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 teams. FPN will look at the season that was and what 2017 may have to offer. Next up: Kentucky Softball.
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The 2016 season was a great one for the Wildcats and coach Rachel Lawson who capture SEC Coach of the year honors for the first time in her nine-year tenure as the Kentucky softball head coach. Kentucky posted the best record in program history going 43-11 during the regular season. Kelsey Nunley became the first player in Wildcat history to be named a National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association First Team All-American. Nunley was also named SEC Pitcher of the year. Last season they were 9-9 against top 25 teams and had an impressive three-game sweep of LSU. The Wildcat’s 17-7 SEC record placed them second in the SEC. All in all, a great season at Kentucky.
Kelsey Nunley became the first player in Wildcat history to be named a National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association First Team All-American. Nunley was also named SEC Pitcher of the year. Last season they were 9-9 against top 25 teams and had an impressive three-game sweep of LSU. The Wildcat’s 17-7 SEC record placed them second in the SEC. All in all, a great season at Kentucky.
The one issue they face in 2017 is they lose Nunley. Three other players were recognized by the SEC and two of them will also graduate. Abbey Cheek was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, and Maisie Steed and Christian Stokes were named to the SEC All-Defensive Team. So of this group only Cheek will return for the 2017 season. The good news is that even with the departure of Nunley the Wildcat’s are in decent shape with Megan Prince (21-6) returning. Nunley was the SEC pitcher of the year and Prince, statistically, was right there with her. The two had identical records and Prince came out of the season with a 1.85 ERA over 162.2 innings. Nunley carried a 1.27 ERA over 181.1 innings. The one area Nunley had a clear advantage was in strikeouts posting 203 to Prince’s 126. The bottom line is from an “Ace” perspective Kentucky should not miss a beat. The issue is depth. They also return Shannon Smith (3-0) who saw limited action in 2016 throwing just 42 innings with a 1.83 ERA. Two of their incoming freshman do have pitching experience but it is unclear as to how coach Lawson will use them.
The good news is that even with the departure of Nunley the Wildcat’s are in decent shape with Megan Prince (21-6) returning. Nunley was the SEC pitcher of the year and Prince, statistically, was right there with her. The two had identical records and Prince came out of the season with a 1.85 ERA over 162.2 innings. Nunley carried a 1.27 ERA over 181.1 innings. The one area Nunley had a clear advantage was in strikeouts posting 203 to Prince’s 126.
The bottom line is from an “Ace” perspective Kentucky should not miss a beat. The issue is depth. They also return Shannon Smith (3-0) who saw limited action in 2016 throwing just 42 innings with a 1.83 ERA. Two of their incoming freshman do have pitching experience but it is unclear as to how coach Lawson will use them.
At the plate, they return three of their four best hitters from 2016. Cheek hit .326 last season and led the Wildcats in home runs (10). Katie Reed batted .312 on the season and Brooklin Hinz hit .310 with seven home runs. Although they lose some consistent hitters to graduation, overall they are in good shape offensively.
Who they lose
- Pitcher – Kelsey Nunley
- Infielder – Nikki Sagermann
- Outfielder – Sylver Samuel
- Infielder – Ansley Smith
- Infielder – Maisie Steed
- Infielder – Christian Stokes
Who they get
- Utility – Kalia Johnson (Covington, GA)
- Infielder – Alex Martens (McHenry, IL)
- Infielder – Morgan McCallum (Mesquite, TX)
- Infielder – Kierston Moore (Marietta, GA)
- Utility/Pitcher – Ashley Ruiz (Palm Desert, CA)
- Pitcher/Utility – Maddie Boyd (Appleton, WI)
- Catcher – Bailey Vick (Paducah, KY)
- Catcher/Outfielder – Byrnlee Bigelow (Somerset, KY)
- Utility – Larissa Spellman (Bloomingdale, NJ)
This should be considered a large recruiting class with nine freshmen coming into the Kentucky softball program. It is also clear based on who coach Lawson is bringing in that they are trying to upgrade the overall athleticism of the team. Almost all of the incoming class can play multiple positions which should give the Wildcats a variety of options. There are also some great hitters in this group that should hemp boost the power numbers over the next four years.
Although we could see several players from this class contributing early on, two stand out in Johnson and Martens. Johnson who will be listed as a utility player but is also a pitcher. She most likely was brought in for her bat. She holds an interesting Georgia high school record for highest amount of strikeouts recorded and home runs hit in a single season. Keep an eye on where she plays in the fall and that may offer some insight as to how she will be used when the season starts.
Martens is considered a top recruit nationally and comes from the national power club Beverly Bandits. The middle infielder bats from the left side and brings both power and speed to the Wildcats. Based on her success at the club and high school level, it is realistic to think she may see playing time from the start.
If the depth in the circle is addressed, there is no reason that the Kentucky softball team won’t find themselves near the top of the SEC again in 2017. Of course, that is easier said than done.
