Auburn head coach Mickey Dean works out on the first day of fall softball practice Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Auburn, Ala.

Julie Bennett

A tumultuous offseason that saw many changes for Auburn softball is nearing an end and the excitement of a new season with a new coaching staff is just 10 days away.

The Tigers open play against Marshall at Jane B. Moore Field on Feb. 8 and most of the position battles have been sorted out.

Auburn is still determining some contingencies and working out the batting order in the final week and a half before opening the season.

"I truly think that it’s going to be up to the bats," Dean said. "We’re still messing with our batting lineup because we want to get – big hitters take a little more time than those hitters that put the ball in play, use their speed. They get a rhythm and once they get a rhythm then you’re able to do some things with your lineup."

Auburn's strength will again be its pitching as the offense faces some uncertainty entering the season.

Dean strives for consistency and the Tigers have had mixed results on defense during the preseason, but are trending in the right direction as the season approaches.

"I don’t know if comfortable is the right word but I feel good about our pitching," Dean said. "I feel good about our defense when we communicate; it can’t shut down. Sometimes if something happens they’ll shut down and we want to get out of that trend of shutting down."

Here is Auburn's projected lineup to open the 2018 season:

By James Crepea | jcrepea@al.com

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Auburn pitcher Kaylee Carlson (16) throws against LSU Saturday, May 13, 2017, during a semifinal game in the SEC Softball Tournament at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.

Julie Bennett

Pitcher

Kaylee Carlson, senior

Makayla Martin, junior

Ashlee Swindle, sophomore

Chardonnay Harris, freshman

Kara Bilodeau, freshman

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Dean emphasizes power pitching and Auburn's pitchers will be asked to do far more than they're used to. Conditioning has already been a major emphasis, and not just for the pitchers, but increasing arm strength was a focus of the offseason that's already seen results.

Kaylee Carlson will lead the pitching staff and could improve on the great stats from her All-American junior season. Carlson is already hitting 68-69 miles per hour on the radar gun and though she relied on her defense to go 27-5 with a 1.36 ERA last season, she could be in line for a big jump in her strikeouts and innings.

Makayla Martin has also seen improvement to her velocity and could be in line for a big jump from her 105 strikeouts last season.

Ashlee Swindle will be the third arm, though whether she'll be primarily a starter or reliever remains to be seen. That could be determined by the availability of Chardonnay Harris, who has been on the shelf for a few weeks due to an arm injury. Once Harris gets back in action, Auburn will be particularly deep in the circle, with Kara Bilodeau also in the mix.

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Auburn catcher Courtney Shea (93) works out on the first day of fall softball practice Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Auburn, Ala.

Julie Bennett

Catcher

Courtney Shea, senior

Kendall Veach, junior

Abby Tissier, freshman

Breanna Gutierrez, redshirt-freshman

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Senior Courtney Shea will take over the role as the starting catcher.

Shea hit .243 with five home runs and 33 RBI with a .349 on-base percentage last season. She made 21 starts behind the plate last season but will likely double that this year and spend the rest of her starts at designated player or possibly first base in a pinch.

Kendall Veach will serve as the backup catcher, which will still entail a sizeable number of starts and create a lot of moving pieces in the lineup.

While Carlee Wallace's departure will hurt in the batter's box, her ability to throw out runners might be where Auburn feels her loss most as certain SEC teams will try to steal at will.

Abby Tissier is ahead of Breanna Gutierrez, but neither are expected to see significant action behind the plate this season.

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Auburn infielder Justus Perry (18) works out on the first day of fall softball practice Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Auburn, Ala.

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First base

Justus Perry, sophomore

Kendall Veach, junior

Alyssa Rivera, junior

Dakota Morrow, freshman

Courtney Shea, senior

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Auburn's plans at first base entering the offseason and even after fall ball, have since changed.

With Tannon Snow highly unlikely to see time in the field, Kendall Veach moved to third primarily and Justus Perry has taken the reins at first. Perry appeared in 26 games with 20 at-bats as a freshman with nine RBI on five hits, all singles.

As long as she improves on plate discipline and defense from a year ago, Perry will stay in the lineup and provide a powerful right-handed bat later in the order. If not, Veach could flip across the infield again or Alyssa Rivera could come in from the outfield, which would send even more pieces moving.

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LSU's Bailey Landry (26) slides back to second under the tag by Auburn infielder KK Crocker (1) Saturday, May 13, 2017, during a semifinal game in the SEC Softball Tournament at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.

Julie Bennett

Second base

KK Crocker, sophomore

Casey McCrackin, junior

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KK Crocker appears to have locked down the starting job at second base, though Casey McCrackin is still in the rotation.

A knee injury derailed Crocker's freshman season and she finished with a .208 average and three RBIs along with five errors in 27 games. Now healthy and without a brace, Crocker should be able to utilize her range and speed freely and give the Tigers a lefty slapper at the bottom of the lineup.

McCrackin hit .250 with four home runs and 14 RBI last season, with significant hits in the postseason. She's the backup at both middle infield spots and could play third as well.

Makenna Dowell spent the fall at second and looked like a potential starter, but has spent January exclusively on the left side of the infield.

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Auburn infielder Kendall Veach (24) works out Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, during a softball spring scrimmage in Auburn, Ala.

Julie Bennett

Third base

Kendall Veach, junior

Makenna Dowell, freshman

Casey McCrackin, junior

Brittany Maresette, sophomore

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Kendall Veach has a starting spot locked down, it's merely a matter of whether Courtney Shea is starting behind the plate on a given day and how Justus Perry is doing at first.

As incredible a player as Kasey Cooper was, Veach is excellent defensively so Auburn won't see much of a drop on the hot corner. In the box, Veach has to be more disciplined in order to maximize her power.

