It’s a new season for Newton softball and the Lady Rams will look to recapture success with new head coach Erica Johnson.

Johnson, formerly of Heritage High School, took over for Virginia Tucker-Smith. In her first season, Johnson will have her work cut out for her as she eyes to rebound the Lady Rams from a 6-21 campaign in 2023.

In Region 4-AAAAAAA play, Newton finished 1-14 a year ago. This season, the Lady Rams find themselves in Region 4-AAAAAA, where they will play teams such as Grovetown, Rockdale County, Heritage and former region rivals such as Grayson, Archer and South Gwinnett.

With the season here and the preparation in the rearview, Johnson considered her first summer with the Lady Rams a success.

“I started out in the summer and it’s been a great experience so far,” Johnson said. “Getting to know the girls, it's been hot. It's been very hot. Just getting to know them and them getting to know me [and] learning me, because I am not the easiest coach to get along with. But we are going to make it happen and we are going to compete this year.”

Along with the coaching changes, the team faced the challenge of replacing key seniors from last season.

The team suffered the departures of seniors Aaliyah Cox, Gerielle Dumervil and Elle Standard.

However, Johnson has belief in her roster and who will be starting this season.

Johnson credited Zaikerryia Smith, Raegan McKnight, Tiara Moody, Janiyah Henderson and Leilani Garcia as just a few of the players she expects to make an impact this year.

No matter who the player is, though, Johnson is looking for one thing when it comes to her team.

“Commitment,” Johnson said. “Commitment is big in the sport of softball. If you're not at practice, you are missing a whole lot. You try to prepare the girls for what is going to happen, but there is so much in softball that you can't prepare for everything . Once they get there and get that experience you have to practice it over and over. Also instilling a culture. The importance of team — being a team player. Knowing what to do, knowing your players, caring about your players and having their back.”

Johnson hopes to use the team’s energy in practice and during the offseason to fuel their success in games and throughout the trials of the season.

“I am looking forward to bringing a lot of energy to the team. They have energy, a lot of it actually,” Johnson joked. “At practice daily. I have to say, ‘Hey, we got to stop playing, stop talking, do what you need to do so we can concentrate on competing this year.’ If they bring that same energy into games, we can compete better this year.”