UT MARTIN SOFTBALL OPENS SEASON PREPARATIONS WITH START OF OFFICIAL PRACTICE
1/18/2022 8:00:00 PM | Softball
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team opened preparations for its 2022 campaign with the start of official practice on Tuesday afternoon.
Excitement was in the air as the Skyhawks open their preseason work with third-year head coach Brian Dunn at the helm. The Skyhawks feature a veteran squad from a team which finished last season 27-19 while boasting its first winning conference season since 2017. The team will look to build upon its offense from last season which ranked amongst the best in program history by posting a school-record 8.65 hits per game while ranking second in program history with a .462 slugging percentage and third in both batting average (.309) and runs per game (5.13).
The Skyhawks return 15 players from last year's squad while adding five newcomers to the team. The squad features four returning All-Ohio Valley Conference honorees including first team selections Alexis Groet (13-6, 1.36 ERA) and Kaitlyn Kelley (.338, 17 home runs, 48 RBIs) along with second team picks Kaci Fuller (.350, 10 doubles, 24 RBIs and 21 SBs) and Paige Clark (.372, 10 doubles, 17 RBIs and 16 SBs). The team also boasts five of the OVC's 12 All-Newcomer selections from last season as Shyanne Sheffield (.381, 10 extra base hits, 17 RBIs and 12 SBs) and Southeast Missouri transfer Katie Dreiling (.356, 10 extra base hits, 18 RBIs) join other honorees Fuller, Groet and Kelley on a loaded roster.
UT Martin will spend the next 23 days preparing for the season opener at the Lady Demon Classic which runs Feb. 11-12 in Natchitoches, La.
Excitement was in the air as the Skyhawks open their preseason work with third-year head coach Brian Dunn at the helm. The Skyhawks feature a veteran squad from a team which finished last season 27-19 while boasting its first winning conference season since 2017. The team will look to build upon its offense from last season which ranked amongst the best in program history by posting a school-record 8.65 hits per game while ranking second in program history with a .462 slugging percentage and third in both batting average (.309) and runs per game (5.13).
The Skyhawks return 15 players from last year's squad while adding five newcomers to the team. The squad features four returning All-Ohio Valley Conference honorees including first team selections Alexis Groet (13-6, 1.36 ERA) and Kaitlyn Kelley (.338, 17 home runs, 48 RBIs) along with second team picks Kaci Fuller (.350, 10 doubles, 24 RBIs and 21 SBs) and Paige Clark (.372, 10 doubles, 17 RBIs and 16 SBs). The team also boasts five of the OVC's 12 All-Newcomer selections from last season as Shyanne Sheffield (.381, 10 extra base hits, 17 RBIs and 12 SBs) and Southeast Missouri transfer Katie Dreiling (.356, 10 extra base hits, 18 RBIs) join other honorees Fuller, Groet and Kelley on a loaded roster.
UT Martin will spend the next 23 days preparing for the season opener at the Lady Demon Classic which runs Feb. 11-12 in Natchitoches, La.
Players Mentioned
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/ SoftballWednesday, May 13
Wednesday, May 13
Wednesday, May 13
Wednesday, May 13