Makenna Dowell is the backup at third and will likely see significant action if for no other reason than Veach has to catch on occasion.

"She looks so much better over here, so much more comfortable," Dean said of Dowell. "She did (do well at second), but her fluency on this side right now is so much better than the right side of the infield."

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Auburn infielder Taylon Snow (2) works out on the first day of fall softball practice Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Auburn, Ala.

Julie Bennett

Shortstop

Taylon Snow, freshman

Casey McCrackin, junior

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As long as she's healthy, Taylon Snow is the starting shortstop for the next four years.

The freshman is a five-tool player who could end up setting all kinds of records. But to be fair of a young player, she'll have to learn the college game and have to get back in a rhythm in the field after missing several weeks due to plantar fasciitis.

Casey McCrackin will back her up and Makenna Dowell could also play short.

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Auburn outfielder Morgan Podany (17) works out Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, during a softball spring scrimmage in Auburn, Ala.

Julie Bennett

Left field

Morgan Podany, junior

Jenna Olszewski, freshman

Brittany Maresette, sophomore

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Morgan Podany appears to have the edge for the starting job in left field.

She's a good defender and her plate discipline might be best on the team, as she had a .426 on-base percentage last season but just a .217 average. If Podany can be consistent at the plate her potential ceiling would go up considerably.

Freshman Jenna Olszewski is still contending for time in the corner outfield spots and proved to be a capable defender during the fall. She'd likely be the first option after Pordany, who could move to right field if Alyssa Rivera had to play first.

Brittany Maresette is further down the depth chart in left but will be valuable as a pinch runner.

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Auburn outfielder Victoria Draper (27) works out Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, during a softball spring scrimmage in Auburn, Ala.

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Center field

Victoria Draper, redshirt-senior

Bree Fornis, junior

Brittany Maresette, sophomore

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Victoria Draper will be the everyday center fielder, bat either first or second and should finally get to showcase her speed on the basepaths.

Draper could contend for stolen base records with Dean's aggressive style - he told her to increase her goal for steals before the season.

Bree Fornis is the primary backup in center and also has great speed and range.

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Auburn outfielder infielder Alyssa Rivera (21) makes an out in center field against James Madison Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, during an NCAA softball game at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Ala.

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Right field

Alyssa Rivera, sophomore

Morgan Podany, junior

Brittany Maresette, sophomore

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Alyssa Rivera will also be an everyday starter, with right field likely her only spot barring contingencies at first base.

Rivera hit a team-high .371 last season and showed the potential to be an All-American caliber player once she improves her plate discipline - she had 11 walks to 30 strikeouts.

Morgan Podany would move to right field if Rivera were hurt or moved to first base.

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Auburn infielder Tannon Snow (9) works out Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, during a softball spring scrimmage in Auburn, Ala.

Julie Bennett

Designated player

Courtney Shea, senior OR

Tannon Snow, redshirt-sophomore

Justus Perry, sophomore OR

Kendall Veach, junior

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The designated player spot could be a revolving door all season.

Tannon Snow is expected to hit and when she does, it'll be at DP. When she does, Auburn could make several substitutions during a game as pinch runners for Snow are likely.

When Courtney Shea is not catching, she'll be at DP and Kendall Veach will catch. That'll open third base.

If Alyssa Rivera moves to first, that could send Justus Perry to DP.

The possibilities are nearly limitless, but Snow and Shea should be the primary two hitters as long as Snow is healthy.

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Auburn outfielder infielder Alyssa Rivera (21) bats against Oklahoma Friday, May 26, 2017, during Game 1 of the NCAA Super Regional at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Ala.

Julie Bennett

Batting order

With Shea catching and Tannon Snow DP:

Victoria Draper (L) OR

Taylon Snow (L)

Kendall Veach (R)

Alyssa Rivera (L)

Tannon Snow (R)

Courtney Shea (L)

Morgan Podany (R) OR

Justus Perry (R)

KK Crocker (L)

With Veach catching & Shea DP:

Victoria Draper (L) OR

Taylon Snow (L)

Kendall Veach (R)

Alyssa Rivera (L)

Courtney Shea (L) OR

Justus Perry (R)

Morgan Podany (R) OR

Makenna Dowell (S)

KK Crocker (L)

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The top two in the order will be Victoria Draper and Taylon Snow, it's simply a matter of preference for Dean. Both are lefties that offer great speed, but Draper is a slapper and when she set the table late last season it led to a lot more runs. Snow is capable of leading off, but doing so would mean she had nobody on and she's got the power to drive in runners like Draper that is better suited for the No. 2 spot.

Alyssa Rivera and Kendall Veach will be the No. 3 and 4 hitters, again, a matter of preference or matchups. Against a right-handed heavy opponent, Dean could stack lefties, perhaps as many as six in a row from 9 through 5. Realistically, having Veach hit third breaks up the lefties and she's a more powerful hitter to guarantee more at-bats.

The No. 5-6 spots are likely where Tannon Snow and Courtney Shea will end up hitting, with pitching matchups playing a role in order.

Justus Perry could hit higher than seventh, but she had limited at-bats last season and has to develop at the plate. However, she also has the power that could be useful in the middle of the order.

Morgan Podany has more experience and far greater plate discipline, which could help protect the hitters in the middle of the lineup and make it more likely for the bottom of the lineup to come up with a runner on if she bats anywhere from No. 6-8.

KK Crocker would be a great slapper to have at the bottom of the order and hit behind a righty in either Podany or Perry. However, if Dean is trying to break up lefties he could bat Crocker as high as 7 and stack righties 8-9.

When she hits, either as a third baseman or DP, Makenna Dowell is a rare switch hitter and could bring pop and flexibility to the bottom of the lineup.