2019 FPN Conference Previews: Big 12
| TEAM | CONFERENCE RECORD | OVERALL RECORD |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 18-0 | 57-5 |
| Baylor | 12-6 | 38-18 |
| Oklahoma State | 12-6 | 39-22 |
| Texas | 10-8 | 33-26 |
| Texas Tech | 5-13 | 31-28 |
| Iowa State | 4-14 | 23-33 |
| Kansas | 2-16 | 27-25 |
Catch up on all of our conference previews here: Big West, Big Ten, CUSA, Atlantic 10, Big Sky, CAA, Summit League, American, ACC, Big 12,
West Coast Conference.
TEAMS TO WATCH:
OKLAHOMA
One of the most dominate forces in the Big 12 an the country at large, Oklahoma looks to reload following the graduations of Paige Lowary and Paige Parker.
OKLAHOMA STATE
In each of his first three seasons at the helm, Kenny Gajewski has the Cowgirls heading in the right direction. Couple that with a big off-season in the addition of a handful of key transfers, Oklahoma State could be poised to wreak some real havoc in the Big 12 and across the country.
TEXAS
The team that can make the biggest jump in 2019, the Texas Longhorns. We all know the story, now we get to see how it all unfolds.
BIGGEST QUESTION:
BACK ON TOP?
The Mike White era of Texas Longhorn softball has begun with a bang in Austin. With all the transfers and returning talent on the Longhorns roster can this program claw back to one of the tops in the Big 12 and the country?
WHATCHA GOT?
Baylor is a fascinating program year in and year out, it seems like you don’t quite know what is going to happen until season gets underway. The question for Baylor – do they have enough to get back to the WCWS? Especially with the rise in talent throughout the conference.
BREAKOUT SEASON?
Oklahoma State has been knocking on the door the last couple of seasons, is this the year they can fully break through and advance through the regional round? We will see.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Miranda Elish, Texas
I may say this a lot, we all know the story, and we know the success Miranda Elish has had. What will be interesting is how will Elish handle a potential big increase in innings pitched if there isn’t a true number two behind her. At Oregon, Elish shared the circle with Megan Kleist and Maggie Balint. Elish threw 175 innings while Kleist recorded 179.2 innings.
Kyla Walker, Baylor
Hitting .439, Walker is an impactful and steady table setter for Baylor and will need to be again in 2019 especially with the graduation of top offensive hitter, Jessie Scroggins.
Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma
What else is there to say? After a star-studded freshman campaign hitting .420 with 30 home runs, Alo is back and ready for her sophomore season.
Jessica Hartwell, Texas Tech
A player who may have flown a bit under the radar in the Big 12 with names like “Alo” making a lot of noise, Hartwell was so good in 2018. A .400 hitter with 14 doubles, four triples, 20 home runs, and 61 RBIs was stellar for the Red Raiders.
Janae Jefferson, Texas
The batting average leader for the Longhorns in 2018, she hit .392 with 11 doubles. Her steadiness at the plate will be crucial for the Longhorns, especially now with hitters like Lauren Burke, Shannon Rhodes, and Mary Iakopo.
Brooke Bolinger, Texas
Bolinger could be the biggest key to Texas’ season success this season. In 2018 she posted an ERA of 2.20 over 117 innings while striking out 123. If she can become a true number two to Elish, the Longhorns will be in good shape.
Gia Rodoni, Baylor
Recording a league leading 268 strike outs in 2018, Rodoni is as tough as they come in the circle for Baylor. She threw 223 innings, posted a 23-12 record, and a 2.32 ERA.
Sami Williams, Iowa State
While Iowa State has been out of the mix in the Big 12 for awhile, second year head coach, Jamie Pinkerton, led the Cyclones to big strides in 2018 and Williams was a huge part of that. She hit an impressive .388 (good for 8th in the conference), recorded 14 doubles, and 12 home runs. She’s talented and fun to watch.
Samantha Show, Oklahoma State
A transfer from Texas A&M and a 2018 NFCA All-South Region selection, Show will make a big time impact on the Cowgirls season both at the plate and in the circle. She is a huge key to OSU’s success this season.
PREDICTIONS:
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Oklahoma
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Miranda Elish, Texas
COACH OF THE YEAR: Mike White, Texas
