With five newcomers joining the squad and everyone else returning to the team, the club softball team at Southeast Missouri State University is gearing up for the 2012 season.

"Playing fastpitch softball is something that intramurals don't offer," Southeast club softball president Chris Scudder said. "It's competitive but fun at the same time."

The team was created in October 2009, but didn't have a full roster until the 2010 spring semester, when it finished with a 0-6 record. In the 2011 fall semester, the team won their first game against Indiana in the Eastern Illinois Fall Frenzy tournament and ended the season with with a 1-3 record for that season.

"We definitely want to win in fastpitch softball, but it's about building teamwork and having fun outdoors," Scudder said.

This spring, the players will take last season's experiences from the field and build on that to have a winning season record.

"I expect us to be a lot better," Scudder said. "I was the only pitcher on the team and now we have a second pitcher as well as several new girls plus all the returners from last fall, so I look forward to getting some wins with this group."

The team is providing an opportunity for female Southeast students to participate in a fastpitch softball team at the collegiate level.

The team is also student-run and most of the team's expenses come out of the students' pockets. Last season, Scudder said that the softball team held a Krispy Kreme donut fundraiser on campus to raise money for their tournament and travel expenses.

"If we need to take that step then we will host another fundraising event, but we will also decide as a team if the need for money arises," Scudder said.

There are 15 players on the roster and if it exceeds 20 then the team will hold tryouts. The cost to play for the fall and spring semester is $50. Practices are held at 5 p.m. Monday and 3 p.m. Thursday each week at the Southeast Softball Complex.

The team's first set of softball games will be on March 31 at Eastern Illinois. It is also scheduled for a doubleheader in Carbondale, Ill. on April 21. The team may also compete in a six-team softball tournament held at SIU Edwardsville on March 24.

"I'm not sure if we have a rival, but although we're a new club softball team I would say that Carbondale would be our closest rival if we were forced to choose," Scudder said.

For more information on the team, email cascudder1s@semo.edu or go to the "SEMO Club Softball" page on Facebook.