Kentucky Wildcats
Overall Rank: #32
Conference Rank: #6 SEC
Kentucky Team Page
The Wildcats are coming off the most successful season in school history, with a 41-16 record and a trip to a Super Regional. Kentucky hopes to improve on that performance in 2012 and will play against eight top-25 teams from the 2011 season. Kentucky will host 17 games at the UK Softball Complex. "The team is excited about the challenge of our 2012 schedule," said head coach Rachel Lawson. “One of our cornerstone beliefs is that if you want to be a top-10 team you have to make top-10 plays on the national stage. Clearly, with the strength of the SEC and the challenges built into playing an aggressive preseason schedule, we will be afforded the continued opportunity to prove that we are one of the nation's elite programs." The Wildcats are seeking a fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
2011: 41-16, 14-9
2011 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Rachel Lawson
Field Players:
Four Seniors have graduated but the entire pitching staff is back. Catcher/third baseman Brittany Cervantes also returns after leading team with 15 homers and 52 RBIs, plus six game-winning hits. Cervantes and Rachel Riley are the team captains for 2012. Also back is the leading hitter a year ago, shortstop Kara Dill (.377, 20 stolen bases). Lost through graduation are catcher Megan Yocke (.327, 11 homers and 29 RBIs), Samantha DeMartine (.306), Annie Rowlands (.165) and Meagan Aull (OF) who was named SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and is now an undergraduate assistant coach at Kentucky along with Yocke. Aull shared team MVP honors with Riley after batting .362 with 10 homers, 40 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.
Pitchers:
Four pitchers return including Chanda Bell (15-8), Rachel Riley (13-5), Lauren Cumbess (11-9) and Ellen Weaver (6-1). Bell led the team in strikeouts with 205 and had a 2.24 ERA. Riley can also play the infield and batted .354 with eight homers and 28 RBIs. She has improved every year and will be one of the keys to the Wildcats doing even better in 2012. Bell is the school’s career strikeout leader (709 in 549 innings) and has a 52-31 record in three years.
Final Projection:
The Wildcats had the best season in school history and are out to improve on that performance in 2012. The team is picked to finish sixth in the SEC, but shouldn’t be taken lightly. Kentucky ranked 47th in the NCAA in team batting (.295) and defeated 12 top-25 teams in 2011. This is a veteran team poised for its best season in school history.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Kara Dill, SS, 183
Hits: Kara Dill, SS, 66
Home Runs: Brittany Cervantes, C/3B, 15
RBIs: Brittany Cervantes, C/3B, 52
Runs: Brittany Cervantes C/3B, 55
Stolen Bases: Kara Dill, SS, 20
Wins:Chanda Bell, P, 15
Innings Pitched: Chanda Bell, P, 149.2
Strikeouts: Chanda Bell, P, 205
Saves: Chanda Bell, P, 1; Rachel Riley, P, 1
Madness 2012 Softball Recruit Rankings:
#46 Griffin Joiner
