‘We want to go far.’ Five Kentucky softball storylines to watch as 2024 season begins.
When Kentucky softball coach Rachel Lawson told her team the Wildcats were not ranked in the preseason top 25 for the first time since 2009, everybody — returners and newcomers alike — took that personally.
It’s fuel for the program, according to senior ace Stephanie Schoonover, to come out and face its challenging 2024 schedule with something to prove.
“That was really a kick in the stomach for most of us, I feel like, because we just have been for so many years,” Schoonover said. “And I feel like coming out strong and showing everybody that we’re meant to be up there and we’re just going to keep climbing.”
When it comes to college softball, three top 25 polls attract the most attention, and Kentucky was absent from two of those this preseason. Kentucky was not recognized as top-25 material by the ESPN.com/USA Softball or the D1softball.com rankings. The Wildcats did sneak in at No. 25 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association poll.
Lawson is just the third head coach in UK history, and has more than doubled the program’s win total since her hiring in 2007.
Under Lawson’s guidance, the Wildcats have produced six NFCA All-Americans, and made 14 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament — one of only 15 teams across the country to do so. Milestones such as 120 wins over ranked teams, or leading UK to its first-ever appearance in the Women’s College World Series in 2014, are reflective of the standard. And, after last season’s exit in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the team is angling to return to the national stage.
With eight new faces — a freshman class Lawson is excited about and a graduate transfer pitcher in Jaden Vickers whom Lawson called “the missing piece” — and a pair of preseason All-SEC selections in Schoonover and shortstop Erin Coffel (a 2023 NFCA All-American and member of Team USA’s roster for the 2023 Japan All-Star Series), the Wildcats have high expectations and a desire to reach further than UK has in years.
“We just want to win,” Coffel said. “And we want to go far. We want to host regionals. We want to host supers and we want to get to OKC.”
As UK prepares to open its 2024 campaign Friday, here are five storylines to watch this season.
Blending old and new
Despite eight newcomers, the UK returners will tell you it didn’t take long for this year’s team to establish an identity.
“Family,” Schoonover said. “I mean, we’re connected. I mean, I feel like we all love each other and we’re excited to play together. No matter your position on the field, or maybe not on the field, everybody feels like they have a role and they are important throughout everything.”
In addition to Vickers, who had a successful, four-year career at Rutgers, seven freshmen — utility Ally Hutchins, outfielder Delani Sullivan, infielder/outfielder Camryn Lookado, infielder Cassie Reasner, pitcher Sydney Langdon, infielder/outfielder Peyton Plotts and utility Emory Donaldson — will represent UK for the first time.
Lawson was clear in that she views the freshman class as a special group. In addition to their talent and skill, she noted the importance of their ties to the university and their high intelligence.
“This freshman class is special and I’m going to tell you why,” Lawson said. “Number one, five out of the seven are second-generation University of Kentucky people. So they have grown up watching Kentucky softball, their parents are invested in all the sports. They are as mad as the fans are when we don’t win a football game. I mean, they are all in on Kentucky and because of that, there’s a little different juice behind them. So with that said, they are special in that way. The other thing is they are brilliant. They are some of the smartest people that I’ve ever met. I mean, they’re getting high academic scholarships, but they’re down to Earth at the same time.”
Donaldson was a back-to-back KHSAA softball state champion with Ballard in 2022 and ‘23. Plotts, a Lexington native, is a graduate of Tates Creek. Hutchins played for McCracken County. Both Lookadoo and Sullivan played for Great Crossing, with Lookadoo winning district championships in 2021 and 2022, plus a 2018 state championship while attending Scott County.
Lawson identified Hutchins, Plotts and Sullivan as three freshmen who especially rose to the challenge of Division I softball during preseason play.
Schoonover agreed that — aside from its physicality — the character of the freshman class sets the seven newcomers apart, with their passion and commitment standing out from the first day.
“They’re all bigger than me,” Schoonover said laughing. “So I’ll start with that. I mean, they’re all super-duper strong, you can tell they all really love the game and they’re committed. Day one, they came in and they wanted to be a part of this program and they wanted to give 110% all the time.”
