Indiana University Athletics
Softball Freshmen Eager to Make an Impact on Rising Program
7/21/2021 12:37:00 PM | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana softball incoming freshmen Heather Johnson and Kinsey Mitchell have history.
The two have played against each other in travel ball with the Bandits on what Johnson described as rival teams. Recently Johnson recalled a tidbit she said she had never shared with Mitchell.
"I always hate pitching to her because she is such a hard out," Johnson said. "I know any ball she puts on the groud she is going to beat out."
Johnson and Mitchell as well as Taylor Minnick and Brianna Copeland make up the Hoosiers freshmen class.
Each has a story of how they started with softball. For Mitchell she first tried gymnastics, then found a love with softball. Johnson looked up to her brother playing t-ball and baseball and even has a video clip when she was young saying she wanted to play baseball with the boys.
Minnick, who grew up going to IU basketball games, played basketball before finding her passion for softball. For Copeland it was the influence of her mother who got her into the sport and has helped her throughout the process.
The group smiles when they talk about how excited they are to come to Indiana University and join the softball program.
Mitchell, who committed during her freshmen year of high school said the coaches made her feel so loved and indicated they were going to build the program.
"When I was a freshman, they made it clear they were going to turn this program around and that is what they have done," Mitchell said. "The coaches would probably say it's not where they want it to be, but it is definitely going to be there one day and I'm so glad I get to be a part of it. Be a part of the change."
Looking at the stats and accomplishments of these four soon to be Hoosiers the numbers pop off the page.
In her senior year Johnson was voted the Journal & Courier Big School Player of the Year and a First Team All-State honoree. At McCutcheon High School, in her senior year she hit .653 with 55 RBI, 12 doubles and 12 home runs. In the circle she pitched 77.2 innings with a 2.21 ERA and 128 strikeouts.
Minnick, a native of Bloomington, Ind., played at Edgewood. In her senior year she broke her own school records with a .596 batting average, 53 hits, 12 home runs and set a record with 59 RBI. She finished with school records for career batting average (.536), RBI (129) and doubles (35). She was voted the Herald Times Player of the Year.
In her senior year for New Palestine, Mitchell earned Third Team All-State honors. She hit .451 with an on base percentage of .536. Her team was the No. 1 ranked 4A high school team and Mitchell was ranked 79 in the top 100 in the 2021 class.
Copeland comes to Bloomington from Pelham, Alabama, where she earned First Team All-State honors and set six state records, with 531 career strikeouts, 28 career home runs, a .413 career batting average, .563 season batting average, most RBI in a game with eight and 15 home runs in a season.
All four are looking forward to the student-athlete experience and to get to work with the team and coaching staff.
"I'm really excited to get down there and start working with the team and coaches," Johnson said. "They are all so welcoming and fun to be around. You can tell they love Indiana."
Johnson added a sentiment about the momentum of the program.
"I know all the coaches are building something special. You can tell it's a program on the rise and you want to watch out for IU. It was so fun to watch them play this season."
Getting to know the 2021 freshmen class
Hobbies outside of Softball
Johnson: Working.
Mitchell: Time with friends, Netflix and working at daycare with kids.
Minnick: Basketball and spending time with her four dogs.
Copland: Fishing.
Favorite Sport Outside of Softball
Johnson: Basketball.
Mitchell: Basketball.
Minnick: Basketball.
Copeland: Football.
Favorite Food
Johnson: Strawberries.
Mitchell: Steak.
Minnick: Steak Tacos.
Copeland: Pasta.
Favorite TV Show or Movie
Johnson: Vampire Diaries.
Mitchell: One Tree Hill.
Minnick: Grey's Anatomy
Copeland: Lucifer
Favorite Band or Musical Artist
Johnson: Chris Stapleton
Mitchell: Morgan Wallen
Minnick: Harry Styles
Copeland: J. Cole
Follow Indiana Softball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
#GoIU
The two have played against each other in travel ball with the Bandits on what Johnson described as rival teams. Recently Johnson recalled a tidbit she said she had never shared with Mitchell.
"I always hate pitching to her because she is such a hard out," Johnson said. "I know any ball she puts on the groud she is going to beat out."
Johnson and Mitchell as well as Taylor Minnick and Brianna Copeland make up the Hoosiers freshmen class.
Each has a story of how they started with softball. For Mitchell she first tried gymnastics, then found a love with softball. Johnson looked up to her brother playing t-ball and baseball and even has a video clip when she was young saying she wanted to play baseball with the boys.
Minnick, who grew up going to IU basketball games, played basketball before finding her passion for softball. For Copeland it was the influence of her mother who got her into the sport and has helped her throughout the process.
The group smiles when they talk about how excited they are to come to Indiana University and join the softball program.
Mitchell, who committed during her freshmen year of high school said the coaches made her feel so loved and indicated they were going to build the program.
"When I was a freshman, they made it clear they were going to turn this program around and that is what they have done," Mitchell said. "The coaches would probably say it's not where they want it to be, but it is definitely going to be there one day and I'm so glad I get to be a part of it. Be a part of the change."
Looking at the stats and accomplishments of these four soon to be Hoosiers the numbers pop off the page.
In her senior year Johnson was voted the Journal & Courier Big School Player of the Year and a First Team All-State honoree. At McCutcheon High School, in her senior year she hit .653 with 55 RBI, 12 doubles and 12 home runs. In the circle she pitched 77.2 innings with a 2.21 ERA and 128 strikeouts.
Minnick, a native of Bloomington, Ind., played at Edgewood. In her senior year she broke her own school records with a .596 batting average, 53 hits, 12 home runs and set a record with 59 RBI. She finished with school records for career batting average (.536), RBI (129) and doubles (35). She was voted the Herald Times Player of the Year.
In her senior year for New Palestine, Mitchell earned Third Team All-State honors. She hit .451 with an on base percentage of .536. Her team was the No. 1 ranked 4A high school team and Mitchell was ranked 79 in the top 100 in the 2021 class.
Copeland comes to Bloomington from Pelham, Alabama, where she earned First Team All-State honors and set six state records, with 531 career strikeouts, 28 career home runs, a .413 career batting average, .563 season batting average, most RBI in a game with eight and 15 home runs in a season.
All four are looking forward to the student-athlete experience and to get to work with the team and coaching staff.
"I'm really excited to get down there and start working with the team and coaches," Johnson said. "They are all so welcoming and fun to be around. You can tell they love Indiana."
Johnson added a sentiment about the momentum of the program.
"I know all the coaches are building something special. You can tell it's a program on the rise and you want to watch out for IU. It was so fun to watch them play this season."
Getting to know the 2021 freshmen class
Hobbies outside of Softball
Johnson: Working.
Mitchell: Time with friends, Netflix and working at daycare with kids.
Minnick: Basketball and spending time with her four dogs.
Copland: Fishing.
Favorite Sport Outside of Softball
Johnson: Basketball.
Mitchell: Basketball.
Minnick: Basketball.
Copeland: Football.
Favorite Food
Johnson: Strawberries.
Mitchell: Steak.
Minnick: Steak Tacos.
Copeland: Pasta.
Favorite TV Show or Movie
Johnson: Vampire Diaries.
Mitchell: One Tree Hill.
Minnick: Grey's Anatomy
Copeland: Lucifer
Favorite Band or Musical Artist
Johnson: Chris Stapleton
Mitchell: Morgan Wallen
Minnick: Harry Styles
Copeland: J. Cole
Follow Indiana Softball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
#GoIU
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