SB: 2023 in season news

[1972Shocker]

Serious question: Is .972 for a 2B an elite number or is her really strong point making extremely difficult plays?

I think the general consensus is that fielding % in and of itself is not necessarily a definitive measure of how good a defensive player you are. As you mentioned making difficult plays and making tough plays seem routine says a lot and I think that applies to Sami.

By comparison Kaylee Huecker, the 2021 AAC Defensive Player of the Year, who played 2B for the Shocks had a .968 fielding % her SENIOR year. But Kaylee also had great range, great instincts, great hands and the ability to make difficult plays.

Syd McKinney, also considered an elite defender with those same characteristics, had a .963 fielding % this season.

I will say Sami probably won't win this award again playing second base as I think she is likely the heir apparent to Sydney at shortstop.

Not exactly apples-to-apples but Shocker shortstop Andrew Stewart was considered an elite defensive shortstop and he had .979 field % as a senior last year.

I don't really know what fielding % is considered "elite" but I think it is pretty clear that Sami is an very good defensive player. Looking forward to see how that will translate to her plays as a shortstop.

[SubGod22]

Can the WSU voter vote for a WSU player?

Considering others were unanimous I would say yes.

The Pitcher of the Year from UCF was unanimous.

Alex was unanimous as the Rookie of the Year.

The WSU coaching staff was unanimous.

Four of the first team members were unanimous.

One of the rookies (Alex) was unanimous.

So I'm going to go with yes they can, or that's accounted for in the other votes.

[ShockerFever]

Considering others were unanimous I would say yes.

The Pitcher of the Year from UCF was unanimous.

Alex was unanimous as the Rookie of the Year.

The WSU coaching staff was unanimous.

Four of the first team members were unanimous.

One of the rookies (Alex) was unanimous.

So I'm going to go with yes they can, or that's accounted for in the other votes.

Then that person is a ****ing idiot.

[SubGod22]

Senior shortstop Sydney McKinney is Wichita State's greatest softball player. Her teammates and coaches talk about her kind spirit, enthusiasm, and selflessness before her work as a speedy leadoff hitter and defender.

They tell stories about McKinney caring for stray or neglected dogs. They will remember the constant presence of a cup of coffee in her hand. Her reminder "We've got your back" calms frazzled pitchers and relieves anxiety for a slumping hitter.

"It's really cool to see how she leads," first baseman Zoe Jones said. "She pays a lot of attention to the small things. Not just with herself, but with everybody else. She is very composed and, not so much loud, but her presence is really loud out there."

McKinney, named American Athletic Conference Player of the Year on Wednesday, will end her college career as one of the NCAA's greatest hitters. That is only a part of her legacy at Wilkins Stadium.

"She's Shocker special," junior infielder Madyson Espinosa said. "She's been there for me when I've gone through mental struggles, emotional struggles. She's always been someone I can rely on, like a Shocker sister."

Top-seeded Wichita State (43-9) plays in the semifinals of the AAC Championship against either No. 4 Tulsa or No. 5 Houston at 11 a.m. Friday (ESPNU).

McKinney's story, as told by those in the softball program:

McKinney, from Norborne, Missouri, transferred to Wichita State after spending one semester at Missouri. She earned All-American Athletic Conference honors after hitting .329 as the leadoff hitter and playing second and third base as a freshman.

A lot of great quotes from teammates in the article. Syd is a wonderful human being. Even better than her on field exploits.

We've been truly blessed to have her in the program and her presence will be felt long after she is gone from here. She's left a huge mark on and off the field.

[SubGod22]

Go Shockers - RH: Shockers Make Third Straight Regional Trip

Wichita State softball earned a second straight at-large bid to the NCAA Championship, an outcome that seemed in place in February and locked up by mid-March. To prove their confidence, the Shockers held a public watch party on campus for Sunday's selection show with no worries about omission from the field.

That timeline makes the accomplishment seem easier than it is.

Wichita State is the only school outside the SEC, ACC, Big 12, Pacific-12 and Big 10 conferences to earn one of 32 at-large spots the past two seasons. In 2022, the Shockers grabbed one of two at-large spots from the other 27 conferences. On Sunday, they joined a group of five teams from conferences outside of what is commonly known as "Power 5" schools.

