Elevated Standard – Softball Hoosiers Seek Next NCAA Tourney Step
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Why not go where no Indiana softball player has gone before, says catcher Avery Parker. Why not join teammate Cassidy Kettleman as the first Hoosiers to play in the NCAA tourney all four of their years?
And if it includes the program’s first Big Ten title since 1994, all the better.
“I want to make history and go to regionals every year I’ve been here,” Parker says.
Prospects are promising. Under coach Shonda Stanton, IU has gone from a struggling program (12 straight years without an NCAA tourney appearance) to a national power, one that thrives with dominating offense and clutch pitching, all from a state-of-Indiana-player foundation.
Five freshmen and three college transfers join a veteran nucleous rich in promise.
“We have put in so much work in,” Parker says. “Because our standard has been raised, our standard in practice has been raised. We practice like we play. I hope that translates on the field.”
Last year, IU was 34-20. The previous season, it was 40-20. The year before that, it was 44-18. The result was three straight NCAA tourney regional appearances and the sense the best is still ahead.
“Our standard now is the (NCAA tourney) super regional and then the World Series,” Parker says. “I want a Big Ten title before I leave here. That’s our motivation in practice every day. That’s what we’re working for. Having that in mind is the most important thing.”
Stanton’s approach centers on speed and power. She wants teams that can steal at least 100 bases and hit 75 or more home runs. Last year, IU reached 90 steals and 65 homers while leading the nation in batting average (.365), doubles per game (2.10) and on-base percentage (.457),
This team, she says, will be “on brand.”
“We’ll be fast, fun and full of accessibility. We hope to stay true to that (high-powered offensive) identity. Put the pressure on.”
All-American Taylor Minnick is gone along with her .484 average, 18 home runs and 71 runs batted in. So is All-American Brianna Copeland, who hit .331 with 13 homers and 40 RBI when she wasn’t producing an 18-10 pitching record.
Parker returns after hitting .392 with 11 home runs and 60 runs batted in. So do Aly VanBrandt (.372), Josie Bird (.311) and Alex Cooper (.311), and Hannah Haberstroh (.333).
“I want them to have (a combined) 80-plus doubles,” Stanton says. “That’s the caliber of athlete they are.”
As far as replacing Minnick and Copeland, Stanton says, “we’ve got the goods; we’ve got the stuff. Now, how does it look? You were batting 5-7-9 in the lineup. Now, it’s 1-2-3. It’s just a different spot in the lineup.”
Don’t be surprised if freshman outfielder Jada Ellison, who made Softball America’s Freshman Watch List, has an early impact. She hit .479 with 44 stolen bases during her junior year summer travel circuit play out of Tennessee.
“She is fast,” Stanton says. “She will be one of the fastest kids in our league. She will get some game reps, learn and grow.”
IU hit the transfer portal to boost the pitching staff, bringing in Ella Trout from Georgia (academic All-SEC with a 2-0 record and a 7.68 earned run average last year as a freshman), Brooke Mannon (an Arizona transfer who went 8-3 in two seasons) and Megan Gregory (an All-Coastal Athletic Association performer at Campbell University last season as a sophomore with an 11-5 record and a 1.78 ERA).
Stanton is also high on freshman Aubree Hooks from Alabama. Hooks also made Softball America’s Freshman Watch List. As a senior, she went 21-1 with a 1.20 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 109 innings.
The Hoosiers return pitchers Jasmine Reyes (6-4, 5.20 ERA) and Taylor Hess (1-0, 3.39 ERA).
“We have a well-rounded pitching staff,” Stanton says. “I’m excited to see how the newcomers will mesh with the returners.
“They have to be okay with innings where it will be like, we need you to get three more outs, or one out or six outs. It’s not about, can you pitch a full seven innings? We don’t need that right now. We need to pitch by committee and get the job done.”
As for Hooks, Stanton adds, “she’s one to keep an eye on. She throws gas. She is somebody we will depend on at times, which is great. It will be exciting to get her some game reps.”
IU opens its season Thursday at the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton, Fla. It will face Florida Atlantic University, Army, Ohio State (in a non-conference game), Delaware and Stonehill.
Workouts in the Mellencamp Pavillion provided indoor preparation for the outdoor challenge
“It’s been cold and snowy,” Stanton says, “but we’ve gotten a lot of offense in. A lot of swings. When you’re indoors you get a lot of action on the bases, a lot of action with live hitting and pitching.
“I think our pitchers and hitters are ready to see somebody else. We have a great outlook. We’re going to be in a tremendous tournament with warm weather and palm trees in the background.
“FAU is the best mid-major in the country. Ohio State will be a competitive matchup. Delaware and Army are in the top third of their leagues. We’re looking at a very competitive weekend.”