The revamped Seymour High School Lady Eagles opened their 2008 softball season with a bang Monday night in a double-header sweep at nearby triple-A foe South-Doyle.

The new version of the Lady Eagles features some distinct changes from last year’s squad that made one of the deepest runs in school history into the postseason tournament before losing to Stone Memorial in the 2007 region tournament.

The most glaring departure from last year’s Lady Eagles’ team was standout senior pitcher Chere’ Monday, who is now throwing her tricky fastballs at the college level for Chattanooga State.

Judging from Monday night’s season-opener at South-Doyle, the leading candidate to take up most of the slack created by Chere’ Monday’s absence is freshman right-hander Chaney Graham. First-year Seymour coach Chris Smelcer, who is taking former SHS coach Ron Blades’ spot in the Lady Eagles’ dugout alongside veteran SHS assistant coach/pitching guru Dayna Carter, said Graham shined in her first appearance at the high school level.

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