Wichita State (43-10) will take that at-large spot to the NCAA regional in Stillwater, Okla., where it faces Nebraska (34-20) at 6 p.m. Friday (ESPNU) at Cowgirl Stadium. Oklahoma State (41-14), the No. 6 national seed, and UMBC (26-15) complete the field. The winner of the double-elimination regional advances to a super regional May 25-28.

"We've worked hard all year for one goal, and this is it," first baseman Zoe Jones said. "More goals to come now that we've accomplished this one."

While the Shockers preferred to win the American Athletic Conference's automatic bid, building the RPI to No. 23 in the NCAA rankings is a strong statement about the program's position. In 2021, the Shockers started this stretch of three straight regionals when they won the conference's automatic bid with an RPI ranked No. 24.

"We've done a good job scheduling and making sure we set ourselves up to have a good RPI," coach Kristi Bredbenner said. "You don't want to put all your eggs in the basket of winning the conference tournament. It's a testament that we have some kids who have continued to grow and develop."

The Shockers swept Oklahoma State (No. 5 in the RPI) this season and added wins over No. 14 Arkansas (also a host), No. 39 Nebraska and a split over at-large selection Texas State. They won the season series with AAC tournament champion UCF 2-1 in Orlando.

The Shockers also played in NCAA regionals in 2016 and 2018 (also with an at-large bid), so this age group knows the program as one that regularly qualifies for NCAA play.

In 2016, the Shockers defeated Tulsa to win their first NCAA game. In 2018, they defeated Oklahoma State twice before falling to host Arkansas to reach the regional championship round for the first time. In 2021, Wichita State defeated Texas A&M twice and lost to eventual NCAA champion Oklahoma in Norman. Last season, the Shockers returned to Fayetteville and lost twice to Oregon and defeated Princeton.

"It says that we've put in the work," shortstop Sydney McKinney said. "We've done a good job of being consistent. It's paid off."

[SubGod22]

Go Shockers - Barnard, Lucas Named Academic All-District

Juniors Addison Barnard and Lauren Lucas earned Academic All-District honors Tuesday afternoon by College Sports Communicators.

This is the second straight Academic All-District honor for Barnard after being named an Academic All-American in 2022. The Beatrice, Neb., native is a health science major and has a cumulative GPA of 3.79.

Barnard earned American Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference honors for the third straight season. She is hitting .373 with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 14 home runs and 35 RBI. Earlier this season she became the Wichita State and American Athletic Conference all-time home run leader and currently stands at 69 career homers.

Lucas is a first time Academic All-District selection. She has a 3.97 GPA and majors in sport management. The Little Elm, Texas, native picked up First Team All-Conference honors for the second consecutive season behind 15 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs, 59 RBI and a .398 batting average. She ranks Top 10 nationally in triples and RBI.

[WstateU]

[WstateU]

[WstateU]

[SubGod22]

I'm pretty sure I saw somewhere that RSO and starting Catcher, Lainee Brown, got her degree in Psychology as well. Not a SR, but pretty damn impressive to pull that off while having a D1 athletic training schedule.

[SubGod22]

WSU - Sydney McKinney leads Shocker softball with spirit, speed and coffee

Wichita State University’s women’s athletics prospered over the past 20 years as a series of coaching hires, facility improvements and budget upgrades lifted them into regular contention for conference titles and NCAA play.

Shocker softball is enjoying its greatest success with five NCAA regional appearances under coach Kristi Bredbenner since 2016. On Sunday, the Shockers earned their third straight regional bid and will play Nebraska at 6 p.m. Friday in Stillwater, Okla.

Senior shortstop Sydney McKinney joins the list of female student-athletes who highlight the success of the past two decades – people such as Olympic distance runner Aliphine Tuliamuk, volleyball stars such as Chelsey Feekin and Abbie Lehman and basketball’s Alex Harden.

McKinney’s leadership isn’t limited to the field. Teammates love her enthusiasm and positive outlook, as well as her devotion to coffee, pets and painting. She is a criminal justice major from Norborne, Missouri. She plans to attend law school, with an eye on working in Title IX law, after working as a graduate assistant for the softball team.

