Cowley softball striving to get back to nationals

Coming up just short of qualifying for its third straight national tournament appearance in 2007, the 2008 Cowley College softball team is eager to get back to nationals and earn another shot at the title.

Despite not qualifying for nationals, the 2007 squad managed to win its fourth straight Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division title and finished the season with a record of 46-9.

Cowley head coach Ed Hargrove anticipates his starting lineup consisting of five freshmen and five sophomores. The balanced lineup finished with a record of 17-3-1 during its fall scrimmages.

“We had another good fall season and feel like the people we moved around excelled at the spots we put them,” Hargrove said.

Cowley will need to replace four players in the infield as they lost sophomores Jymme Daley (second base), Kaci Haney (shortstop), and Jenny Hoyt (third base) to graduation, along with catcher Katie Duncan, who transferred to Washburn University.

Hargrove anticipates four freshmen taking the vacated infield spots with Sarah Smith starting at second base, Jenna Klick at shortstop, Breayle Tackett at third base, and Kashilia Young at catcher. Young will be in a three player rotation with Junction City sophomore Whitney Foust, who batted .380 in 50 at bats as a freshman, and Fairbury, Neb. sophomore Emily Zimmerman, a transfer from Bethany College.

“Breayle hit in the three-spot for us in fall ball and will help pick up some of the offense we lost from last year,” Hargrove said. “Kashilia led us in home runs (five) in the fall and is just a tremendous hitter.”

Kim Noble (.358 average, 33 runs batted in) returns at first base and is considered one of the best fielding first basemen Cowley has ever had.

“She will really anchor the infield for us at first base,” Hargrove said.

With All-Conference/All-Region outfielders Nicole Reuter and Jenanne Wilson lost to graduation, Cowley returns First-Team All-American Colby Hart (.395 average, 10 doubles, six triples) to anchor the outfield. Hart, who last season was the team’s starting leftfielder, will take over in centerfield.

“As the fastest player on the team, Colby will probably move up one spot in the batting order to the leadoff spot,” Hargrove said.

Young, Zimmerman, and Fort Scott freshman Erin Floyd will handle Leftfield.
“With Colby in centerfield Kashilia will make a smooth transition to left when she isn’t catching,” Hargrove said. “Emily will be more than adequate in left when not catching. Erin converted to the outfield from shortstop during fall ball and will continue her role as a utility player, getting time at several infield and outfield positions.”

Sophomore Danielle Saylor-Perkins will take over in rightfield. Saylor-Perkins is coming off a stellar freshman season in which she was named a Second-Team All-American as she batted .397 with a team-leading 12 doubles, and a team-best .470 on base percentage, while serving as the team’s designated hitter.

Freshman Adrienne Cornejo joins the Lady Tigers for the spring season and will compete for playing time at shortstop, first base and possibly in the outfield. While, Jessica Sanchez transferred to Cowley from the University of Central Oklahoma at semester.  She helped lead Blanchard (Okla.) High School to the state tournament by batting .395 with 31 RBI’s as a senior. She will battle for playing time in the outfield and at shortstop.

The strength of this year’s team will be its pitching as the Lady Tigers return First-Team All-American Heather Davis (29-5), who led the nation in strikeouts (309) and had an earned run average of 0.98.

Cowley also adds former Arkansas City High School standout Jacey Juden to the staff. Juden led the Lady Bulldogs to two Kansas 5A State Championships and was named to the Kansas All-State team all four years. As a senior she was 20-0 and gave up one earned run all season. She finished her career with 12 no-hitters and 47 consecutive wins.

Hargrove expects Davis and Juden to be his top two starters, with Tackett providing relief. Tackett was an All-Ark Valley-CTL and All-State pitcher at Winfield High School.

“The year of experience with Heather should help, now she knows she can be successful against any hitter in the nation,” Hargrove said. “You throw Jacey in, who has been successful in the highest level of summer ball and high school, and neither one of them will be intimidated by the competition we will face. Both pitchers are very confident in what they can do.”

Every incoming group of freshmen Cowley has had since 2000 has competed in at least one national tournament, so this year’s sophomores has some extra incentive to get back to nationals as last year’s team lost to Johnson County in the regional championship game.

“I think this group feels they have a little bit of payback based on they felt they were the better team last year,” Hargrove said. “I will be disappointed if we don’t win the Jayhawk East. We should also be the favorites to win the regionals.”