Greenville High School’s new head softball coach Donna Sunnycalb formally introduced herself to Lady Tiger faithful Monday night.

During an interest meeting following open house, Sunnycalb met with player prospects and their parents to discuss her intentions this spring and what she expects out of her players.

&uot;I think it went good,&uot; Sunnycalb said. &uot;I wish we would have had a couple more people there. All in all for the first day, it was good. I wanted to introduce myself and let them know the kind of goals I wanted to accomplish and my expectations of the parents and their daughters. I also wanted to talk about some efforts with fundraisers.&uot;

Sunnycalb, 27, was voted Coach of the Year by several newspapers across the state after leading Ragland to a 30-14 record and the Class 1A state championship this past season. She has a coaching career record of 86-48.

Sunnycalb told the parents that she plans on the Lady Tigers’ softball team to play its regular 20-plus game schedule along with the addition of several tournaments scheduled on weekends.

&uot;We’re going to play our 20 games like we’re supposed to and we’re going to play in as many tournaments as we can,&uot; Sunnycalb said. &uot;My goal is to play in as many games to introduce the players to better competition. My ultimate goal is to be one of the final eight teams in Montgomery.&uot;

Sunnycalb also informed the player prospects that making the team this season wouldn’t be easy. She said she’d expect all her players to hard work on and off the field.

&uot;They’re going to have to work hard and hustle. We need some hustle and heart,&uot; Sunnycalb said.

Sunnycalb is a product of Greenville. She graduated from GHS in 1995 and went onto attend West Alabama on a softball scholarship and helped lead the Lady Tigers to the Gulf South Conference title in 1997. As a utility player, she was voted to second team All Gulf South Conference and was also named an Academic All-American.

Sunnycalb graduated with a bachelor’s in physical education in 1999. She taught one year at Tarrant Elementary School before taking the job at Ragland.

&uot;It’s nice to be back home and around people you know,&uot; Sunnycalb said.