Emporia State softball coach Kristi Bredbenner knows it will be tough to top a 62-7 season — a year where the Lady Hornets finished Runner-Up in Division II after making the National Championship game.
So her team won’t try to.
“If we continue to compare ourselves to last year’s team, we’re going to have a hard time,” Bredbenner said. “We’re going to have to be our own person, our own team.”
Still, there’s no doubt the expectations have been set high — especially because ESU only lost three seniors from last year’s overachieving squad. The Hornets are ranked No. 3 in the NFCA preseason poll.
“It’s a big challenge,” ESU third baseman Megan Davison said. “We know we’re the big team out here, and people just want to come out and beat us. We know we have to go out there and defend what we have and the titles that we own.”
The two players ESU will have the most trouble replacing are All-American second-teamer Bree Beattie and first-teamer Melissa Stevens.
The shortstop, Beattie, led the Hornets in nearly every offensive category, including average (.420), on-base percentage (.512), runs (74), hits (87) and walks (39).
Though Beattie still will be with the team as an assistant coach, Bredbenner said her bat would be missed at the top of the lineup.
“Bree was our No. 1 offensive producer,” Bredbenner said. “That’s the biggest shoes we’re trying to fill right now.”
Bredbenner still returns eight of her top 10 hitters from last year, including Davison, who earned second-team All-American honors after hitting an MIAA-record 23 home runs and driving in 73 last season.
The coach also hopes to get continued production from sophomore Jennifer Dace (.309 BA) and senior Chelsea McClernon (.318 BA, 10 HR).
“I think they’re only going to get better with their experience,” Bredbenner said. “I’m looking for them to put up some better numbers and to increase that potential at the plate.”
Stepping into Beattie’s spot at shortstop will be freshman Miranda Campbell, who comes from Rivercrest High School in Bogata, Texas.
In the pitching circle, senior Courtney Reed will step into the No. 1 spot on the staff.
Though Stevens stole the headlines last year, posting a 0.75 ERA and 30-4 record, Reed had a dominating year in her own right. The right-hander finished with a 25-3 record and a minuscule 1.12 ERA, adding a no-hitter against Missouri Southern in the MIAA Tournament.
“I think that she is a No. 1 at any other school last year, but because Melissa was in front of her, she was a No. 2,” Bredbenner said. “Finally, she’s stepping out of that shadow and into the spotlight. I think she definitely has the capability to do just as well as Melissa did last year, and I think she can dominate our conference.”
Samantha Sheeley, Megan Grisell and Emporia High graduate Jenna Potter will compete for the No. 2 spot in the rotation.
ESU will open its season on Friday in the Texas Woman’s Tourney against St. Edwards and Texas Woman’s University.
The Hornets could be forgiven if they weren’t fully prepared. Because of the weather, ESU has only had a handful of practices outside, instead being forced to practice inside the HPER building.
“Cabin fever makes everyone cranky,” Bredbenner said. “We’re itching to get outside.
“It’s been tough, but you have to deal with the cards you’ve been dealt. You can’t do too much about it.”
Davison said the team was ready to establish itself in a new season.
“Last year’s in the past,” Davison said. “We just need to go out and prove what kind of a team we are this year.”