Oklahoma State University Athletics
Fresh Start at Hand for Cowgirl Softball
February 11, 2016 | Cowgirl Softball
By: Addison Plank, OSU Athletics Communications
STILLWATER - Cowgirl softball head coach Kenny Gajewski has established himself firmly in Stillwater.
With radio shows, a perfect fall season and a team who loves playing for him, Gajewski has brought a breath of fresh air into the softball program at Oklahoma State.
Gajewski was hired as the Oklahoma State head coach on June 13, 2015. At the time, he was an assistant coach at the University of Florida, which was coming off of back-to-back national championsips in 2014 and 2015. Gajewski inherited an OSU squad that went 21-31 last season, and failed to reach the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-consecutive year after making a WCWS appearance in 2011.
"The way he talked about changing the program when I first met him, I knew that he was going to make a huge impact on this team," senior Tiffany Mikkelson said. "Getting to know him throughout the months, he's almost become a second father figure. I look up to him a lot."
Despite holding the reins of the Cowgirl softball program for a mere eight months, Gajewski has already created on impact on the team. The team has held many team-building activities outside of practice and games. In turn, they have become a unit. The girls have also created a hashtag (#rushsoftball) to show their commitment to their team, sport and coach.
"Commitment is big," Gajewski said. "There's no way to have just one foot in at this level. I think the hashtag is their way of being all in."
Being all in is seen throughout the team, and in Cowgirl Stadium. There is energy and excitement for the upcoming season, especially from Gajewski.
In the fall, the Cowgirls posted an 8-0 record by outscoring opponents 110-4. The team posted four shutouts during the season as Cowgirl pitching had a combined earned run average of .39. The team also held a .364 batting average with a .429 on-base percentage.
"I have high expectations," Gajewski said. "I've had them since day one. We can do great things."
Oklahoma State returns six seniors, four juniors and four sophomores to its roster while adding four freshmen and three transfers this year.
In addition to Gajewski, Cowgirl softball introduces a group of new assistants to its coaching staff.
Stacie Pestrak, formerly a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Florida, joined Gajewski in his trip to Stillwater. Pestrak also helped the Gators to their second-consecutive national championship along with playing for the Gators in 2005 and 2006.
Charlotte Morgan takes the role of pitching coach on this season's Cowgirl coaching staff. Morgan, a former pitching coach at Georgia Tech, helped the Yellow Jacket pitching staff lower its ERA by more than a point during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
Volunteer assistant coach Mike Viramontez joins the OSU softball staff after coaching the Newman University softball team to its first conference tournament berth since 2011.
The transition for each player and coach is different, but Gajewski keeps the focus on team.
"The more we learn to understand each other, the better it goes," Gajewski said.
Along with keeping the focus on the team, Gajewski also looks to improve his athletes as a whole. The Cowgirls are regularly involved in community service projects such as "Orange and Black Gives Back.
"I think we go home a lot of times after a bad day on the softball field, and you feel like the sky is falling," Gajewski said. "I believe if we can get out and have our girls work with less fortunate kids or families or kids that are sick, we can really put softball and life into perspective."
With the spring season coming up, however, the focus is back to softball. Every day, Gajewski looks for improvement from each of his players.
"He is a coach that is going to care more about your effort than looking for mistakes," junior pitcher Brandi Needham said. "He's big on giving 110 percent everyday."
Gajewski will look to showcase his team, coaching staff and his impact on the program Friday as the Cowgirls kickoff their 2016 season in San Marcos, Texas.
STILLWATER - Cowgirl softball head coach Kenny Gajewski has established himself firmly in Stillwater.
With radio shows, a perfect fall season and a team who loves playing for him, Gajewski has brought a breath of fresh air into the softball program at Oklahoma State.
Gajewski was hired as the Oklahoma State head coach on June 13, 2015. At the time, he was an assistant coach at the University of Florida, which was coming off of back-to-back national championsips in 2014 and 2015. Gajewski inherited an OSU squad that went 21-31 last season, and failed to reach the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-consecutive year after making a WCWS appearance in 2011.
"The way he talked about changing the program when I first met him, I knew that he was going to make a huge impact on this team," senior Tiffany Mikkelson said. "Getting to know him throughout the months, he's almost become a second father figure. I look up to him a lot."
Despite holding the reins of the Cowgirl softball program for a mere eight months, Gajewski has already created on impact on the team. The team has held many team-building activities outside of practice and games. In turn, they have become a unit. The girls have also created a hashtag (#rushsoftball) to show their commitment to their team, sport and coach.
"Commitment is big," Gajewski said. "There's no way to have just one foot in at this level. I think the hashtag is their way of being all in."
Being all in is seen throughout the team, and in Cowgirl Stadium. There is energy and excitement for the upcoming season, especially from Gajewski.
In the fall, the Cowgirls posted an 8-0 record by outscoring opponents 110-4. The team posted four shutouts during the season as Cowgirl pitching had a combined earned run average of .39. The team also held a .364 batting average with a .429 on-base percentage.
"I have high expectations," Gajewski said. "I've had them since day one. We can do great things."
Oklahoma State returns six seniors, four juniors and four sophomores to its roster while adding four freshmen and three transfers this year.
In addition to Gajewski, Cowgirl softball introduces a group of new assistants to its coaching staff.
Stacie Pestrak, formerly a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Florida, joined Gajewski in his trip to Stillwater. Pestrak also helped the Gators to their second-consecutive national championship along with playing for the Gators in 2005 and 2006.
Charlotte Morgan takes the role of pitching coach on this season's Cowgirl coaching staff. Morgan, a former pitching coach at Georgia Tech, helped the Yellow Jacket pitching staff lower its ERA by more than a point during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
Volunteer assistant coach Mike Viramontez joins the OSU softball staff after coaching the Newman University softball team to its first conference tournament berth since 2011.
The transition for each player and coach is different, but Gajewski keeps the focus on team.
"The more we learn to understand each other, the better it goes," Gajewski said.
Along with keeping the focus on the team, Gajewski also looks to improve his athletes as a whole. The Cowgirls are regularly involved in community service projects such as "Orange and Black Gives Back.
"I think we go home a lot of times after a bad day on the softball field, and you feel like the sky is falling," Gajewski said. "I believe if we can get out and have our girls work with less fortunate kids or families or kids that are sick, we can really put softball and life into perspective."
With the spring season coming up, however, the focus is back to softball. Every day, Gajewski looks for improvement from each of his players.
"He is a coach that is going to care more about your effort than looking for mistakes," junior pitcher Brandi Needham said. "He's big on giving 110 percent everyday."
Gajewski will look to showcase his team, coaching staff and his impact on the program Friday as the Cowgirls kickoff their 2016 season in San Marcos, Texas.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Cowgirl Softball
RHP
/ Cowgirl SoftballFriday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
