Florida State softball began practices for the 2024 season last Tuesday.

The Seminoles are fresh off an impressive season which saw them win 58 wins - the most since the 2018 season when FSU won the national championship.

Unfortunately, the 2023 season did not result in a championship, as the Seminoles were swept by a historically great Oklahoma team in the Women's College World Series. The Sooners finished the season with an NCAA-best 53 straight wins and a 61-1 mark.

FSU lost a lot of talent from the 2023 team but is returning a lot of talent, especially on offense to "Team 41", as it looks to win the ACC again and return to the WCWS.

Lonni Alameda, 53, is entering her 16th season as the FSU head coach, posting a career 716-198-3 (.782) record.

The biggest challenge for FSU will be to replace pitching star Kathryn Sandercock in the circle, Josie Muffley at short, Mack Leonard in the circle and at first base and Bethaney Keen at first base from last year's team.

Here's a look at who FSU returns and who has to be replaced.

Catcher:

Returners: Michaela Edenfield, Redshirt junior; Katie Dack, Junior; Madi Frey, Sophomore

Newcomers: N/A

Gone: Kaia Lopreste

Analysis: FSU is set at catcher with the return of Edenfield, who played in 68 of the 69 games last season and led the team with 13 home runs and 53 RBI. She earned WCWS All-Tournament Team honors.

Dack and Frey are likely to provide some rest with a start here or there in place of Edenfield. Dack is another power hitter, blasting 11 home runs across 53 games. She can also play at first, DP or in the outfield.

Infielders

Returners: Kaeli Harding, Senior; Devyn, Flaherty, Redshirt senior; Amaya Ross, Junior; Krystina Hartley, Redshirt junior

Newcomers: Annie Potter, Redshirt senior; Isa Torres, Freshman; Angele Bueno, Freshman; Jaysoni Beachum, Freshman

Gone: Josie Muffley; Bethaney Keen; Mack Leonard; Avery Weisbrook

Analysis: Harding is expected to garner playing time at first and third base, depending on matchups, after hitting 10 home runs last season. Flaherty hit .317 last season and was 31-of-32 on stolen base attempts and will be a presence at second base.

FSU will be tasked with replacing the defensive prowess of Muffley, who was known for making web gem plays in big moments. Potter and Torres are two early candidates for the role, according to Alameda. Hartley has been a super utility player who could also earn at-bats there.

Ross is someone who could factor into the first base competition, per Alameda, after playing mostly as a reserve and a key pinch-runner last season.

Beachum is a local product from Florida High and is someone to keep an eye on.

Outfielders

Returners: Kaley Mudge, OF, Redshirt senior; Autumn Belviy, OF, Redshirt senior; Hallie Wacaser, OF, Redshirt junior; Jahni Kerr, OF, Redshirt junior

Newcomers: Kennedy Harp, OF, Freshman; Asthyn Dantley, P/OF, Freshman

Gone: N/A

Analysis: FSU returns all of its main starters from the outfield last season and this could be the strength of the team. Mudge - who is coming off foot surgery - started all 67 games last season and was second on the team with her .346 average.

Wacaser started 56 of 67 games, finishing with a .304 batting average with four home runs and 36 RBI last season. Kerr led the team with a .356 batting average to go along with eight home runs, playing in 66 games and starting in 56 of them.

At a media availability Thursday, both Alameda and Flaherty spoke highly of freshman Danley, who was named the Tennessee Gatorade Softball Player of the Year and the Main Street Prep Player of the Year in 2022. She hit .682 in her senior season and is someone who could make an impact this season on both offense and pitching.

Pitchers

Returners: Allison Royalty, Senior; Emma Wilson, Redshirt senior; Madi Balk, Sophomore; Makenna Reid, Sophomore

Newcomers: Mimi Gooden Freshman; Ashtyn Danley

Gone: Ali DuBois; Mack Leonard; Kathryn Sandercock

Analysis: Replacing Sandercock will be a tall task for FSU. Sandercock finished her career with a record of 107-12 record and a 1.44 earned run average, recording 489 strikeouts in 718.0 innings pitched, with 30 complete games.

Just as they did last season, Alameda said the team will depend on all six pitchers - including freshmen Gooden and Danley - to pitch as a committee to lead the team.

Reid showed glimpses of her potential last season with a 13-0 mark, 0.97 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 79 ⅓ innings. Royalty has the second most experience of the group with a 2.23 ERA in 69 innings last season after transferring from Arizona State.