Though the competition is stiff, Coffel said, the team has found ways to harness that energy while ensuring there’s time for fun.
“Coming into the fall, it was just a really competitive environment,” Coffel said. “You know, we have our fun. I think that’s what this group is really good at, we have our fun, but we’re also competing at a really high level. So I think that’s what’s been really, really good for us. We’re all friends, you know, we all love each other, but during practices and during scrimmages we’re competing against one another. And it can be a big environment sometimes, but I think that’s what makes champions.”
Full-strength Schoonover
After missing April because of a forearm injury last season, Schoonover is prepared to attack her senior year at full strength. And everybody’s looking forward to seeing her shine. At media day, Schoonover said she was feeling good. But when Coffel was asked about Schoonover’s potential this season, the shortstop confirmed the ace was “back and better.”
“I think she’s come back with a different type of mindset this year,” Coffel said. “She just, she wants to win. And I think she’s always wanted to win, but I think this year, you know, it being our last year. That’s kind of how it is as a senior class.”
Schoonover was quick to compliment the bullpen, praising the group’s diversity in skill, saying it will be helpful in the Wildcats’ pursuit of their long-term goals.
“I think it’s great,” Schoonover said. “I love us as a staff. I feel like we’re really strong. We’re really connected. We all bring different things to the table. And I feel like that’s going to be great, especially in the long run. We plan to go really far into the postseason. And so I feel like our diversity is going to help us a lot with that.”
Schoonover will also stand alone as the only pitcher for whom Lawson is calling pitches, with alumna Grace Baalman (UK pitcher 2018-21) taking over as the primary pitch caller for the bullpen.
“This year we’re kind of tag-teaming the pitch calling,” Lawson said. “And I know that seems a little odd, but because Schoonover is used to me and this is her senior year. So I’m grandfathered in in more ways than one, but so I will be pitch calling for her. While Grace pitch calls for the rest of the staff that doesn’t have that same longevity with me, per se. And that’s about Stephanie. Just to be clear, I think Grace is probably a better pitch caller, to be honest with you.”
Replacing Kayla Kowalik
Kayla Kowalik, a two-time NFCA All-American and four-year starting catcher and culture leader for the Wildcats, is no longer available to lead off (or lead the charge) for Kentucky softball. Though the 2023 Women’s Pro Fastpitch Rookie of the Year remains with the program as a graduate assistant, her spot on the roster, Lawson admits, is a difficult one to replace.
“Catching is a big question mark for us right now,” Lawson said. “We certainly have three people that are gonna get their shot. We talk about Kayla from an offensive perspective, but she was the anchor behind the dish for four years, you know? So we need to make sure that we have somebody that makes the pitchers feel good, that is all about the pitcher and that is a good receiver back there. Everything else is just going to be gravy to me. So they’ll certainly get their shot, but that’s going to be a key place to watch also. Once we solidify that position, I think we’ll take off.”
The three catchers under consideration for the starting job are junior Ella Emmert, sophomore Karissa Hamilton and junior Hallie Mitchell. Regardless who wins the job, Schoonover is confident in each of the three options, and said the position group is coming together well.
“It’s great right now,” Schoonover said. “I’m really proud of our catchers and all the work they’ve been doing. All three of them — Ella Emmert, Hallie Mitchell, Karissa Hamilton — they’re all putting in a ton of work and I feel very comfortable. I mean, I could pitch right now with either one of them behind the plate, and it’s a really good feeling to have something like that.”
Though Kowalik served as the “anchor behind the dish,” the Wildcats are optimistic about their defense. Fifth-year outfielder Rylea Smith said, while the team is still deciding the strongest combination of who goes where, “no matter who plays, the job’s gonna get done every time.”
“One thing coach Lawson says,” Smith said. “... You can’t be a top-10 team without a top-10 outfield. Our outfield looks amazing, our pitching looks great. Our infield, every time I see them they look like they’re doing everything amazingly. So I’d say that our defense looks pretty spot on.”
