By Shawn Wansley
JCJC Sports Information Director

ELLISVILLE – Chris Robinson was quite familiar with the Jones County Junior College softball program when he took over as head coach this past summer.

But he says being the head coach is quite different than being an assistant coach.

“It is definitely a big adjustment,” he said recently during a Lady Bobcat practice at the South Jones High School Field. “I was an assistant for six years, but there is certainly a difference. I am just so excited about this opportunity and having a chance to work with this group.”

The Lady Bobcats are trying to rebound after a difficult 2009 spring season, which saw them post a 10-26 record.

Robinson said the Lady Bobcats are starting with the very basics as they go through the fall season in preparation for the 2010 campaign.

“We are just trying to get them fundamentally ready to play,” he said. “We just need to work a lot harder and we will. The kids are chomping at the bit to play. But it’s been an enjoyable experience so far.”

Jones began fall practice in early September, but was hampered by steady rains for a couple of weeks. Robinson said the team worked through the disruption and has continued to progress.

“We missed a whole week on the field because of the rain,” he said. “That definitely set us back a little. After we finish our six weeks of practice (October 10), we will have eight hours a week where we can work with them.

“But we have a good group and they are working hard to get this program back to where it needs to be.”

The Lady Bobcats opened their fall schedule by dropping a pair of games at William Carey University on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Still, Robinson was encouraged by what he saw.

“We played William Carey and saw some good things and definitely some things we need to work on,” he said. “But there were some bright spots.”

JCJC is playing three games in the Belhaven Tournament on Friday, Oct. 2. They face Belhaven at 1 p.m., Itawamba at 3 p.m. and Holmes at 5 p.m. They return to Hattiesburg to meet WCU for a doubleheader at 4 and 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, and conclude the schedule on Saturday, Oct. 10, vs. teams to be determined in the East Central Community College Tournament.

“We have six weeks of practice and four playing dates in the fall,” said Robinson.

The Lady Bobcats are having to practice at the Lady Braves Field and Merchant’s Park because of pending construction on their new stadium on-campus. The press box, dugouts, bleachers and fences have been torn down, forcing the team to practice off-campus.

“We are thankful to South Jones and Merchant’s Park for giving us the opportunity to practice,” said Robinson. “We have had to go at night some, but South Jones has been more than willing to accommodate us on that. Coach Corey Tolbert and his bunch have been great to us.”

The Lady Bobcats are expected to have 23 players on the roster in the spring with a fairly even split of 11 sophomores and 12 freshmen.

“It’s a good group,” said Robinson. “They are doing everything we ask them to do.”

Bob Herrington, who served as head softball coach of the South Jones’ softball teams for eight years, is assisting Robinson.

Robinson credits school president Dr. Jesse Smith and the administration for naming him as head coach and for getting Herrington as an assistant coach.

“I appreciate Dr. Smith and the Board of Trustees at Jones for letting us have Bob Herrington as an assistant coach,” he said. “He has bent over backwards to help this program.

“I am looking forward to this season. Our players are very excited and our coaches are excited. We are ready to roll. February is not far away and it will get here quickly.”

Here is the 2009 Lady Bobcats’ fall softball roster. http://www.jcjc.edu/athletics/softball/2009/2009fallsoftballroster.pdf