Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gajewski, Cowgirls Preview Second Week of Fall Games
October 03, 2017 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State softball team continues its fall season with a pair of games against Connors State on Wednesday and Southern Nazarene on Friday. Here's a look at what head coach Kenny Gajewski and the Cowgirls had to say about the upcoming week:
Head Coach Kenny Gajewski
On last Thursday's win over Butler:
"I thought our returners did pretty good. They were getting back into the swing of things. Vanessa Shippy had a couple of good at-bats. Taylor Lynch is who she is and she looked strong in her at-bats. I thought Madi Sue Montgomery looked really good. I will say that. She had two really good at-bats, but I also thought she was moving really well. She was moving as well as I've seen since she had her knee injury. Once Emmie Robertson kind of got her heartbeat under control - it was her first time to pitch here and her first time pitching with the OSU on her chest. That's a big deal. I don't care where you're at or what school you're playing at, it's a big deal. She's out here trying to win a job and eat innings. She's trying to show her team what she's all about. I thought Michaela Richbourg was solid as well. She had a couple of good at-bats and one boneheaded play at first base that she'll clean up, but her at-bats are way beyond her years at this point. A lot of positives and we're looking forward to two more games this week and getting those newcomers back out there."
On Emmie Robertson's tempo:
"In the first inning, I think her wasn't as good and that's part of why she struggled. It's her first time to get pitches in with people watching and different batters, so there's a lot worked in to that. She missed a lot high, and that's not really her, which tells me she was probably racing and trying a little too hard. I think once she settled in her, pitch counts went down each inning and she did what she does best which is get outs. She's not going to be a big strikeout person. She'll get some and she got some in that game, but she's going to be a kid that pitches to contact and gets you out on her pitch."
On the catcher spot:
"That catcher's role is wide open right now. We've got a freshman in Raquel Dominguez that has showed out very well. I could go back and say she threw two runners out and she threw someone out from Butler that is as fast as anyone in the country. She threw her out with ease. Mackenzie Thomas and Raquel both have their work cut out for them and they're in a battle. They've both improved a lot and are both good kids that know how to play and I think they're both well aware that they are the two kids that are back there."
Shortstop Sydney Pennington
On her first game at Oklahoma State:
"I was a little nervous at first, but by the second inning I had settled down and felt fine. All of the girls were super encouraging and were like "we know you can play and you know you can play, so just go out there and play like you know how to." They were all super encouraging and the coaches were too."
On the upperclassmen helping to coach the newcomers:
"Everyone has been so welcoming of all of the freshmen and I love everybody. Everyone on the team has such good team chemistry already and we're all super close, so that's just going to help make us better throughout the season."
On what the seniors have taught her so far:
"They've taught me so much more than I already knew. Especially Randee O'Donnell at shortstop. She has helped me so much. I didn't know half of the stuff that I do now before I came her and she has been such a great mentor to me. I couldn't do so much of the stuff last year that I can do this year, and that's because she helped me with all of that stuff."
Outfielder Elise LeBeouf
On her first game as a Cowgirl last week:
"I think I did OK. I definitely have a lot that I need to work on and get better at. I'm not where I want to be at yet, but I know if I keep working I'll get there."
On where she fits in with the outfield group:
"I'm not really sure right now. We have so much talent in the outfield that every position is up for grabs, so I couldn't really tell you."
On how Maddi Holcomb and Taylor Lynch have helped with her transition to OSU:
"They've helped me so much. They'll say "make sure you're taking this step" or "your three steps with this angle are better." So there's just helping me out a lot and it's making the transition easier for me than I thought it would be, and that's because of them."
Head Coach Kenny Gajewski
On last Thursday's win over Butler:
"I thought our returners did pretty good. They were getting back into the swing of things. Vanessa Shippy had a couple of good at-bats. Taylor Lynch is who she is and she looked strong in her at-bats. I thought Madi Sue Montgomery looked really good. I will say that. She had two really good at-bats, but I also thought she was moving really well. She was moving as well as I've seen since she had her knee injury. Once Emmie Robertson kind of got her heartbeat under control - it was her first time to pitch here and her first time pitching with the OSU on her chest. That's a big deal. I don't care where you're at or what school you're playing at, it's a big deal. She's out here trying to win a job and eat innings. She's trying to show her team what she's all about. I thought Michaela Richbourg was solid as well. She had a couple of good at-bats and one boneheaded play at first base that she'll clean up, but her at-bats are way beyond her years at this point. A lot of positives and we're looking forward to two more games this week and getting those newcomers back out there."
On Emmie Robertson's tempo:
"In the first inning, I think her wasn't as good and that's part of why she struggled. It's her first time to get pitches in with people watching and different batters, so there's a lot worked in to that. She missed a lot high, and that's not really her, which tells me she was probably racing and trying a little too hard. I think once she settled in her, pitch counts went down each inning and she did what she does best which is get outs. She's not going to be a big strikeout person. She'll get some and she got some in that game, but she's going to be a kid that pitches to contact and gets you out on her pitch."
On the catcher spot:
"That catcher's role is wide open right now. We've got a freshman in Raquel Dominguez that has showed out very well. I could go back and say she threw two runners out and she threw someone out from Butler that is as fast as anyone in the country. She threw her out with ease. Mackenzie Thomas and Raquel both have their work cut out for them and they're in a battle. They've both improved a lot and are both good kids that know how to play and I think they're both well aware that they are the two kids that are back there."
Shortstop Sydney Pennington
On her first game at Oklahoma State:
"I was a little nervous at first, but by the second inning I had settled down and felt fine. All of the girls were super encouraging and were like "we know you can play and you know you can play, so just go out there and play like you know how to." They were all super encouraging and the coaches were too."
On the upperclassmen helping to coach the newcomers:
"Everyone has been so welcoming of all of the freshmen and I love everybody. Everyone on the team has such good team chemistry already and we're all super close, so that's just going to help make us better throughout the season."
On what the seniors have taught her so far:
"They've taught me so much more than I already knew. Especially Randee O'Donnell at shortstop. She has helped me so much. I didn't know half of the stuff that I do now before I came her and she has been such a great mentor to me. I couldn't do so much of the stuff last year that I can do this year, and that's because she helped me with all of that stuff."
Outfielder Elise LeBeouf
On her first game as a Cowgirl last week:
"I think I did OK. I definitely have a lot that I need to work on and get better at. I'm not where I want to be at yet, but I know if I keep working I'll get there."
On where she fits in with the outfield group:
"I'm not really sure right now. We have so much talent in the outfield that every position is up for grabs, so I couldn't really tell you."
On how Maddi Holcomb and Taylor Lynch have helped with her transition to OSU:
"They've helped me so much. They'll say "make sure you're taking this step" or "your three steps with this angle are better." So there's just helping me out a lot and it's making the transition easier for me than I thought it would be, and that's because of them."
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Cowgirl Softball
INF
/ Cowgirl Softball
UTL
/ Cowgirl Softball
SS
/ Cowgirl Softball
UTL
/ Cowgirl Softball
C
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