We take a quick look at the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll – Preseason 2015 and provide a snap shot of each team.
No. 10 Baylor
The Bears made a great run in 2014 to the WCWS semifinals where they lost to eventual champion Florida. On the season they placed second in the Big 12 and posted a 49-16 overall record. They will return six starters from a team that set several team offensive records in 2014. They do lose their Ace Whitney Canion but do return junior Heather Stearns who went 15-4 with a 2.06 ERA in 2014. At the plate they return their top four hitters from last season in senior outfielder Kaitlyn Thumann, sophomore infielder Ari Hawkins, junior outfielder Linsey Hays and junior infielder Sarah Smith. Combined these four accounted for 43 percent of their home runs, 46 percent of their runs and 41 percent of the teams RBI in 2014. Hays tied for the team lead in RBI (49) and was second in home runs (13). They will open their season at the Fairfield Inn & Suites North Getterman Classic on February 6, 2015 against Wichita State. Full Schedule: http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-softbl/sched/bay-w-softbl-sched.html
No. 9 Louisiana-Lafayette
The Ragin Cajuns were a team that people wanted to cheer for in 2014, unless your team was playing them. The 2014 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year Michael Lotief, has to be happy with 22 letter winners returning from a team that went 49-10-1 and earned in trip to the Women’s College World Series. Retuning is All-American pitcher senior Christina Hamilton with her glasses and 1.56 ERA from 2014. Last season she held opposing hitters to just a .191 BA over 237.1 innings. Another returning All-American is junior catcher Lexi Elkins who batted .388 with 24 home runs and 74 RBI. The 24 homers was good enough to rank second in the nation. Another key player to their offensive output will be sophomore infielder Hailey Hayden who was a 2014 NFCA Division l Freshman of the Year Top 10 Finalist. Last season she hit .332 with 15 home runs and 55 RBI. There is a lot of experience on this team and they should be one of the main contenders this spring. They will kick things off on February 6, 2015 against North Carolina State at the Louisiana Classic. Full Schedule: http://www.ragincajuns.com/schedule.aspx?path=softball
No. 8 Michigan
The defending regular season Big Ten champions have several reasons to be excited for the 2015 season. They return 14 players from a team that went 47-15 and advanced to the super regional in 2014. Leading the way are a pair of All-Americans in junior short stop Sierra Romero and senior pitcher Haylie Wagner. They also return three of their top five hitters from 2014. Last season Romero batted an impressive .491 with 18 home runs and 72 RBI. Another great hitter is junior outfielder Sierra Lawrence who knocked in 58 RBI while batting .351. Pitching will be one of the strengths of this team with Wagner who went 24-5 in 2014 with a 1.82 ERA and 122 strikeouts. They also return sophomore Megan Betsa who went 18-4 for the Wolverines and a 2.15 ERA. We should have a good idea where this team is at right away as they face No. 1 Florida on February 7, 2015 at the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament in Tampa, FL. Full Schedule: http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/sched/mich-w-softbl-sched.html
No. 7 UCLA
The Bruins are loaded with talent and are coming off a season that saw them go 52-8. Leading the way for them are senior pitcher Ally Carda and senior catcher Stephany LaRosa. Carda is coming off a 30-win season where she posted a 1.91 ERA with 230 strikeouts. She held opposing hitters to .207. She also batted .394 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI. LaRosa had a .727 SLG, 14 home runs and 45 RBI. Junior infielder Mysha Sataraka led the team in home runs with 16. This is a team that should score a lot of runs and with such a strong pitching staff they will be right there at the end of the season. They will open the season at the So Cal Collegiate Classic February 5, 2015 and will face No. 24 Texas A&M and No. 22 Notre Dame. Full Schedule: http://www.uclabruins.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30500&SPID=126919&SPSID=749857
6. Kentucky
The Wildcats are coming off of one of the best seasons in program history winning 50 games and a trip to the Women’s College World Series. They return their ace junior Kelsey Nunley who was Named to the Top 50 Watch List for National Player of the Year. Last season she was outstanding winning 30 games and posting a 1.88 ERA with 219 strikeouts. They lose their best hitter from 2014 but return the bulk of their power in senior catcher Griffin Joiner (10 HR), junior infielder Christian Stokes (7 HR) and junior infielder Nikki Sagermann (13 HR). These three have shown good power, but could hit for better average and with another year behind them they should. Defense should also be a strength of this year’s team. As a team last season they had a .972 fielding percentage. They will open their season on February 5, 2015 at Florida A&M and two days later they will face No. 5 Florida State at the Renegade Classic. Full Schedule: http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/w-softbl/sched/kty-w-softbl-sched.html
