2016 Shocker Fall Softball

[1972Shocker]

WSU announces the 2016 Fall softball schedule.

[flyingMoose]

Sully's Shocker article this week focuses on Laurie Derrico and the leadership HCKB is expecting her to provide. The Alumnae scrimmage is this Saturday at 2pm with fall practices starting next Monday.

[flyingMoose]

Sunday's WSU Notes by Sully has the move of Mackenzie Wright back to third base as the lead topic. The picture has her wearing funky training goggles to help the fielders keep their head/eyes up.

[luvthoseshox]

Has anyone been to any of the games so far? Thoughts?

[flyingMoose]

Not me so far. Still want to, but their schedule and my schedule have not meshed yet. Especially interested in seeing Bailey Klitzke, the freshman lefty.

The schedule has dropped the Black-and-Gold series, but I do not know if they have actually dropped the games.

[xazshox]

Bailey Klitkze

I went to the game with Seminole College the other night. Katie Malone pitched the 1st 5 innings giving up 4 hits. The game went 10 innings to allow both teams to play their benches. Bailey Klitkze pitched the last 5 innings & I was impressed with her. Kristi Bredbrenner played most of her bench. In the 6th inning, Bailey got in a bit of trouble & gave up 3 runs, but it wouldn't have happened if the WSU right fielder had not misjudged a flyball hit right at her in the sun. Her 1st couple of steps were forward, & then she figured out the ball would go over her head but it was to late by then. Those kind of fly balls are the worst kind for outfielders to judge correctly. Anyway, I was impressed with the way Bailey pitched & thought it was the highlight of the game. She is a left hander which gives WSU a different look now.

The Shockers did hit 4 HR's in the game. Laurie Del Rico hit 2, Paige Luellen hit one & Macklin Hitz hit one towering blast that just cleared the left field foul pole. The Shockers had 19 hits & won, 12-4. Two WSU starters, Kelli Spring & Ashley Johnson, did not play in the game so more reserves could get in the game. Seminole had quite a few fans who showed up for the game.

[flyingMoose]

Laurie Del Rico

Derrico. This is funny to me because at a recent volleyball match, all of the Dean's List athletes were honored and she was introduced as Der-RI-co when it is pronounced DER-ri-co - unless she has changed the way she pronounces her name. :) She is smacking the ball - four homers this fall.

[1972Shocker]

Here is an Eagle article from September on Laurie Anne (who is just a sophomore) in which HCKB mentioned that she sees her as a key figure in in replacing departing Shocker seniors Cacy Williams, Brittany Fortner and Liz Broyles.

[luvthoseshox]

I wasn't aware that Kelsey Sterneker is no longer playing? When did this happen and does anyone know why?

[flyingMoose]

I wasn't aware that Kelsey Sterneker is no longer playing? When did this happen and does anyone know why?

I sent you a PM.

[flyingMoose]

I attended the final fall softball game/scrimmage last night.

Shockers 9-0 Northern Oklahoma-Enid

I went primarily to see Bailey Klitzke, the freshman lefty. However, she has been shut down (one of five who did not dress - Jenni, MackenzieW, a couple of others) with a sore shoulder. Since a freshman probably pitches spring high school ball, summer travel ball and now fall college ball, having a tired shoulder is not surprising. A "parent report" says that she has some pace although she does not throw as hard as Katie and has two different change-ups, two different speeds.

Katie pitched the last five innings of a seven-inning game and looked like Katie. Well, her change wasn't that good, actually. The first two innings were pitched by Morgan Palmer, the juco transfer from Seminole State. She is here as an outfielder and last pitched in high school. She was serviceable, relying on her change which was her out-pitch in high school. I doubt she will pitch much if at all in the spring, just chewing up a few innings in the fall since we are down to just Katie among the regular pitchers.

Madison Perrigan, the freshman catcher, caught half of the game (some positions alternated every inning) and has a nice arm. She had the only homer of the game. Macklin had a homer, but the NOC left fielder brought it back out of the netting beyond the fence in front of the scoreboard. Laurie had a double on the warning track.

Hard to tell much. I suspect it will take the offense some time to replace (if that is possible) the graduated Cacy, Brittany and Liz. Cacy is still around, finishing up her degree and helping in some capacity. I think she has an interest in coaching in the future.

Early February (historically the start of the season is the first or second weekend) is not far away.

[luvthoseshox]

It seems like pitching is going to be a real issue this year.

[wsunet]

As long as Katie and Jenni are healthy and ready in Feb I think the pitching will be at least equal to or better than last year with another year under the new pitching coach. But that is if they are. Once the freshman develops some more over the winter it may ease the load on Katie/Jenni if she proves she can get batters out at this level. So i am taking the optimist approach this year. Next year not sure since Katie and Jenni will have graduated and we will be starting from scratch again with either a transfer pitcher or some freshman who knows.

[1972Shocker]

Yeah, the pitching should be no more of an issue this season then it was last season IF Jenni recovers from her compartment surgery and whatever else may have been plaguing her arm.

The pitching could well be better this season is as @wsunet: says both Katie and Jenni are fully healthy and if Bailey can be reasonably effective.

The big shoes to fill, as @flyingMoose: has pointed out, are the bats of Cacy Williams, Brittney Fortner and Liz Broyles.

[luvthoseshox]

I agree, I should have said, "If they aren't completely healthy, pitching will be a real issue this year." I hope they can all get healthy over the winter and be ready to play in the spring.