Softball 2017 Preview: Outfielders
2/8/2017 2:00:00 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 final 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 outfielders.
Returners: Ashley Kopps, Ashley Goetz, Casey Sax, Samantha Belongia
Newcomers: Megan McDonald
With a number of newcomers likely to see time in the infield, the Bearkats will see the opposite when they look to the outfield with four returners back for 2017.
Ashley Goetz returns for her sophomore season, transitioning from the infield to the outfield while Samantha Belongia and Casey Sax are back as well. Goetz made 51 starts as a true freshman, primarily at shortstop, but is the likely the lead name to open the year in left field this season.
Her 35 hits are second among all Bearkat returners and she finished with eight multi-hit games a year ago. Brock feels as though Goetz is poised to make a big jump as a sophomore and has been impressed with her performance in the outfield throughout the fall.
“We ended up making some moves to the outfield, so she is in left field and has done really well,” Brock said. “She started out really strong last season but then tapered down a little bit towards the end but, which is not uncommon for a freshman. Now she is a sophomore and this fall showed that she does have some power potential and the ability to finish with a solid average and RBI total.”
Opposite of Goetz in right field looks to be junior Samantha Belongia. A jack of all trades who could also filter in behind the plate, Belongia came to the Kats as a walk-on entering her sophomore season from Belhaven and made 47 starts in the outfield.
An athletic outfielder with speed, she covers plenty of ground in the outfield and should give Brock a useful weapon near the bottom of the order after hitting .260 and scoring 13 runs as a sophomore.
“She played almost every game for us in the spring last season and has lots of speed,” Brock said. “She is more known for a defensive player and she makes it very hard for opposing base runner to advance on her. We like her down at the 9-spot since she can bunt, move around and swing away.”
In the middle, center field looks to be manned by the lone newcomer to the outfield -- freshman Megan McDonald. A native of Georgetown, Texas, she was high school teammates with Goetz, hitting leadoff, but profiles as an ideal 2-hole hitter for the Kats with her left-handed bat.
Brock is looking for her to be an impact player for the Bearkats after hitting .548 in high school and earning numerous prep accolades, including all-region honors and being named as her district's defensive MVP.
“Megan is an impact player,” Brock said. “We are looking for her to start in center field and she is perfect number 2 hitter behind Tori at leadoff. We are expecting her to help us offensively, especially with her tremendous speed.”
The Kats will also have plenty of returning depth and experience with the return of seniors Ashley Kops and Casey Sax. Kopps made just eight starts as a junior, but found her way into 39 games and hit .276, including .333 in the Southland Conference Tournament at season's end.
“Ashley has just an amazing attitude,” Brock said. “She's been playing in the outfield and will continue to play in the outfield. She's good defensively and has really come on as a slap hitter, moving the ball around well in addition to giving me the ability to use her in multiple situations such as pinch hitting and bunting.”
Brock will also have the luxury of another senior in Sax, who has spent the last two seasons with the Kats after joining from UH-Victoria following her freshman season. Injuries have plagued her the last two years with her getting into just 33 games in that time, but when healthy she brings an invaluable combination of versatility and experience with the ability to play both in the outfield and in the infield.
“Casey is a really good player and has started every year in the mix before something has happened,” Brock said. “She can hit, has good speed and can play multiple positions. Once again she is in the right mix.”
