SEC Softball 2018: What and Who to Watch
2017 Conference Champs: Florida
In 2017, the Gators posted a (20-3) conference record on their way to securing their seventh SEC title. The Gators return five starters who earned All-SEC First Team honors last season. The power five include seniors Seniors Kayli Kvistad, Aleshia Ocasio and Nicole DeWitt, along with juniors Kelly Barnhill and Amanda Lorenz. Barnhill was also named the 2017 USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Year and SEC Pitcher of the Year. Florida begins its’ 2018 campaign at the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament in Tampa versus Illinois State Feb. 9th.
Team(s) to Watch in 2018: Texas A&M
The Aggies ended their storybook 2017 season at the Women’s College World Series with a (47-13) record, it was their best showing on the diamond since 2008. The Maroon & White swept through the College Station Regional and defeated Tennessee in Knoxville to advance to Oklahoma City. The Aggies return with an experienced roster and coaching staff who will be looking to pick up where they left off in 2017- a trip back to the Women’s College World Series.
Tennessee
The Lady Vols are coming off a (48-12) season which saw them reach their 14th consecutive NCAA regional and their ninth overall Super Regional. Tennessee returns five players who earned SEC postseason honors a year ago and also brings back eight of its top 10 hitters from 2017. The Big Orange begins its season at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., on Feb. 8th.
Pitcher(s) to Watch: Kelly Barnhill, Florida
Barnhill returns for her junior season with the Gators after going (26-4) and led Florida to the Women’s College World Series Championship in 2017. Barnhill finished last season with a (0.51) ERA, (359) strikes outs, and a (.121) opposing batting average in (193.2) innings pitched. Barnhill earned many individual awards in 2017 including USA Softball Collegiate POY, Honda Sports Award Winner, espnW Player of the Year, an ESPY for Best Female Collegiate Athlete, SEC Pitcher of the Year, All-SEC First team, NFCA All-American and several others. Her 2017 numbers were even better than those in 2016, and 2018 should be no different.
Alexis Osorio, Alabama
Osorio returns for her senior season with Alabama after going (23-8) in the 2017 season. Osorio finished the season with a (1.21 ERA) and had (334) strikeouts in (203) innings pitched giving her a (1.64 K/IP) stat. Her strikeout total led the SEC, ranked fifth nationally and is the fourth-highest single season total in program history. The 2017 NFCA First Team All-American member, had four games with 18 or more strikeouts, a feat which had only been accomplished twice before in UA history. In NCAA tournament play, Osorio allowed just two runs with 29 strikeouts over 23.2 innings, including 10.2 innings against top-ranked Minnesota and 13.0 against top-seeded Florida. With Osorio on the mound in 2018, the Tide will be a force.
Player(s) to Watch: Meghan Gregg, Tennessee
Gregg returns to the Lady Vols for her senior season, after a stellar junior campaign that landed her as a Top-3 Finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Gregg finished the 2017 season leading the SEC in batting average (.437) and ranked among the Top-15 Nationally in six major offensive categories: RBIs (second), batting average (10th), on-base percentage (sixth), slugging percentage (12th), doubles (13th), and total bases (eighth). Greg broke the Tennessee single-season RBI record of 77 after driving in 79 runs on the year. She also set career highs in almost every offensive category and will be an offensive threat heading into the 2018 season.
Cortni Emanuel, Georgia
Emanuel returns to the Bulldogs for her senior season after an impressive offensive season in 2017. Emanuel finished the season with a (.426) batting average, (80) hits, a (.441) slugging percentage and finished first on the team with (49) runs and (43) stolen bases. Her 43 stolen bases on the season ranked 10th in the Nation and first in the SEC. A 2017 NFCA Third Team All-American member, Emanuel brings experience, speed, and can be expected to lead the Georgia offense heading into the 2018 season.
Coaching Changes: Mickey Dean, Auburn
Dean is widely regarded as one of the elite coaches in the country for taking programs to unprecedented heights. In 11 years at the collegiate level, Dean has coached seven NCAA Tournament teams, including one super regional participant, and won nine conference championships. During his five-years at James Madison, Dean compiled a record of (237-56). He had five 40-win seasons, including the final two campaigns with 52 and 50 victories, respectively. The Dukes broke 104 program records, including over 40 pitching records under Dean’s guidance. Dean has coached 76 all-conference players, 40 all-region honorees and seven all-Americans, including 2017 National Player of the Year, Megan Good. Dean can be expected to get Auburn softball back on track and give them a run at the SEC Championship.
2018 Conference Champion Prediction: Florida
The Gators return their ace pitcher in Kelly Barnhill and a powerful lineup of hitters that will supply the run support on the offensive front. This past season Florida became only the third SEC program to win three straight SEC Regular Season Championships and now holds a league-leading seven titles, six of which have come under head coach Tim Walton. The Gators will be hungry in 2018 for an SEC four-peat as well as another shot at the WCWS Championship in June.
