2009 Softball Preview
1/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 31, 2009
There is an old saying that you cannot change the past, only the future. After some uncharacteristic struggles in 2008, the 2009 Baylor softball team is ready to make its mark on the future.
"I think in this sport where there is something as small as a single game or as large as a whole season, you have breaks in some seasons and in others they don't go your way," head coach Glenn Moore said. "I believe two years ago we had a lot of breaks go our way. I think you put yourself in a position to make those breaks, but whenever you need breaks to help your season, and the breaks go the other way, you are kind of doomed for a tough season. I think that is what we experienced last year."
It would be easy for the 2009 team to play the 'what if' game about a break here or there, but instead of reacting to 2008, the Lady Bears have been proactive about 2009.
Baylor returns 12 letterwinners and seven starters off of last season's team, and those players will be asked to lead and help bring along a class of six freshmen who will don the green and gold for the first time.
"The transition starts with your perspective and your philosophy," Moore said. "We are going to have to grow up really fast, but the kids are very confident and you can tell."
The Lady Bears got off to a great start this past fall, going 7-1 and showing signs they will be a force to be reckoned with this spring. But off the field is where Coach Moore sees the greatest improvement, as this 2009 team has a unity and bond all its own.
"It's been a long time since I have seen a team with this kind of camaraderie," Moore said. "This team needs to find its identity and find out what they are all about. I think our weaknesses can easily become our strengths, but we will need to stay consistent emotionally, never too high or low."
PITCHING
The pitching staff returns three arms to the circle in 2009. Brittany Turner, Shaina Brock and Jenny Isham accounted for 18 of their team's 23 wins and will be looked upon to be the squad's cornerstone of the squad this season.
"I am as cautiously optimistic about our staff as I have ever been at Baylor," Moore said. "We have four arms that can contribute, which should make our pitching staff our strength this year."
One reason for Moore's confidence is freshman sensation Whitney Canion. The Aledo, Texas native, was named the Texas 2008 Gatorade Player of the Year and comes to Baylor with a full list of accomplishments.
As a senior at Aledo High School, Canion went 31-0 with a 0.07 ERA, 382 strikeouts, three perfect games, seven no hitters and 14 shutouts. She also helped lead Aledo to its first 4A state championship, pitching 15 innings with 22 strikeouts and setting the new 4A state championship strikeout record.
"Whitney really pitched well in the fall," Moore said. "She has top speed and good control. I expect her to be one of the top pitchers in the conference and the country when her career is all said and done."
Sophomore Shaina Brock returns for her second season after coming on strong to end 2008. The Derby, Kan., native, went 4-6 overall but proved she has the potential to be one of the Big 12's top pitchers after back-to-back stellar performances against No. 7 Oklahoma (11 innings, 184 pitches) and Iowa State (7.1 innings, two earned runs) to end the year.
"Shaina started to figure herself out towards the end of last season," Moore said. "If she can go out, relax and pitch with confidence, we know she can compete with the best in the country."
Returning with a wealth of experience and talent is senior Brittany Turner. She led the 2008 Lady Bears in appearances, ERA and saves after recording a 3-4 record. After another solid fall, Moore likes what he sees from the senior.
"Brittany had a very good fall," Moore said. "She has the best changeup of any pitcher I have ever coached and I see something really exciting in her this year. She has worked hard and deserves to have a good senior year."
Another senior poised for a solid season is Jenny Isham. After leading the team with an 11-3 record and a 2.18 ERA in her first season at the Division I level, coach Moore believes Isham is well prepared for 2009.
"Jenny has a better handle on Division I softball after the experience she got last season," Moore said. "She brings a different look than any of our other pitchers and I think she is going to really help us."
CATCHING
Baylor returns experience and talent behind the plate this season as junior Courtney Oberg will look to continue to establish herself in 2009. Oberg started at catcher in 40 of the team's 45 games last year, picking off 11 runners.
"I think Courtney Oberg has the ability to be one of the best catchers in the Big 12," Moore said. "She has the arm, accuracy and competitive spirit. That's what you love to have in a catcher."
Behind Oberg will be sophomore Jordan Vannatta. Used mainly as a designated player in 2008 due to arm problems, Vannatta is ready to show what she is capable of in 2009.
"Jordan has a lot of talent," Moore said. "She has had some arm trouble, but when she is healthy, she is very capable."
Freshman Kalee Young will also look to add to Baylor's depth behind the plate. The Belton, Texas, native, has already shown improvement under Josh Newman and could see some time if called upon.
FIRST BASE
Baylor will be looking for a new starting first basemen in 2009 after the graduation of Jordan Daniels. With only Oberg having starting experience at first, Coach Moore knows it's a position that may have some questions.
He will look for answers in a few different players, beginning with senior Alex Colyer. The Houston native started at three different positions last season and will look to find a home at first in 2009. Colyer hit .301 and was second on the team with 10 doubles last year. Her experience as a second basemen could prove to be advantageous on the right side of the infield.
"We need Alex's bat in the lineup," Moore said. "She is definitely getting a look at first."
A freshman who began turning some heads in the fall was Sydney Wilson. What she lacks in experience, she makes up for with her bat, and Moore could look to the freshman to help out at first.
"Sydney also has a good bat and he has a lot of power for her size," Moore said.
Another option for Moore could be Oberg.
"Courtney looks like a natural over there but we need her behind the plate," he said. "We will look at several different options, but we don't have any one player with a lot of experience over there. We have to solidify that position."
