Owen McCall – Staff Writer
Keli Harrell was announced as the head coach of the Daytona State College softball program in Aug. 2018. She assumed the role after previous head coach Sabrina Manhart resigned after 12 seasons. Harrell came to Daytona State with plenty of coaching experience, with stops at Campbell University, Louisiana-Lafayette and East Carolina University. She played college softball at East Carolina, where she played at the pitcher position and set many school records.
Harrell’s first season at the helm began in Clearwater at the JUCO Kickoff Classic. The team won all three games they participated in, including a 5-0 shutout win over St. Petersburg College. The first home game of the Harrell era was Feb. 5 against Eastern Florida State in a doubleheader.
The first game got off to a slow start for the Falcons. In the middle of the third inning, the Falcons were down 4-0. However, in the bottom of the third, they scored three runs to reel it in by one point. In the fourth, a catcher interference was called on Eastern Florida, and DSC’s Charlie Trawick was given an automatic walk to first. The Falcons scored four runs in the fourth, giving them a 7-4 lead. Three more runs in the fifth effectively iced the game for Daytona State. Giavonna Auricchio had the most at bats at four. Harper Robertson had the most runs at three.
The second game saw Daytona State lead 3-0 after the first inning, but after the second, Eastern Florida was up 5-3. After three innings, Eastern Florida held a 6-5 lead. However, Daytona State put forth an offensive explosion as they scored eight runs across the fourth and fifth innings. The Falcons won game two by a final score of 13-8. They also prevented Eastern Florida from scoring in three total innings, the first, fourth and fifth. Harper Robertson, Giavanna Auricchio and Alexis Baker had the most at bats at five. The leaders in runs were Megan Donahue and Madison Boren at three.
The Harrell era is off to a fast start, with the team showing an offensive power when they get cranked up. Through their first seven games, they have scored 13 home runs and 59 runs total. The Harrell era at Daytona State is just beginning, but hopes are it lasts a long time.