5 Cobras Named to the SAC Players to Watch List

Rock Hill, S.C.: Ahead of opening day for the 2026 softball campaign, the South Atlantic Conference has released their Players to Watch for the Season. 5 Athletes have made the shortlist for the Cobras will Cheyenne Palmer, Mya Cribbs, Brooklyn Lovin, Bailee Gaskins, and Lacey Hennessy are being featured.

#00 - Cheyenne Palmer - RHP:

Palmer, a Junior out of Sellersburg, Ind., was the first Cobra to be named as a Player to Watch for the Cobras. Palmer was a key member of the Coker Softball team last season, both at the plate and on the mound. On the rubber, Palmer averaged 8.3 strikeouts per 7 innings over 16 appearances on the mound. Palmer also held a .332 batting average and 10 RBI on the season.

#5 - Mya Cribbs - OF

Cribbs, a Senior out of Beech Island, S.C., was the next Cobra to be named to the SAC Players to Watch list. Cribbs led the Cobras in fielding percentage of a perfect 1.00. On Offense Cribbs was 3rd on the team in runs(22) and 2nd on the team in stolen bases(9) and total bases(42).

#12 - Lacey Hennessy - OF

Hennessy, a Junior outfielder out of Monks Corner, S.C., was a staple in the Cobras line-up last season. Hennessy appeared in 36 games last season, maintaining a .307 batting average with 75 AB's for the Cobras. She batted in 6 runs last year, to go along with her own 14 runs on the season last year.

#16 - Bailee Gaskins - P/INF

Gaskins, a sophomore out of Shenandoah, VA., made an immediate impact for the Cobras as a freshman. At the plate, Gaskins was one of the most dangerous hitters in the Cobra lineup. Gaskins led the Cobras in both home runs (5), RBI (26), and extra-base hits (18).

#22 - Brooklyn Lovin - P/UTL

Lovin, a sophomore out of Stanfield, N.C., finished last year with a 3-2 record and 2 saves over 22 appearances on the mound.  She averaged 2.15 K/7 over 38 innings pitched. When she wasn't on the mound, Lovin found her home at 1st base.

Preseason Polls:

Head Coach Brittany Bennet will be heading into her 4th year in charge of the Cobras. The Cobras were picked 12th in the preseason coaches' polls, amassing 26 votes.

1. Lenoir-Rhyne (9) 130
2. Wingate (3) 123
3. Lincoln Memorial 101
4. Carson-Newman 99
5. Tusculum 95
6. Anderson 79
7. Emory & Henry 74
8. Catawba 67
9. Mars Hill 53
10. Newberry 47
11. UVA Wise 30
12. Coker 26