BOONE, N.C. – The App State softball team boasts a strong and experienced infield this season, with all positions returning, including three fifth year seniors and a solid group of underclassmen.
"We've basically got our entire infield back which is exciting, but we've got some newcomers as well and I feel the strength of our team is our depth and competition between positions," head coach
Shelly Hoerner said.
Keri White returns for a fifth year with the Mountaineers after appearing in 18 games in 2020, making 10 starts during the shortened season. She finished the year with a .300 batting average, good for third on the team, posting nine hits and scoring eight runs. The third baseman was a perfect two-for-two in stolen bases and ended the season with a .300 slugging percentage and a .344 on base percentage. White struck out only three times, a team-low.
"Keri's mentality is different this year as well as all the seniors being afforded this opportunity to play again. I think they're not taking anything for granted," Hoerner said. "I love Keri as a competitor, she sets the tone for us and she's feisty. She gets the job done and does whatever it takes."
Returning at shortstop for the Mountaineers is fifth year
Caylie Kifer. Kifer started in every game at shortstop for the Mountaineers and finished the shortened season with a .257 batting average with 18 hits and seven RBI. She was tied for second on the team in runs scored with 11 and had two doubles. Kifer posted a .286 slugging percentage and .333 on base percentage.
"Caylie returns at shortstop and she's done a great job this fall and has been our shortstop the past couple years," Hoerner said. "I'm looking forward to her to getting back on the field this spring."
Freshman
Emma Jones had a solid fall and will also see time in the middle infield. Jones joins the Mountaineers from Alabama where she received All-State honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior. She was named team MVP in 2015, All-District in 2016 and was the 2016 Female Athlete of the Year. In 2017, Jones earned the State Championship MVP and was named All-Conference. As a junior, the infielder was named MVP after posting the highest batting average with .500, most stolen bases (47) and most runs scored (52).
"Emma has speed, she's fundamentally sound and she just makes things happen. She's a competitor just like Keri and has made an impact in this program already just from this fall," Hoerner said. "She's a great teammate and a lot of people are looking to her because she just gets the job done."
Fifth year
Sidney Russell made 20 starts at second base for the Mountaineers in 2020, finishing the shortened season with a .232 batting average and a .339 slugging percentage. She had 13 hits and scored four runs in her 56 at bats. Russell hit her first career home run in the win over Oakland and ended the year with three doubles, good for second on the team. The infielder posted a .313 on base percentage with eight RBI.
"Sidney is just a gamer and she works extremely hard. She's blue collar and I love her mentality," Hoerner said. "We've got a great middle infield and all three of the middle infielders work really well together, but for me and my staff, hitting is going to get you into the lineup."
Freshman
Shelbi Tucker can play second and third base for the Mountaineers, as well as catcher.
"She's a true utility. She's just a student of the game and wants to learn and is learning from those upperclassmen, which is pretty neat to see that those upperclassmen are taking those freshmen under their wing."
Taylor Thorp and
Maegan Calandra both return and play first base. Freshman
Allie Sewell also joins the Mountaineers and could see time at first base.
"We've got a lot of competition at first base and defensively, I feel we can put anybody out there. Again, it's going to come down to the hot bat. Taylor and Maegan have the experience right now but I think everyone knows what their roles are even if they're not in the game and that's key to our program," Hoerner said.
