Leading up to the start of the 2024 South Alabama softball season, we will preview all the position groups on the Jaguar roster.

The four-part series examines each position group ahead of the season-opening tournament, the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. Our final installment looks at South Alabama's catchers and utility players.

RETURNING STARTERS (1)
- Sasha Willems (Sr., 5-4) – Started 52 of her 53 games players, splitting time between catcher and designated player where she batted .291 with 41 hits and 23 runs scored

OTHER RETURNING PLAYERS (2)
- Stephanie Gonzalez (Jr., 5-5) – Started 11 of the 22 games in which she appeared with four of those starts coming at second and seven in the designated player role
- Sophia Mendoza (So., 5-7) – Appeared in nine games, mainly as a pinch hitter, while making one start as designated player

NEWCOMERS (2)
- Sidney Lee (Jr., 5-7) – Started all 48 games for Lee University as a sophomore where she batted .354 with 51 hits, 43 RBI and 26 runs scored
- Molly Pitts (Fr., 5-7) – Over four seasons at Mobile Christian, she caught 871 innings and collected 168 hits and 13 home runs

LETTERWINNERS LOST (3)
- Abby Allen (UTL) – (Four hits, one double, two home runs, seven RBI)
- Hannah Ogea (UTL) – (Four at-bats, one walk)
- Emma Kropp (C) – (.217 batting average, 10 hits, two home runs, eight RBI)

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
- Along with Marley Sims, Willems was tied for the team lead in sacrifice hits with 10, which were tied for sixth-most in a season
- Six different players saw time at the designated player position in 2023 with Willems (17 games) seeing the most time among returnees 
- Lee, who transferred from Lee University, was a two-time all-Gulf South Conference honoree 
- Over the last two seasons, Lee has thrown out 18 attempted base stealers over that time
- Last season, South Alabama's catching unit threw out nine attempted base stealers

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