Wichita State softball prepared to grab the role of MVC favorite after last season’s early slump
For a second straight season, Wichita State is the favorite in Missouri Valley Conference softball.
Consider last season a learning experience on living the role of No. 1. The 2015 Shockers finished fourth and a 1-7 start in conference play finished their efforts to repeat as champions by late March.
“We were the team to beat,” coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “I don’t think we knew how to play with a big target on our back. We just expected it to happen. We thought teams would just bow down to us.”
WSU starts the 2016 season on Friday in the Aggie Classic in College Station, Texas and the Shockers are confident they can return to the top of the MVC.
“This year, we have a whole new mindset,” senior outfielder Brittany Fortner said. “One our of mottos is, ‘Well done is better than well said,” so we want to be about doing it, not just talking about it.”
There are plenty of Shockers back who can learn from the thrill of winning the 2014 MVC title and the disappointment of 2015.
Last season’s team rallied from that disastrous start to go 18-5 and finish 34-23, 16-11 in the MVC. Fortner led the MVC in batting average (.416) and on, base percentage (.502) on her way to All-Midwest Region honors. First baseman Cacy Williams, the 2014 MVC Player of the Year, hit .292 with nine home runs and 16 doubles. Catcher/third baseman Mackenzie Wright hit .359 with 18 steals last season to join Fortner and Williams on the All-MVC team.
“It’s the best team I’ve had since I’ve been here by far,” said Bredbenner, who started at WSU in 2012. “We have the ability this year to play great defense behind our pitchers. And we really should be able to crush the ball.”
With four seniors and five juniors, WSU possesses plenty of experience crushing softballs. The Shockers led the MVC in hitting (.305), doubles (85) and steals (66) last season. The 2014 team set school records for batting average (.314), slugging percentage (.492), runs (314) and home runs (56).
Senior second baseman Liz Broyles hit. 323 with 12 doubles last season. Junior shortstop Kelli Spring hit .331 and stole 15 bases. Coaches are experimenting to find the right defensive spot for players such as senior Paige Mason, junior Macklin Hitz, freshman Bethany Canada and Broyles to maximize the designated hitter.
Fortner, who is recovering from shoulder problems, is also an option at DH if she can’t play in the outfield early in the seaon. Freshmen Laurie Anne Derrico, at shortstop, and Kaylee Huecker, at third, could serve as the DH when not playing a position. Bredbenner likes the offensive potential of freshman catcher Cassidy Kelsheimer.
Sophomore outfielder Paige Luellen, who missed 2015 with a knee injury, is back. She hit .354 with eight home runs in 2014.
“We have a lot of big sticks,” Wright said. “And our pitching staff seems a lot more confident than they were last year.”
Bredbenner expects improved pitching with junior Kaitlyn Malone (19-10, 3.45 ERA) as the top starter, paired with junior Jenni Brooks (11-11, 3.45). Bredbenner expects to use relievers more often and will lean on senior Ashlynne Neil (1-1, 6.72) and sophomore Kelsey Sterneker (3-1, 5.82).
“The big key is Kelsey,” Bredbenner said. “She had a really, really great fall. That was huge. We haven’t seen that yet this semester. We need her to get on an upswing and stay on it. I want her to want it a little bit more and want to come out there and throw it down another team’s throat. Sometimes, she’s too nice to do that.”
Paul Suellentrop: 316, 269, 6760, @paulsuellentrop
Wichita State softball schedule
February
Aggie Classic at College Station, Texas
Friday, Colorado State, 10 a.m.; Texas A&M, 5:15 p.m.; Saturday, Colorado State, 10 a.m.; UCLA, 12:15 p.m.; Sunday, Texas A&M, 12:15 p.m.
Desert Classic at Las Vegas
19, Utah, 1:30 p.m.; Hawaii, 6 p.m.; 20, Cal State Northridge, 9 a.m.; Oregon State, 11:15 a.m.; 21, Boise State, 9 a.m.
South Alabama Invitational at Mobile, Ala.
26, Dartmouth, noon; 27, Bowling Green, 12:15; South Alabama, 4:15 p.m.; 28, Bowling Green, 10 a.m.
March
5, at Nebraska, 1 p.m. (DH); 6, at Nebraska, 1 p.m.; 9, at Oklahoma State, 6 p.m.; 12, Northern Colorado, 1 p.m. (DH); 13, Northern Colorado, noon; 15, Western Illinois, 6 p.m.; 19, Northern Iowa, noon (DH); 20, Northern Iowa, noon; 23, Oklahoma State, 6 p.m.; 25, Loyola, 3 p.m. (DH); 26, Loyola, noon; 29, at Kansas, 6 p.m.; 30, Tulsa, 6 p.m.
April
2, at Illinois State, noon (DH); 3, at Illinois State, noon; 6, at Oklahoma, 6 p.m.; 9, at Evansville, noon (DH); 10, at Evansville, noon; 13, at Missouri, 4 p.m. (DH); 16, Bradley, noon (DH); 17, Bradley, noon; 20, at Missouri State, 3 p.m. (DH); 23, at Drake, noon (DH); 24, at Drake, noon; 26, Missouri State, 5 p.m.; 27, at Tulsa, 6 p.m.; 30, at Indiana State, noon (DH)
May
1, at Indiana State, noon; 7, Southern Illinois, noon (DH); 8, Southern Illinois, noon; 12-14, MVC Tournament at Carbondale, Ill.
This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Wichita State softball prepared to grab the role of MVC favorite after last season’s early slump."