New rules
The NCAA announced the implementation of several significant rule changes on Aug. 11, 2023. The following is a consolidated list of the changes as approved by the NCAA Softball Rules Committee, with the specific rules addressed by UK Athletics on Media Day in italics:
▪ Pitchers can disengage from the playing surface while delivering a pitch this season; a pitcher’s pivot foot can become airborne with one push from the pitcher’s plate, but pitchers cannot replant their pivot foot, resulting in pushing off from a second point and the pitcher being farther away from the pitcher’s plate.
▪ Any defensive player blocking any part of the leading edge of first, second or third base or home plate, or otherwise blocking the runner from advancing or returning to a base, will be called for obstruction.
▪ Video review has been expanded to confirm/deny all home runs, a catch in any situation, whether a batter was hit by a pitch, if a runner leaves a base too soon on tag-up plays, or misses a base, or if a coach challenges that a runner leaves a base too early before a pitch.
▪ All teams will have the option to use a visible action clock, but the time between when the next pitch must be thrown has been reduced from 25 seconds to 20 seconds. The batter is still required to be prepared to hit within 10 seconds, or will receive an automatic strike. Similarly, a ball will be assessed to the batter if a pitcher doesn’t start her windup before the rest of time expires.
▪ Teams are now allowed the use of a double first base on the field.
▪ The fence distances in left and right field are now required to be 200 feet (this does not affect UK’s John Cropp Stadium).
▪ The quarter-inch bat knob protrusion requirement meant to allow for a tapered/flared/cone bat handle has been removed.
▪ Assistant coaches are prohibited from leaving the dugout/bullpen area to appeal, question or argue any play on the field.
▪ One-way communication devices are now allowed to be used during play.
▪ The pitcher is now allowed to throw to any base one time during warm-ups.
▪ A postgame review of ejections that include a suspension is now allowed.
Lawson addressed the pitch-clock ruling:
“The pitch clock I’m a big fan of because the sport of softball is a really awesome sport on TV,” Lawson said. “We have very high rankings. Especially, once basketball season ends, the two top sports on TV are softball and baseball. For softball, it’s essential that we keep the game closer to two hours. It helps us differentiate from baseball, although I think baseball really cut their time down quite a bit. So I think it’s crucial nationally that softball and baseball keep their game closer to two hours just for the TV market. And this getting rid of the dead time in the sport of softball, as opposed to really kind of getting rid of some of the action stuff, I think is really big.”
All about power
College softball, like most major sports, has changed a significant amount over the past few years, and, according to Lawson, that’s affected the size — and, consequently, the power — of what it looks like to be an effective batting order. Whether it be an additional year of eligibility due to COVID, or the transfer portal’s transformation of what a roster can be, pure skill on its own isn’t enough.
“Softball itself has changed so much,” Lawson said. “So now, we’re trying to win the SEC. We’re trying to be standing in Oklahoma City and the size of the super teams that have been created, they’ve been created because of, with COVID there’s been a greater pool of graduate students and stuff that are transferring throughout. The size of the field does not match the size of the people anymore, so 200 feet is nothing for a softball player with the scouting and the juiced bats. And people are accidentally hitting home runs all the time.”
In an effort to combat that, Lawson has placed an emphasis on size in recruiting while maintaining the importance of chasing the highest level of commitment to what works.
“Top to bottom, we are moving toward a team that’s a lot bigger in size,” Lawson said. “But, and we can certainly win and we can hit our home runs, but we have to be on our A-game. Not many people on our team are mis-hitting home runs over the fence. They have to be all in.”
In Kowalik’s absence, the Wildcats will need a new leadoff batter to set the tone. Lawson praised the surplus of leaders on her roster, but clarified the distinction between leadership and production — each player has to be ready to hold the responsibility with each at-bat. And, though Kowalik is no longer an option, Lawson said, the entire lineup will be stronger throughout.
“The leader of our offense is the girl who’s in the box in that moment,” Lawson said. “And so leadership to me has to go through everything. As far as production is concerned, that’s a whole other ball of wax. Right now we have several options in the leadoff spot. I mean you never replace somebody like Kayla Kowalik, she’s a generational athlete, but I do believe we can string some stuff together and so that we’re going to be stronger throughout the entire lineup.”
