After enjoying its most prolific season in school history in 2011, the 2012 Kentucky softball team is poised to continue its most successful run in school allure under the direction of fifth-year head coach Rachel Lawson. The Blue and White earned national rankings to begin the season for the first time in school history, and fellow Southeastern Conference coaches tabbed the Wildcats to have their best finish in conference play since the wining the East during the 2000 season.
UK returns 15 letter winners from the 40-win 2011 squad, including its entire pitching rotation which highlights the returning players for the Blue and White. UK will have a mix of savvy veterans and talented newcomers in the infield, with an abundance of depth in the outfield as UK is set to open its 2012 season at UCLA on Feb. 9.
PITCHING STAFF
Throughout the history of softball, particularly on the collegiate level, a team can win championships behind a single dominating pitcher. Well, what can be said for a team with not just one, but four dynamic pitchers?
That’s what Lawson has at her disposal for a second-consecutive season. Led by the senior tandem of Rachel Riley and Chanda Bell and up-and-coming stars in sophomores Lauren Cumbess and Ellen Weaver, the Wildcats have four terrific pitching talents to disperse on opponents.
“Without question, the cornerstone of our program has been our pitching staff,” Lawson said. “And, with all four starters returning, I believe that they will be able to buy our team the time that we need to gain the crucial experience required to compete against the nation’s elite programs.”
Riley and Bell have combined to form the most prolific tandem in school history with more than 80 combined wins. Both have also toppled top-ranked opponents, tossed perfect games and claimed post-season victories throughout their careers.
“I think it (having four talented pitchers) is something that most teams in the country won’t have or don’t have four that can do what we can do,” Riley said. “I think if coach uses our strengths as pitchers to game plan against opponent’s swings, we will be really good.”
Weaver and Cumbess turned in quality freshmen seasons with a combined 12-3 record and ERAs below 3.00. The duo, much like Riley, can also provide a spark at the plate and are talented athletes who will see action in the field as well.
“There are many attributes about this staff that are not easily apparent to an outsider on game day,” Lawson said. “It is their day-to-day preparation and their desire to compete at the World Series that drives them.
“All four not only have different pitches, but they are special people with unique competitive strengths. If we stay the course, 2012 might prove to be a breakout year for all four. Bell and Riley continue to add to their game, and there is no doubt in my mind that Cumbess and Weaver are ready to carry us throughout the season.”
In addition to the abundance of aptitude among the quartet, they all sacrifice their own personal accolades for the betterment of the team.
“I want to be out there every inning I can, but it helps the team. Other hitters see three or four other pitchers and they can’t adjust as well as if it was just two,” Bell said. “It helps the team win, but it also helps me by giving me some rest.”
During nearly every Southeastern Conference series in UK’s record-breaking 2011 season, the opponent faced a new starter each game. That trend is sure to continue in 2012, with Kentucky posing even more threats as each hurler has developed additional options in their pitching rotations.
“I feel like in the past I have been pretty predictable when it comes to pitching and some of the teams could figure it out,” Bell said. “This year I feel like I can mix it up a little more and throw some pitches I normally never throw.”
If Kentucky wants to continue its meteoric rise among the nation’s elite programs, the quartet will have to continue serving as the backbone of the team. The pitching staff is the only unit on the field that returns its entire rotation with each player seeing game action in 30 or more games in 2011.
“All of us have been to Super Regionals now and we have the taste in our mouth so I think definitely to get back there and get to the Women’s College World Series is on everybody’s mind,” Riley said. “I think we just want to come out and start off where we ended last year and continue to build on that.”
INFIELD
Senior Brittany Cervantes and junior Kara Dill lead the Wildcats’ 2012 infield which is comprised of a steady mix of savvy veterans and talented newcomers.
Cervantes splits time at third base, catcher and first base as a three-year starter that has already etched her name as one of UK’s all-time most explosive offensive threats with a school-record 35 home runs. Dill is a sure-handed shortstop that anchors the lineup with clutch at-bats and speed on the base paths.
“I continue to be impressed by the resiliency that our infield displays on a daily basis during practice,” Lawson said. “Cervantes and Dill have done a great job providing steady leadership as the younger players have worked diligently to catch up to the speed of the game played in the SEC.”
Sophomore Emily Jolly who started 46 games at second base in her freshman season will see action both in the infield and the outfield in 2012. Between the three veterans the trio has earned more than 200 starts in their careers combined.