SECOND BASE
Baylor is in good hands at second as sophomore Meagan Weldon returns for her second season. After making 34 starts last season, Moore believes Weldon is ready for a full season at the position.
"Second base is the toughest position to play in our system," Moore said. "Meagan has been working hard and really swinging the bat well over the fall. I am really pleased with how she has improved and look for good things out of her this year."
Pushing her will be Wilson, who Moore has seen improve and make great plays during the course of the fall.
SHORTSTOP
KJ Freeland returns to short this season after making 35 starts in 2008. The sophomore hit .302 in her freshman campaign and showed a lot of poise and ability on the defensive side.
"KJ has a lot of experience in that position," Moore said. "She is really consistent over there and I like what she brings to the table."
Freshman Bree Hanafin has also turned heads in the fall. The Arlington, Va., native has shown signs of brilliance and could see some time at short.
"Bree has been impressive in the fall, especially on the defensive side," Moore said. "She is a tremendous athlete with a very high ceiling."
THIRD BASE
For the fourth and final season, the "hot corner" will be manned by Brette Reagan. The three-time All-American returns for her senior campaign after another stellar year in 2008. She led the team with a .385 average, 11 doubles, 10 home runs and 36 RBI. Reagan sits near the top of many statistical categories and will look to make her final mark on what might be the most impressive career in Baylor softball history.
"It's bittersweet because you are lucky to have a player of her caliber over there, but it's her last year," Moore said. "Brette has always been a leader on the field, but during the fall she became a great leader off of it in workouts and in the weight room. She loves to play this game and has a great passion for it. She has had three great years and I expect her fourth to be no different. She has brought a lot of success to this program and has a nationwide respect."
Learning the ropes from the All-American will be Megan Turk. An outstanding athlete herself, the Bulverde, Texas, native comes to Baylor after a great career at Smithson Valley High School.
"Megan plays a lot like Brette," Moore said. "She has a great attitude, a good bat and has a fantastic mentor in Brette."
OUTFIELD
As has become tradition at Baylor, the Lady Bears will boast one of the nation's best outfields. Twin sisters Nicole and Tiffany Wesley return for their junior campaigns and will help form what is arguably the nation's fastest outfield.
Nicole is coming off a magnificent sophomore season after being named first-team All-Big 12 and all-region. She hit .375 and stole 14 on the season, but really turned it on in conference with a .419 average. She will be the starting center fielder after starting all 45 games for Baylor in 2008.
"Nicole had a terrific year and she really came along great defensively," Moore said. "I look for her to continue improving again this year and be a very key player for us."
Tiffany will return to left, where she made 42 starts in 2008. One of BU's most reliable outfielders, she had a .980 fielding percentage and made just one error last season. After going a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen bases last year, her speed and bat will be needed again in 2009.
"Tiffany brings a lot of things to the table," Moore said. "I know she did not have the year she wanted at the plate, but she never let that affect her defense. I like what I am seeing from her this fall."
Moore found a replacement for right field when he signed freshman speedster Kayce Walker. The Franklin, Texas, native will be a starter in the outfield and should be the team's leadoff hitter this season.
"Kayce is one of the best slappers I have seen," Moore said. "She is so good with the bat and makes the defense react so quickly with that speed."
Senior Sophia Lujan returns for her second season, and although she only started three games for the Lady Bears in 2008, Moore likes what he sees.
"Sophia may be our best all-around defensive outfielder," he said. "She has a lot of talent out there and I think she will see some time."
Also seeing time in the outfield could be Colyer. After starting seven games in right last season, Colyer picked up on the position quickly and has shown to have the strongest arm.
"I think we have the best outfield in the country, and certainly the fastest," Moore said. "Our pitchers should have a lot of confidence with that group out there, because they can get to a lot of balls that most players can't."
DESIGNATED PLAYER
With so many quality bats in the lineup, several players will be called upon to play the designated player role this year. Look for Alex Colyer, Jordan Vannatta, Sydney Wilson, Meagan Turk and Whitney Canion all to possibly see time at that position.
SCHEDULE
Just take one look at the schedule and you will see what a gauntlet it is. The Lady Bears will play 21 games against 11 teams that made the 2008 NCAA Tournament, including three teams (Florida, Alabama and Texas A&M) that advanced to the Women's College World Series.
"This schedule was set up well in advance of the 2008 season," Moore said. "We are certainly going to be tested and we are going to get to find out just where we stand. In order to be the best, you have to play the best and so I am really excited about this schedule. We know it's tough, but I think we will be as well prepared as anyone for conference play, and that will be very beneficial."
The season will begin on the road for the first time since 2001 with a three-game series at Florida on Feb. 6-8. The Gators rewrote the record books with 70 wins in 2008 and return eight starters, seven seniors and five All-Americans in 2009.
The Lady Bears will return home to host five teams in the eighth annual Getterman Classic. That starts a 15-game home stand that also includes the QTI Invitational on Feb. 27-March 1.
Baylor then embarks on a nine-day, 10-game road trip throughout the southeast. Highlighted on the trip is the Easton SEC/Pac-10/Big 12 Challenge in Tuscaloosa, Ala., with five games against national powerhouses Alabama, Georgia and Washington. In addition, a trip to Baton Rouge to face LSU where assistant coach Britni Sneed Newman will be inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame the night before the game.
Add that to an already tough Big 12 slate and you have the makings of one of the most difficult schedules in the country.
"How we handle success and adversity will tell a lot about this season," Moore said. "We have to keep in perspective where we are and where we are heading and let it help us grow into what we need to be."