Lawson named Smith, who led the team offensively in both the fall and winter, senior outfielder Vanessa Nesby, junior infielder Margaret Tobias and Coffel as the team’s potential leadoff options.
The Wildcats open their season Friday in the San Diego State University Season Kickoff with a 1 p.m. EST game against Big West member UC Santa Barbara.
2024 Kentucky softball schedule
Home games in capital letters. All times Eastern. Additional broadcast details and game times to be announced later.
Feb. 9: UC Santa Barbara, 1 p.m.-1
Feb. 9: Stanford, 3:30 p.m.-1
Feb. 10: Stanford, Noon-1
Feb. 10: San Diego State, 7:30 p.m. (Mountain West Network)-1
Feb. 11: Minnesota, 1 p.m.-1
Feb. 15: North Carolina, 11 a.m. (ACC Network)-2
Feb. 15: Wisconsin, 5 p.m. (ESPN+)-2
Feb. 16: Washington, 9:30 a.m. (ESPN+)-2
Feb. 17: UCF, 1 p.m. (ESPN+)-2
Feb. 17: Texas, 7 p.m. (Longhorn Network)-2
Feb. 23: Akron, 12:30 p.m.-3
Feb. 23: South Carolina-Upstate, 5:30 p.m.-3
Feb. 24: Monmouth, 10 a.m.-3
Feb. 24: Akron, 12:30 p.m.-3
Feb. 25: South Carolina-Upstate, 12:30 p.m.-3
March 1: Fordham, 3 p.m.-4
March 1: Charlotte, 6 p.m.-4
March 2: Minnesota, 12:30 p.m.-4
March 2: Charlotte, 3 p.m.-4
March 3: Fordham, 10 a.m.-4
March 6: BELLARMINE, 5 p.m.
March 8: LSU, 6:30 p.m.
March 9: LSU, Noon (SEC Network)
March 10: LSU, Noon (SEC Network)
March 13: At Lipscomb, 5 p.m.
March 15: OHIO STATE, 3 p.m.-5
March 15: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE, 5:30 p.m.-5
March 16: COLUMBIA, 3 p.m.-5
March 16: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE, 5:30 p.m.-5
March 17: OHIO STATE, 1 p.m.-5
March 20: MARSHALL, 6 p.m.
March 22: At Florida, 6 p.m. (SEC Network)
March 23: At Florida, 3 p.m.
March 24: At Florida, 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
March 26: DAYTON, 6 p.m.
March 28: ALABAMA, 6:30 p.m.
March 29: ALABAMA, 6:30 p.m.
March 30: ALABAMA, 2 p.m.
April 3: NORTHERN KENTUCKY, 5 p.m.
April 5: At Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
April 6: At Texas A&M, 4 p.m. (SEC Network)
April 7: At Texas A&M, 2 p.m.
April 10: At Louisville, 7 p.m. (ACC Network)
April 12: GEORGIA, 6:30 p.m.
April 13: GEORGIA, 2 p.m.
April 14: GEORGIA, 2 p.m. (ESPNU)
April 17: At Western Kentucky, 7 p.m.
April 20: At Auburn, 4 p.m. (SEC Network)
April 21: At Auburn, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
April 22: At Auburn, 7 p.m.
April 26: SOUTH CAROLINA, 6:30 p.m.
April 27: SOUTH CAROLINA, 2 p.m.
April 28: SOUTH CAROLINA, 1 p.m.
May 2: At Tennessee, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
May 3: At Tennessee, TBA
May 4: At Tennessee, TBA
May 7-11: SEC Tournament-6
1-SDSU Season Kickoff at San Diego State; 2-ESPN Shriners Children’s Invitational at Clearwater, Florida; 3-Wings ETC Classic at Spartanburg, South Carolina; 4-Queen City Classic at Charlotte, North Carolina; 5-John Cropp Classic at UK; 6-At Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Alabama.
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