TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (January 24, 2023) – When a program is used to being an NJCAA contender, the 2022 season might have been viewed as a mild setback for a team like the Salt Lake Community College Softball team.
 
After all, Salt Lake went 'just' 37-17 overall, falling in the final game of the Region 18 tournament to end the season. However, with that in mind, SLCC is energized at the thought of reclaiming the top spot in the Scenic West Athletic Conference in 2023.
 
With the season opener for Salt Lake coming this week in a preseason tournament in Las Vegas, Bruins coach Cyndee Bennett said her team is looking forward to opening its campaign with a fast start.
 
"We have been really focused on our offense," she said. "We are looking to be as explosive of an offense as we can be."
 
With a pair of preseason tournaments on the schedule that feature some of the nation's best programs, Bennett noted how SLCC's sophomore returners will play a large role in helping the team quickly adapt to facing elite competition.
 
"Having the experience of the season under their belts is invaluable," she said. "Our sophomores know what to expect and are leading our freshmen through the grind indoors to get ready for our season. They are composed and confident." 
 
SLCC will open the 2023 season on the road, not playing inside the comfortable confines of Norma Carr Field until March 10. Understanding the challenges that are omnipresent on the road, Bennett said she is hoping the early road games will be a unifying experience for her team.
 
"Road trips tend to be an awesome bonding experience," she said. "We have some fun things planned for the road."
 
Looking ahead at the schedule, Salt Lake will have a long row throughout the Scenic West Athletic Conference's slate, with the league annually featuring some of the NJCAA's top programs. Regardless of how the preseason goes, Bennett stated her team remains focused on winning the Scenic West.
 
"We always come in with the same goals," he said. "We want to win our conference, and improve every day."