Following thunderstorms on Wednesday, the Lady Mocs have been forced to prepare indoors the past two days, but are expected to head outside once again this afternoon at Frost Stadium.

Head Coach Frank Reed further breaks down the infielders in the video to the right. He discusses the depth that the team has in the infield and the importance that leadership and experience is going to play this season.

Below is a full schedule of the series with the next installment on Wednesday looking at pitchers and catchers.

Part 1 - Overview and Schedule - Mon. Jan. 30
Part 2 - Pitchers and Catchers - Wed. Feb. 1
Part 3 - Infielders - Fri. Feb. 3
Part 4 - Outfielders and Utility - Mon. Feb. 6

FIRST BASE
Anchoring first base is junior Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.), who received All-Southern Conference Second Team honors last year.

"Kasey is another player that has to be in the lineup every for us," said head coach Frank Reed. "She is probably the most level student-athlete as far as talent vs. the mental aspects of the game. She is pretty level across the board and is able to work through things."

Tydingco compiled a .305 batting average last year for the Lady Mocs driving in 33 runs and scoring 29 times. The Fairfield, Calif., native notched 17 extra-base hits including five home runs, slugging .470.

She is a tremendous talent defensively for Chattanooga tallying 337 putouts for a .994 fielding percentage.

Backing up the first baseman is sophomore utility Stephanie Rieck (Chandler, Ariz.) another southpaw that can also play the outfield and catcher.

MIDDLE INFIELD
The duo of senior shortstop Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.) and junior second baseman Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.) has provided coach Reed with experience and dependability up the middle.

"Traxler and Poteat may be the most lethal middle infield as far as defense in the country," said Reed. "I don't know if I would trade them for anyone. They both can do it all because they have the range and hands to make phenomenal plays."

Starting at second, Poteat came on towards the end of last season and earned the SoCon Tournament's Most Outstanding Player award. She swung from the two-hole, but will transition to the leadoff position with the graduation of Lyndsey Stiles.

"She has really worked on swinging away and I believe that she finally has the confidence to be a triple threat," said Reed. "She needs to show teams that if you back up on me, then I am going to drop it down. If you play close up on me, then I am going to drive it over your head."

The Thomaston, Ga., native posted a .362 average last season scoring 46 times and tallied 63 hits. She compiled a .461 on-base percentage with 20 walks and 12 hit by pitch. Poteat also drove in 23 runs and hit eight doubled and a triple.

Moving over to short, Traxler has been a three-year starter for the Lady Mocs at the position. She came around as a hitter during her junior campaign hitting at a .306 clip.

"I think that more that we challenge Jessica to continue to be a consistent hitter for us because she has demonstrated she can," said Reed. "She is going to be one of those players that graduates next year and you wish that you had her back because she does all the necessary things right."

The Chino Hills, Calif., native totaled 79 putouts and 94 assists last season for a .920 fielding pct. Traxler additional showed power from the plate registering five doubles and five home runs, while driving in 38 runs.

Playing behind Poteat and Traxler in the middle is junior Ninjja Suetsugu (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and freshman Nicole Osterman (Kissimmee, Fla.). Osterman is more fine tuned at second, but can also catch and play the outfield. Suetsugu can play either position on the left side of the infield.

THIRD BASE
After graduating Tiffany Baker, the Lady Mocs and SoCon all-time home run leader with 50 last season, freshman Cheyenne Willis (Manchester, Tenn.) and Suetsugu will battle to play the hot corner.

"Sara Beth is as good of a third baseman that we have had," said Reed. "She really has a strong throw, but has a tendency to get rid of it too quick, so we just have to slow her down a bit. She is going to eventually be a very productive hitter for us once she learns to be consistent."

Roberts is a type of player that is not afraid to get up there and field a bunt or try to take it away from you. She can also log a lot of playing time for Chattanooga as she comes in with size for a freshman.

A transfer from Miami-Dade is Suetsugu, who did not play during the 2011 campaign as she caught up on school work. Suetsugu is from the same hometown as senior catcher Vivian Morimoto (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and they both helped the Lady Sharks capture the 2010 NJCCAA DI National Championship.

"I have seen Ninjja shaking the rust off the rust now that we are getting into the second semester," said Reed. "She has been more confident at the plate. She is really hard on herself, but has the work ethic to battle through it."

Suetsugu additionally has gained international experience by playing on the Brazilian national team at the Pan American Games.

This is an important position for Chattanooga as both players are great defensively, so the ability to make a difference offensively is going to be the key to securing playing time at third base.