Balk and Wilson are going to be leaned on for more than the 14 ⅓ innings they combined for last season.

Danley pitched to a 0.36 ERA in twelve pitching appearances as a senior and is someone who FSU is high on.

FSU softball 2024 schedule

• Feb. 3: Garnet & Gold Scrimmage/Fan Day (2 p.m.)

• Feb. 8: vs. Charlotte (6 pm.) JoAnne Graf Classic

• Feb. 9: vs. Charlotte (6 p.m.) JoAnne Graf Classic

• Feb. 10: vs. Texas Tech (12:30 p.m.) JoAnne Graf Classic

• Feb. 10: vs. Florida A&M (3 p.m.) JoAnne Graf Classic

• Feb. 11: vs. Florida A&M (12:30 p.m.) JoAnne Graf Classic

• Feb 15: vs. Stanford (4 p.m.) at 2023 Clearwater Invitational

• Feb 16: vs. UCLA (1 p.m.) at 2023 Clearwater Invitational

• Feb 17: vs. Georgia (10 a.m.) at 2023 Clearwater Invitational

• Feb 18: vs. Tennessee (8 p.m.) at 2023 Clearwater Invitational

• Feb. 22: vs. FIU (6 p.m.) Dugout Club Classic

• Feb. 23: vs. FIU (3 p.m.) Dugout Club Classic

• Feb. 23: vs. Nicholls (5:30 p.m.) Dugout Club Classic

• Feb 24: vs. Nicholls (3 p.m.) Dugout Club Classic

• Feb 24: vs. Charleston Southern (5:30 p.m.) Dugout Club Classic

• March 1: vs. Mount St. Mary's (3:30 p.m.) University of Oregon Tournament, Eugene, Ore.

• March 1: vs. Maryland (6:30 p.m.) University of Oregon Tournament, Eugene, Ore.

• March 2: vs. Washington (1 p.m.) University of Oregon Tournament, Eugene, Ore.

• March 2: vs. Oregon (6 p.m.) University of Oregon Tournament, Eugene, Ore.

• March 8: vs. vs. Purdue (12:15 p.m.) FGCU Spring Break Classic, Fort Meyers

• March 8: vs. vs. FGCU (5 p.m.) FGCU Spring Break Classic, Fort Meyers

• March 9: vs. Purdue (10 a.m.) FGCU Spring Break Classic, Fort Meyers

• March 9: vs. Western Michigan (12:30 p.m.) FGCU Spring Break Classic, Fort Meyers

• March 12: vs. South Dakota State (1 p.m.)

• March 12: vs. South Dakota State (3:30 p.m.)

• March 13: vs. Alabama (6 p.m.)

• March 15: vs. Duke* (6 p.m.)

• March 16: vs. Duke* (1 p.m.)

• March 17: vs. Duke* (Noon)

• March 20: vs. Texas (6 p.m.)

• March 22: at Pittsburgh* (6 p.m.)

• March 23: at Pittsburgh* (3 p.m.)

• March 24: at Pittsburgh* (1 p.m.)

• March 28: vs. NC State* (6 p.m.)

• March 29: vs. NC State* (1 p.m.)

• March 30: vs. NC State* (Noon)

• April 2: vs. McNeese (6 p.m.)

• April 3: vs. McNeese (6 p.m.)

• April 5: at Louisville* (6 p.m.)

• April 6: at Louisville* (1 p.m.)

• April 7: at Louisville* (noon)

• April 12: vs. Notre Dame* (6 p.m.)

• April 13: vs. Notre Dame* (1 p.m.)

• April 14: vs. Notre Dame* (Noon)

• April 17: vs. Alabama State (6 p.m.)

• April 19: at Boston College* (3 p.m.)

• April 20: at Boston College* (4 p.m.)

• April 21: at Boston College* (1 p.m.)

• April 24: at Florida (6 p.m.)

• April 26: at UNC* (6 p.m.)

• April 27: at UNC* (1 p.m.)

• April 28: at UNC* (Noon)

• May 1: vs. Florida (6 p.m.)

• May 3: at Syracuse* (3 p.m.)

• May 4: at Syracuse* (1 p.m.)

• May 5: at Syracuse* (Noon)

• May 8-11: ACC Tournament

* ACC Game

Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports), Instagram (tlhnolesports) and YouTube channel (NoleSportsTD).

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: How does FSU softball, Lonni Alameda replace Kathryn Sandercock in 2024?