South Dakota softball is set to open its 2021 season next Thursday in Hammond, Louisiana, exactly 11 months after seeing its 2020 campaign halted due to COVID-19. The Coyotes are set to play six games against four different teams at a tournament hosted by Southeastern Louisiana. It's the program's first trip there since 2013.
 
The Coyotes' roster is relatively unchanged from last season with all starters back. A new class of freshmen has joined the fray and one of them who could be featured into the lineup sooner rather than later is Gabby Moser, a 5-foot-8-inch infielder from Central City, Nebraska, which rests less than three hours from campus.
 
To Moser and the rest of her freshmen teammates, this is a normal preseason preparation – the testing, social distancing guidelines, fielding ground balls on turf instead of dirt, and riding back-and-forth from Vermillion to North Sioux City for practice. The "changes" are adjusting to a collegiate class schedule instead of a high school one, and focusing on one sport instead of the three she played at Central City High School.
 
"The weirdest thing for me has been not competing year round," said Moser, who plans to major in medical biology at USD. "The whole fall semester was a grind in just getting ready for the season, and now it's really exciting because we are finally here. We are finally going to play some games!"
 
Warm weather in the south would also be a welcome change, but the Coyotes may not get that in Louisiana according to early forecasts. Three of the four foes are from either Louisiana or Texas so perhaps 40- to 50-degree temperatures could work in USD's favor. Regardless, just stepping back into the batter's box will be the ultimately victory for week one.
 
"One of the best thing about competition is the adrenaline you get from not knowing how it's going to go," said Moser. "Feeling like you've prepared yourself enough in the weeks leading up to it is what makes it exciting.
 
"I haven't played a game in forever, but the wait has been even longer for some of my older teammates, so in some ways, I have nothing to be worried about."
 
Moser has worked in mainly at third base since arriving on campus, which may mean a move for senior Lauren Wobken from the left side of the infield to the right. If that's the case, Moser will be stationed next to senior Lauren Eamiguel, a first-team all-conference performer in all three seasons at USD. It may be the perfect blend of youth and experience.
 
"I always found time to work on my mechanics in high school, but we break things down so much more here," said Moser. "From base running to fielding to even bunting, I've really enjoyed it and it's cool to see my progress in those areas.
 
"I was a little bit timid when I arrived, but I've learned that I have to ask lots of questions if I'm going to learn and get better. I probably annoy (coach) and some of my teammates a bit, but it's probably been the most important adjustment I've had to make."
 
Moser and the Coyotes were wrapping up Wednesday's practice at United Sports Academy in North Sioux City. Ben Oberle, a Coyote football and track and field alum, is the director of operations there which helped lead to the partnership. USD has spent a number of practices there in January to work around track and football practices inside the DakotaDome on campus. The team leaves next week for Louisiana ahead of a 5 p.m. first pitch against Southeastern Louisiana at North Oak Park Recreation Complex.