Inside the Diamond is a weekly feature during the off-season of NCAA Softball. Each week Fastpitch News (FPN) will look at a 2016 USA Today/NFCA (final poll) top 25 team. FPN will look at the season that was and what 2017 may have to offer.
Next up: Baylor
The Baylor Bears have been consistent the past four years. Head Coach Glenn Moore has led them to four straight NCAA regional championship games. The Bears ended the season with a 45-14 record. They only lose four seniors and return 16 with four new players coming in for 2017. One thing they struggled with in 2016 was beating ranked team. Baylor went just 1-6 against top 25 opponents. The good news is that they are winning the games they are supposed too, the bad news is they need to find a way to win the ones they are not.
Freshman outfielder Kyla Walker set the schools single season batting average with a .415 average. The previous record (.413) was set by her sister Kayce in 2009. The Bears had five players earn All-Conference honors in 2016 in Heather Stearns, Sarah Smith, Linsey Hayes, Walker and Shelby Friudenberg. The bad news is that three of them, Stearns, Smith and Hayes, have graduated. Stearns (20-8) was the teams leading pitcher posting a 2.10 ERA with 212 strikeouts over 179.2 innings. Smith was a major factor in the Bears offense with a .400 average, 113 RBI and 10 home runs. Hayes batted .307 with 44 RBI and 13 homers. Between Smith and Hayes coach Moore will need to replace power in the bears line-up. Friudenberg did hit 11 bombs in 2016 so that helps and with the return of their best hitter Walker they should be OK.
Even though they do lose four players they are not decimated by any means. One would think the loss of Stearns may be the toughest, but coach Moore has a pretty deep staff. Kendall Potts (13-1) is coming off a strong season where she posted a 1.93 ERA with 82 strikeouts over 105.1 innings of work. Heading into 2017 it appears she will lead this staff. Last year they got LSU transfer Kelsee Selman. Selman (5-3) saw limited action in 2016 but should play a bigger role next season.
Who they lose
- Catcher – Robin Landrith
- Infielder – Sarah Smith
- Pitcher – Heather Stearns
- Outfielder – Linsey Hays
Who they get
- Outfielder – Maddison Kettler (West, TX)
- Outfielder – Madi O’Neal (Huffman, TX)
- Infielder – Taylor Ellis (Waco, TX)
- Pitcher – Shelby “Goose” McGlaun (Humble, TX)
Although this class in not large it appears to be exactly what coach Moore needed based on who was graduating. Kettler will add speed to the Bears line-up. She has the ability to play middle infield as well as the outfield. Considered a blue chip recruit, she should see playing time sooner than later. O’Neal is another outfielder with speed that hits from the left side of the plate. It is possible she will see some time in the outfield, but you can bet she will get time running the bases her fist season. Ellis adds depth to the middle infield and is known as a sure handed shortstop. Maybe the top recruit for coach Moore is McGlaun. Not only can she pitch, she has a powerful bat and can play in the outfield. McGlaun was considered one to the top prospects in Texas and was a nice get for the Bears. She should have an immediate impact.
Overall Baylor is poised to have another solid season in 2017. Unless things go horribly wrong we should expect to see them make another NCAA regional. The main concern for this team heading into next season is pitching. They will need someone to step up and take control of that number two spot. Selman is the logical person to fill that role. If she can get back to where she was with LSU in 2015, when she was 9-0 with a 1.47 ERA, it would be big for this team. Maybe the freshman McGlaun fills that role also. The Bears will also need to improve against top caliber teams if they are to make any noise in the post season.
