Friday, January 30, 2009
The KU softball team isn’t lacking experience on its roster. It returns eight of nine starters and five seniors. The Jayhawks are not at a lack of talent either, and that talent is reflected in the senior class.
The Jayhawks return a pitcher in senior Valerie George, who led most of the pitching categories last year. They return a big bat in senior third baseman Val Chapple, who led the team in home runs and RBIs. They also return one of the Big 12’s top hitters in senior outfielder Dougie McCaulley, who hit .375 last spring.
McCaulley knows that there is a lot of chemistry between the seniors and that they have a chance to do something special this year.
“We all mesh together really well,” McCaulley said.
She said each player has her own strength that contributes to making a good overall team.
McCaulley said that she is slightly sad to know it is her last season, but that she would do her best to benefit the team in her final season.
She said she is not one to lead by words though.
“I’m generally kind of a silent leader on the field and try and lead more by action,” McCaulley said.
It won’t be a cakewalk for the Jayhawks this season. In their first three tournaments the team will face six ranked opponents. McCaulley said the team is excited about this though.
“We have a really great schedule playing a lot of top notch teams,” McCaulley said.
The Big 12 competition will be tough too, but McCaulley said the team is still very optimistic about the season.
“We know potentially we could have the best year KU softball has ever seen,” McCaulley said.
When you look at the talent, there is no reason Kansas can’t compete. The only prime player the Jayhawks lost from last season is Betsy Wilson. McCaulley said the number of players coming back got a lot of players pumped for this season.
“It’s really exciting knowing that you have all this camaraderie coming back,” McCaulley said.
On top of the starters returning, senior catcher Elle Pottorf is coming back from injury this season, which could be a big plus for the Jayhawk lineup. McCaulley said that out of all of the seniors Pottorf had been around the longest and probably knew the program better than any of her fellow seniors.
McCaulley is keeping her own personal goals high as well.
“To be honest, I want to be an All-American more than anything,” McCaulley said. She knows her role on the team is important too. “Mainly, my goal is to just be a leader for my team and contribute to my part,” McCaulley said.
With McCaulley and the rest of the senior class leading the way the high hopes for the Kansas softball team are warranted. Don’t be surprised if the Jayhawks wind up in the College Softball World Series later this spring.
— — Edited by Liz Schubauer
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