Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball to Compete in Century Bank Classic
February 07, 2008 | Cowgirl Softball
Oklahoma State returns five starters from a year ago, including All-Big 12 selection Kim Kaye. A senior who started every game at first base a year ago, Kaye batted .267 with 12 doubles and four home runs. She will return to the outfield where she can utilize her speed.
Also returning are outfielder Katelyn Bright, utility Emily Blackburn, second baseman Sadie Krywicki and pitcher Anna Whiddon, all sophomores. Bright started all 58 games last season and had a .250 batting average with 28 runs scored. Blackburn had seven doubles and four home runs on the season, while Krywicki contributed 16 runs and 10 runs batted in. Whiddon compiled a 10-10 record with a team-leading 3.55 earned run average.
Several newcomers are expected to fill in the voids left by the departures of last year's seniors. Heather Kim, a transfer from Syracuse, will take over at first base and allow Kaye to move to the outfield. Jessica Meza, a junior-college transfer from Mt. SAC College, will replace Shianne Cruce at third base. Freshman Mariah Gearhart will fill the hole at shortstop left by the graduation of Krystle Sanchez. Alysia Hamilton will share time at second base with Krywicki.
There are several options in the outfield. Along with Kaye and Bright, Megan Castle and Kati Phillips are both players who started at times last season. Newcomers Breana Casaus, a juco transfer, and Sarah Carriger, a freshman from Claremore, Okla., will all compete for playing time.
The loss of Totte, an All-American last year, is huge. Coach Rich Wieligman appears to have filled that void with the addition of Ashley Boyd. In the fall, Boyd compiled a .440 batting average with a team-high .870 slugging percentage and 13 runs batted in. Sam Heinlein and Meghan Wagner are returners who can also play catcher.
Along with Whiddon in the circle, Coach Wieligman has added two freshmen pitchers to the roster. Amanda Crabtree, a right-handed pitcher, was a starter for the Texas Class 4A-5A All-Star game last summer. Sarah Odom, a lefty, was a two-time All-State selection in the state of Texas, and was a member of the TGCA All-Star team in 2007.
Oklahoma State will play Centenary at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, the Cowgirls will face Arkansas at 3 and 5 p.m., and on Sunday OSU will play UAB in a pair of games at 9 and 11 a.m.
