Softball 2017 Preview: Infielders
2/6/2017 3:02:00 PM | Softball
HUNTSVILLE – With the Sam Houston State Bearkats on the verge of opening up the 2017 season, Sam Houston State Athletics takes a look at this season's squad, led by Hall of Fame head coach Bob Brock.
This is the second of a three-part series previewing the team prior to its season opener on Friday, February 10 at ULM. Today we take a look at the Bearkat infielders.
Returners: Codi Carpenter, Hannah Marino, Emily Bounds
Newcomers: Tiffany Thompson, Katie Andrie, Taylar Fuselier, Tori Koerselman
There will plenty of new faces around the infield this season, but with those new faces also comes an influx of fresh talent and Brock knows his infield will be a key part to a successful 2017 season.
Codi Carpenter locked down first base as a freshman in 2016, starting 50 games and hitting .307 with a homer, eight doubles and 19 RBI. She slugged nearly .400 last year, but Brock feels that her power potential is even higher
“She had a great year last year with only being a freshman we are expecting her to really help us with the long ball and RBI,” Brock said.
Carpenter's batting average, RBI total, doubles and 10 multi-hit games are all the most among Bearkat returners for this season.
Up the middle the Bearkats will look brand new with transfer Katie Andrie and Tiffany Thompson likely taking over duties at second base and shortstop. Andrie takes over at second after a two-year stint at Blinn College where she hit .431 with eight homers for the Buccaneers. Originally from China Spring, Texas, Brock expects Andrie to be an impact addition who will likely hit near the top of the lineup.
“What a great pickup Katie was for us,” Brock said. “She really had a good fall and mixed in well with the team. We are hoping she's going to help us immediately by driving in runs and bringing some power to our lineup, while also being very good defensively.”
Meanwhile Thompson was a standout player at Montgomery High School, just down the road from Huntsville, where she hit better than .500 with 10 home runs. She is likely the frontrunner at shortstop going into this year and has impressed Brock with her skills defensively, but the Kats' head coach also speaks to her speed as a one of her best assets.
“I was really excited to get Tiffany to come here and she has been everything we expected to this point,” Brock said. “
At third base, Tori Koerselman looks to be the lead horse entering the year. A Huntsville native, she brings a well-rounded repertoire to the roster and Brock feels as though she could have a big year as she has a rare combination of being able to hit for both power and average.
The Kats will also look to Hannah Marino and Emily Bounds for depth and versatility to the roster. Marino found her niche as a go-to bat off the bench in 2016. She drove in 19 runs in just 41 at-bats while three of her four homers on the season came as a pinch hitter.
“Hannah did not get a ton of at-bats last year, but when she did it typically turned out pretty eventful,” Brock said.
Bounds, meanwhile, will fill an important role of her own as a utility player with the versatility to play all over the field, including in the outfield and even as a catcher. She got into 23 games last season, including 17 starts, and saw time at catcher, shortstop, second base and in the outfield as a freshman.
