STATESMEN SOFTBALL BEGINS SEASON AT JUCO KICKOFF CLASSIC ON FRIDAY
PETERSBURG, Va., (Jan. 28, 2016) – The calendar might read that January has a few days left, but for the Richard Bland College softball team, the end of the month marks the start of the 2016 season.
The two-time regular season Region X Conference champions will whisk away from snowy Virginia and head to Clearwater, Fla., where the team will compete from Friday through Sunday at the prestigious JUCO Kickoff Classic against a field comprised of top-shelf Division I programs.
The Statesmen open play on Friday, Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. against Northwest Florida State College, followed by a noon game against State College of Florida, and a 4:20 p.m. contest against Pasco-Hernando State College – the only non-Division I team besides Richard Bland competing in Clearwater. Richard Bland will play three games on Saturday and one on Sunday before returning to campus.
"The talent at the JUCO Kickoff is tremendous and for sheer competition, it's a great opportunity for our team to see how it stands heading into the season," says third-year head coach Martha Covington, who team went 24-11 and 15-5 in Region X play last season. "We're going to play six games against Division I teams that will go along way towards preparing us for when our season starts in full swing later in February."
Covington welcomes back nine returning players from last year's team and has added 10 talented freshmen. "We have a lot of depth, which we didn't have last year," Covington says. "The talent exists on the team. But how we come together as a team will determine how successful we can be. The sky is the limit."
The Statesmen have all the ingredients necessary to heed Covington's belief. The team has all the bases, pun intended, covered: offense, defense, pitching and speed. Last year's team racked up 397 hits, more than 11 a game, and amassed 545 total bases with a .416 on base percentage. RBC averaged more than seven runs a game and stole 124 bases. With a talented pitching staff combined with a run-scoring mentality, the Statesmen can make Covington's prediction a reality.
Statistically, the Statesmen return the vast majority of its offense from the 2015 season. It's led by sophomore leftfielder Amanda Archer, who had a .396 average with 44 hits and 32 RBI as a freshman. "Amanda knows the game and brings great leadership to the team," Covington says.
Archer has lots of talented company in the outfield. Center fielder Haley Olson hit .376 as a freshman and along with her bat, brings a defensive presence to her position. The top three offensive returnees includes second baseman Kimberly Ellis, who Covington says is "the heart and soul of the team." Last season, Ellis hit .357 with 40 hits and 16 stolen bases. Affectionately known as "dirt" for her hard-nosed play, Ellis ignites the Statesmen running game, which Covington employs often.
"We like to play a speed game," the third-year coach confirms.
Covington has outfield options, a pleasant dilemma to have given the team's 39-game regular season schedule. Sophomore Mackenzie Babb played in 22 games last year and figures to see more action this year. Same holds true for sophomore Abby Eichelberger, who appeared in 23 games and swiped 14 bases as a reserve. Addition depth will come from freshmen Katelyn King and Tiffany Hedge, providing the Statesmen with an outfield lineup able to suit any occasion.
The RBC infield is cemented by Ellis, Hannah Barnes and Whitney Clements, all holdovers from last season. At shortstop, Barnes hit .341 and drove in 34 RBI, most of any returner. "Hannah gives us power from the left side," Covington says. Clements, whose roster position lists "utility," primarily plays first base, and last year she banged out a .344 average with 42 hits.
The Statesmen have an abundance of infield depth as well, highlighted by freshmen Morgan Whitley, Sierra Johnson and August Ringer, and returners Haley Boykin and Mikie Williams. Ringer and Williams play the field and catch, adding necessary support to promising freshman catcher Maddison Waycaster.
A lineup chalked with talent leads to expectations.
"Our goals are to repeat as the regular season Region X champion, win the Region X Tournament and go to nationals," says Covington. "With our pitching staff, those goals are obtainable."
The Statesmen, who yielded just under three runs a game last season, have four strong pitchers, headlined by freshman Katelyn Cobb, who defeated Division I Virginia Tech 1-0 in the Fall season. Her fellow pitchers include talented Tabby Dabney, Brittany Walsh and Shannon Buffington. "We have a well-rounded pitching staff," Covington confirms. "The nice thing about our pitchers are that each brings something different to the mound."
The catching duties, as aforementioned, are in the capable hands of Waycaster, Williams and Ringer, providing the Statesmen with a versatile backstop crew.
Not only did Richard Bland beef up its roster, but Covington did the same to her coaching staff. She has two new additions in Kelli Parks and Rachael Mack. Parks is a former Division I coach and player at Marshall and Campbell respectively and Mack was a sensational scholastic and collegiate pitcher in her native West Virginia. "Both Kelli and Rachael bring great knowledge and experience to the program," says Covington. "They are great additions that will increase our effectiveness in all areas of the game."
The Statesmen begin their season in earnest on Feb. 20, when they travel to Florence-Darlington for a doubleheader, followed by a twin bill against Southeastern Community College-Whiteville on Feb. 21.