Georgia Bulldogs
Overall Rank: #14
Conference Rank: #7 SEC
The Georgia Bulldogs have a long tradition of winning in most sports, including softball. The softball team has had 15consecutive years with NCAA postseason appearances thanks to a long string of seasons with 40+ games won, including seven with 50 or more wins. Last year Georgia won by using every aspect of their game. They used speed thanks to the Emanuel sisters. They led the SEC with a .342 team batting average and had great pitching thanks largely to senior Chelsea Wilkinson, who finished the season with an impressive 1.93 ERA and 219 strikeouts. Georgia made a deep run in the post season last year before being knocked out of the Women’s College World Series by LSU.
2016: 46-20, 12-12
2016 Postseason: WCWS
Coach: Lu Harris-Champer
Key Departed Players:
Chelsea Wilkinson, P, 1.93 ERA, 232 IP, 219 SO
Tina Losefa, IF, .355 BA, 23 HR, 87 RBI
Alex Hugo, IF, .306 BA, 9 HR, 47 RBI
Kaylee Puailoa, IF/OF, .328 BA, 6 HR, 49 RBI
Key Returning Players:
Kylie Bass, P/IF, 1.25 ERA, 72.7 IP, 64 SO
Brittany Gray, P/UT, 3.21 ERA, 111.1 IP, 128 SO
Sydni Emanuel, OF, .441 BA, 0 HR, 16 RBI
Cortni Emanuel, OF, .404 BA, 0 HR, 20 RBI
Alyssa DiCarlo, IF, .371 BA, 11 HR, 63 RBI
Projection:
Georgia really took a big hit this year losing several key starting players from last year’s team. The two biggest losses were Chelsea Wilkinson, who was the team’s ace pitcher and a big factor in many of their wins and field leader Alex Hugo, who was always there to give a pep talk when needed to get the team back on track. On the positive side Georgia still has the slapper sister duo of Sydni and Cortni Emanuel that gives the team lots of speed on the bases. Alyssa DiCarlo is back again with her big bat to help drive some of those speedy base runners in for scores. Kylie Bass had a good year last season as a complimentary pitcher to Chelsea Wilkinson. But is she ready to carry the load this season? Starting her 21st year coaching and 17th season as Georgia’s head coach is Lu Harris-Champer. She really knows the program and players and will draw the best out of them. Even though the team has suffered several key loses, there’s still enough of the core team left for Coach Lu Harris-Champer to build upon and continue the Georgia Bulldogs tradition of winning.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Softball Tournament
Madness 2017 Draft Rankings:
#13 Sydni Emanuel