"She’s going to leave here as the best softball player that's ever played the game in this program and that will never change in my lifetime,” Bredbenner said. “She's the most well-rounded student-athlete that's ever played for me. Knows who she is. Who she wants to be. How she wants to treat people. Has done an awesome job of growing the game and growing her brand in a really positive way, instead of a really selfish way.”

[SubGod22]

Go Shockers - Five Shockers Earn NFCA All-Region Honors

Led by NFCA All-Central Region First Team selection Sydney McKinney, Wichita State placed a total of five student-athletes on the All-Region Teams.

For the second straight season Wichita State tied a school record with five All-Region honorees.

McKinney is joined by Addison Barnard (Second Team), Alex Aguilar (Third Team), Lauren Lucas (Third Team) and Lauren Mills (Third Team).

A Norborne, Mo. native, McKinney becomes a three-time NFCA All-Region pick, and a first time First Team selection. She leads the country in batting average (.519) and hits (97) and is looking to become the first player in NCAA history to lead the nation in both categories in consecutive seasons. McKinney is the 2023 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and unanimous All-Conference First Team selection.

This is also the third straight year on the All-Central Region Team for Barnard. She was on the First Team a season ago and Second Team as a freshman. Barnard is hitting .373 with eight doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 35 RBI, 58 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. Her eight doubles and four triples are both career highs.

A true freshman, Aguilar burst onto the scene in 2023. The Texas native is 14-2 with a 1.54 ERA in 104.2 innings. She has thrown six complete game shutouts. Aguilar was a unanimous pick for American Rookie of the Year after ranking fourth among all freshmen pitchers in ERA. In conference games, Aguilar was a perfect 8-0 in the circle.

For the second straight season Lucas landed on the Third Team after another stellar season at the plate. She is hitting .398 with 15 doubles, seven triples, four home runs and 59 RBI. Lucas ranks in the top 10 nationally in triples and RBI, both of which are career highs.

Rounding out the Third Team is the senior Mills. Mills has totaled nine home runs and 42 RBI to go with a .368 batting average. Her 37 walks are a career high.

[SubGod22]

Go Shockers - RH: Bredbenner Built Her Program From Batters Box And Up

On May 17, 2021, Wichita State softball players walked out of the locker room at Wilkins Stadium and saw two pitching machines in the circle.

Coaches set one to throw 69 mph and inside to right-handed hitters and the other at 54 mph to simulate a changeup from Texas A&M junior Makinzy Herzog.

The setup produced a miserable time for hitters four days before the biggest games of the season.

"The first day we were like 'This is impossible – how am I supposed to get my barrel to the ball when it's coming 70 mph at my hands,'" said outfielder Addison Barnard, then a freshman.

"They hated it, and I think they hated me," associate head coach Elizabeth Economon said. "It was the hardest thing they'd done all year."

Four days later, the Shockers opened NCAA regional play with a 9-7 win over Texas A&M in Norman, Okla. They dented Herzog for three hits and four runs in 1 1/3 innings. On the next day, they defeated the Aggies 9-6, totaling 22 hits, three home runs and four doubles in the two games.

"Going into that regional, we knew exactly what we were going to get," Barnard said. "We were ready, and we hit really well."

That preparation, delivered with equal amounts care, honesty, and constructive criticism, is one of the reasons why the Shockers are playing again in late May.Economon

Wichita State (43-10) opens NCAA regional play vs. Nebraska (34-20) at 6 p.m. Friday (ESPNU) in Stillwater, Okla. The Shockers, ranked as high as No. 21 in the national polls, make their third consecutive NCAA appearance and their fifth since 2016.

When coach Kristi Bredbenner came to Wichita State in 2012, she knew she could build the program with offense. She could recruit hitters, coach them up and turn a struggling program into a place that attracted pitchers.

"It's easier to help a hitter than it is to find pitching," she said. "Pitching is at a premium. If you're a pitcher, you don't want to go to a school that doesn't hit well."

That approach turned the Shockers into a regular in NCAA play and atop the American Athletic Conference. They are known as one of the nation's best hitting teams, even in a season such as this one when the pitching and defense are also excellent.

[flyingMoose]

Games through 14 May

NFCA Rankings: 21 (from 20)

ESPN.com/USA Softball Rankings: 21 (from 20)


RPI: 23 for the Shockers, 43 for UCF

[1972Shocker]