2018 Kentucky Softball Preview // Part II – The Infield
2018 Kentucky Softball Preview
Part II – The Infield
Those who believe that experience can go a long way to a deep postseason run in May will fall in love with the Kentucky softball infield. That’s because the Wildcats return virtually everyone on the dirt for the 2018 season that saw significant amounts of starts and games played, including All-American shortstop, Katie Reed.
Reed was nothing short of sensational a year ago for the Wildcats, becoming just the third National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American in program history, joining Molly (Johnson) Belcher and Kelsey Nunley. Not bad company.
Reed, a very cerebral leader – much like her head coach – would be the first to tell you that none of her eye-popping numbers comes from just her alone. Yes, she had the highest fielding percentage among all starting Southeastern Conference shortstops. Yes, she had a .380 batting average in SEC games, good enough for second place in the entire league. Yes, she was First Team All-SEC. Oh, and yes, she’s a 4.0 student, as well. But, softball is a team game – and the players around her force her to be great.
To Reed’s right is third baseman Abbey Cheek. The Inman, S.C., native has the innate ability to change a game with one fast, forceful, overpowering speed of the bat – launching balls over fences with height and length not seen since Brittany Cervantes. After a choppy first year splitting time at third base, 2017 was much better defensively for Cheek – who had her best year yet in the field. At the plate, Cheek will continue to be the go-to run producer – and with a new berm out in right field, expect to be on alert.
If Reed glances to her left, she’ll find an All-SEC performer from last year, Alex Martens. Hailing from McHenry, Illinois, Martens is one of the best freshman that UK softball has seen, winning the 2017 NCAA Lexington Regional MVP award with a batting average over .600 during the postseason, and earning All-SEC Freshman honors from the league coaches last year. Martens’ career began with a bang, hitting a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning against Florida A&M in her first-career game showing why she is so clutch in situations which aren’t for the faint of heart.
So, we’ve discovered that UK has an All-American at shortstop, 2016 All-SEC performer at third, 2017 All-SEC player at second – but what about at first base?
Well, that’s maybe the lone defensive question for the Wildcats this season. When Erin Rethlake isn’t picking up wins in the circle, expect to see her playing 1B, where last year – she proved to be one of the most athletic and versatile players at the bag. When Rethlake is pitching, the good news for head coach Rachel Lawson is that she has a multitude of options. She could go with experience and throw Rachael Metzger at a place where she was good all of last year when called upon. She could pencil in a freshman like Mallory Peyton, who joins UK from the Bluegrass state. Same with speedy slapper Lauren Johnson. Kierston Moore would also be a viable candidate for the spot, seeing she did hit a home run last year and contributed valuable innings in the non-conference a season ago.
The good news? There are not just one or two options at first. But, rather, four or five. That’s a good problem to have for a young, athletic, growing team.
Behind the plate, Wildcat faithful have admittedly been spoiled over the last several seasons. From Meagan Yocke to Griffin Joiner and now to Jenny Schaper – the catcher position has never been one that fans have had to worry about. Schaper will be entering her third season as the full-time catcher and with her third-difference ace pitcher. The good news to that? Well, there’s a lot. It shows her versatility to catching different pitchers – and it shows that she can be successful with any type of player in the circle. She has shown to be a consistent hitter at the plate – with one of the most memorable hits a season ago in the 11th inning at No. 5 UCLA with a home run in the top of the frame to win the game for the Wildcats.
The bottom line? This infield is some kind of good. With the potential to be better than that. The potential to be one of the best in the league.
Also the good news? None of the full-time starters graduate this year.
Buckle up.
