At the time of her injury on Apr. 14, the junior was second on the team with a .315 batting average, including six multi-hit games, led the team with eight stolen bases, and hit six long balls.

Sophomore Abbey Montoya looks to lock down one of the four spots in the Chanticleer infield this season. In 2019, Montoya started 22 games at second base, but with her versatility, the Castle Rock, Colo., native started double-digit games in right field. Offensively, Montoya batted .232 in her first season and was fourth on the team with seven home runs.

Possibly seeing some action at first base this season is sophomore Mackenzie Beyer. As a freshman, Beyer saw most of her time behind the plate, where she started 19 games. In 2019, Beyer batted .243, hit six home runs, and knocked in 16 runs.

Also looking for more playing time in their second season are sophomores Allison Kreyer and Kendall Coyle. The two combined to play in 29 games for the Chanticleers in their freshman season.

Additions

 Transfers Ally Clegg and Makiya Thomas come to Chanticleers after having success in the junior college ranks over the past two seasons. 

Thomas comes to the Chants from Central Arizona where she played in 122 career games in the middle infield. The Tacoma, Wash., native had a two-year batting average of .505, hit a total of 12 home runs and 114 RBI. For the Vaqueras, the junior's speed allowed her to swipe 67 bases and score 167 runs.

Clegg spent two seasons at Chipola College as she appeared in the NJCAA National Championship game in 2018 and 2019. While playing third base for the Indians, Clegg was the 2019 NJCAA National Championship "Most Outstanding Defensive Player," a member of the 2019 FCSAA State Tournament Team, and a First Team Panhandle All-Conference.

During the offseason, the Chanticleers added freshmen Mary Sobataka, Shelbie Summerlin, and Gabby Baylog, that will be looking to break into the lineup this season.

You catch the Chanticleers on February 7 at 5:15 p.m. as they start the 2020 season with Virginia Tech part of the Residence Inn Kickin' Chicken Classic.

For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSB (twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.