“What we need to do with a young infield is we need to learn from each pitch, to each play, to each at bat,” Cervantes said. “We need to keep the girls focused and for them to gain the knowledge of what is going on to better their game.”
Kentucky has a slew of talent fighting for an opportunity. Senior Ashleigh Gustafson notched a flawless fielding clip in limited action a season ago at second base. The sophomore class of Cumbess, Emily Gaines, Aubrey Lamar and Krystal Smith can all emerge as every day starters for Lawson’s group. Cumbess saw action at first base as a freshman, with Lamar seeing time at third and Smith at second. Redshirt freshman Sarah Frazer is available for game action in her second season with the program.
“Smith, Gustafson and Lamar were steady contributors in the fall and we are looking to them to solidify the infield,” Lawson said.
Freshman Griffin Joiner, an all-state catcher, and a talented newcomer will share time with Cervantes behind the plate and also see action at first base.
“Joiner has done a great job stepping in both behind the plate and at first base,” Lawson said. “She is not only talented, but possesses all of the intangibles. Once Griffin becomes comfortable competing at the collegiate level, I believe she will be one of the best young softball players in the nation.”
Despite a lack of game-experience, Lawson has a bevy of ability to exploit in a multitude of lineups. In addition to Cervantes and Dill, having the entire pitching staff returning in 2012 also provides a calming effect to the infield.
Cervantes is likely to shift into the leadership role vacated by four-year starter Megan Yocke. Cervantes can anchor the infield whether she is at third, first or sitting behind the plate, and looks to Yocke as the epitome of a leader.
“Ever since I got here a big personal goal of mine is to be like Megan Yocke because she is the definition of a leader, of a rock behind the plate if I am catching or even if I am at third it does not matter because you want to be that rock on the field and that is what I want to do,” Cervantes said. “So, I just want to make sure to stay strong every game, if we are winning or losing we need to play 110 percent every pitch.”
OUTFIELD
When formulating a scouting report for the 2012 Kentucky softball program an opposing team will likely develop an opinion that UK’s outfield has been depleted by the graduation of four-year starters Meagan Aull and Annie Rowlands. That misconception may prove advantageous for the Wildcats in a quest for a fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Yes, one can argue that the Wildcats lost two-thirds of its outfield from a season ago. But, spending three years in a winning program and earning an abundance of playing time throughout a career should not be overlooked. Senior Macy Allen points to team chemistry and the number of hours spent on a practice field as to why the Wildcats won’t skip a beat in 2012.
“Even though we all haven’t been starters consistently, I think we put in a lot of hours doing defense,” Allen said. “We do so many drills in practice; I think that as long as we set our minds to our jobs and stay focused we will be fine.”
Allen is joined by fellow senior Erika Silence who despite not serving as an everyday starter made perhaps two of the biggest snags of the entire season a year ago during UK’s upset of No. 7 Tennessee.
“If we want to be a top-10 team which we want to be, we can’t be letting balls drop, the outfield has to be solid,” Allen said.
Junior Alice O’Brien was a right field starter in 46 games a season ago, and Jolly, in addition to her duties in the infield, will also spend time in center field, a position she played in high school.
“O’Brien is one of our strongest athletes and provides us with a lot power in the middle of the order,” Lawson said. “Jolly is one of the best all-around players on our squad and as a result she has made a smooth transition back to the outfield. Both she and Howard have worked hard in the off season and are doing a great job covering ground.”
The freshmen contributors are led by California native and an All-State performer in Kara Howard who will likely see an abundance of action in center.
The Wildcats will also have sophomores Ginny Carroll, Emily Gaines and Weaver providing additional options in the outfield.
“This strong sophomore class is ready to take the next step and lead us during the 2012 season,” Lawson said. “Gaines is arguably the most improved athlete on the squad and has had a great offensive preseason. Carroll continues to work hard in transitioning to the outfield and has done a great job competing in the outfield.”
Freshmen Amanda Allen and Lindsay Griggs joined the Blue and White in the fall to provide steady depth to the lineup.
“I think when we are all meshing, and having fun together and clicking on all cylinders together, all pulling the wagon in the same direction it makes a huge difference,” Allen said. “We always want to move forward and be better so I think progression is the biggest goal, keep moving forward for the program.”