Softball 2/12/2014 4:58:00 PM

Stars look to be contenders in 2014

No. 3 OCU is picked to win SAC

Kylee Rounsaville (left) and Danielle Fox look to help OCU to a 28th appearance in the NAIA Championships.

Oklahoma City University enters the 2014 softball season looking to make some noise with a mix of eight first-year players and seven returners.
The Stars will begin their 2014 campaign as the NAIA's third-ranked team and as the favorite to win the Sooner Athletic Conference.
OCU opens the new season against Baker (Kan.) at 9 a.m. Friday in the Cowtown Classic in Fort Worth, Texas.
"I'm excited about this team, because I think we turned the corner on some shortcomings we had a year ago," said OCU coach Phil McSpadden, the NAIA's winningest active softball coach with a 1,368-342 record in 26 years. "This could be one of the better clubs we've had in a while. I'm excited about where we are athletically, and I think we can make some noise this season."
OCU went 51-15 a season ago and finished second in the SAC. The Stars won the inaugural NAIA Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket and made program's 27th appearance in the NAIA Championships.
Juniors Jamie Rateliff and Kylee Rounsaville return to lead OCU in 2014.
Rateliff, of Mustang, Okla., garnered first-team all-American honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association to go along with a first-team all-SAC selection while playing in the outfield and pitching. She hit .379 with 52 RBIs, 15 doubles and 11 home runs, and posted a 23-5 record in the circle with 79 strikeouts, 19 complete games, six shutouts and three saves.
"Jamie bailed us out a year ago," McSpadden said. "We never thought when we recruited her that she would end up pitching, but she did a great job for us, and we'll throw her again this year."
Rounsaville, of Yukon, Okla., returns after missing the 2013 season due to injury. In 2012, she was named NAIA catcher of the year by the NFCA and earned first-team all-American status from the NAIA and the NFCA. Rounsaville hit .382 with 50 RBIs, 23 multi-hit games, 12 home runs and 11 doubles during her sophomore campaign.
"Obviously we are excited about Kylee returning to the field after a year off," McSpadden said. "She was NAIA catcher of the year two years ago, and not having her last year hurt us a little."
A position-by-position look at the Stars:

Pitching

Joining Rateliff in the circle is senior Danielle Fox. The right-hander from Yukon, Okla., posted an earned run average of 3.50 in nine appearances a season ago. Fox notched a record of 2-2 with 32 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a batting average of .250.
"Dani Fox could easily be our ace this year," McSpadden said. "She'll throw some key innings for us this year and play some outfield too. She's had a good fall and she's always been a hard worker."
Newcomers Maria Gomez and Maci-Brooke Lambert will round out the OCU pitching staff.
Gomez, a junior right-handed pitcher from Yaracuy, Venezuela, joined the Stars from Southeastern (Iowa) and redshirted a season ago.
"If she meets our expectations, she has a chance to be really good for us this year," McSpadden said. "She is still learning, and she will throw for us a lot this year."
Lambert comes to OCU by way of Southern Nazarene. The junior righty from Healdton, Okla., went 12-15 with a 4.47 ERA with the Crimson Storm in 2013. Lambert tallied 80 strikeouts and 17 complete games in 158.1 innings pitched.
"She is a power pitcher who we will probably use in short relief situations a lot," McSpadden said. "She seems to be very cool under pressure and doesn't get rattled."

Infield

Returning to help anchor the infield at short stop is sophomore Kyndra Holasek. The sophomore from Mustang, Okla., was an all-SAC selection at second base in 2013. Holasek hit .383 with 80 runs scored, 57 RBIs, 23 doubles, 17 stolen bases and eight home runs.
"She is one of the more exciting recruits we've picked up in a few years," McSpadden said. "I think she has all kinds of potential. The athleticism is there, the ball explodes off her bat and she has good hands and good foot speed. I don't see how she could not be an all-American at some point in her career."
Fellow returner Emily Krienke will split time at first base and designated player. The junior from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, hit .333 with 34 RBIs, 11 doubles and six home runs playing mostly in the DP spot.
"Emily will play some first base for us this year," McSpadden said. "She's a left-handed power hitter who will spend a lot of time in the DP slot as well."
Newcomers Daniella Costaganna, Amanda Ingram and Maxime van Dalen will make up the rest of the OCU infield.
Costaganna, a freshman from Australia, is slotted to be the Stars' third baseman and could see time behind the plate.
"She can be a 4-5-hole type hitter for us," McSpadden said. "She will learn how to play third. She's been catching, but we need her at third this year."
Ingram joined OCU a season ago, but redshirted the 2013 season. The freshman from Oklahoma City will play second base for the Stars.
"Amanda is one of the best athletes on the team," McSpadden said. "She has a good arm and runs well. It will be interesting to see what she can do."
Van Dalen, a freshman from Heerhugowaard, Netherlands, will share playing time at first base with Krienke.
"She is probably the most pleasant surprise of this recruiting class," McSpadden said. "I think she is going to be a big-time player for us. She is 3-4-5 type hitter with left-handed power and she plays well at first."

Outfield

Joining Rateliff in the outfield are fellow returners Shelbi Legg and Kayley Humann.
Legg, a sophomore from Mustang, Okla., hit .314 with 20 RBIs, six doubles and one triple in 2013.
"She is back in the outfield for us this year," McSpadden said. "She was a big surprise for us last year offensively."
Humann, a sophomore from Edmond, Okla., appeared in 45 games a season ago as a defensive specialist. In 33 plate appearances, she hit .212 with five RBIs.
"She will play outfield for us in center and right," McSpadden said. "She's a pretty good athlete and hopefully we'll get her some more playing experience this year."
Newcomers Jocelin Diaz, Logan Sundbye and Cheyanne Terry will all see playing time in the outfield.
Diaz is slated to be the starting centerfielder for the Stars. The junior from Maracay, Venezuela, comes to OCU by way of Southeastern (Iowa).
"She is one of the best athletes on the team," McSpadden said. "She runs well and has a good arm, and it will be interesting to see what she can do. The sky is the limit for her."
Terry, a junior from Little Axe, Okla., comes to OCU from Northwestern Oklahoma State. She hit .320 with 11 RBIs, five triples and two doubles for the Lady Rangers in 2013.
"She was an all-state second baseman in high school," McSpadden said. "We're going to use her in right field. She is a good contact hitter and situational ballplayer. I believe she understands the game within the game."
Sundbye, a freshman from Bethany, Okla., could see playing time at second and third base as well as in the outfield.
"She has a good arm, some pop at the plate and she is quick and runs well," McSpadden said. "We're going to bounce her around to see what the best fit is for her. She could get a lot of playing time by the time it's all said and done."

According to McSpadden, the key to the team's success is tied to the success of the pitching staff.
"A year ago we had a good ballclub, but our pitching wasn't very deep," McSpadden said. "I think we've got some pretty good team speed, I think we have some good power at the plate and I think we can be a good offensive and defensive team. The pitching will decide whether or not we win a title."
OCU has won NAIA titles in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2007.

Print Friendly Version