BYU Cougars
Overall Rank: #30
Conference Rank: #2 Western Athletic Conference
BYU begins its first WAC campaign, moving from the Mountain West where they captured the last three conference titles and five MWC Championships in the last seven years. The 2011 Mountain West Coach of the Year, Gordon Eakin begins his 10th spring at the helm of a club he has led to at least 40 wins for seven consecutive seasons and seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances. The start of 2012 will be a challenge, as the Cougars open with 18 of their first 27 tilts against teams that were in the tournament last year. That 18 includes seven squads that reached the Super Regionals, and half of the WCWS field.
2011: 40-18, 11-2
2011 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Gordon Eakin, 10th Season
Field Players:
Returners Tiffany Messerschmidt, Jessica Dugas and JC Clayton were offensive leaders for BYU in 2011, but they will all need to improve on last year’s numbers to make up for the loss of seniors Jessica Purcell-Fitu, Caschjen Davis Atagi and Kristin Delahoussaye. The graduates accounted for 29 of the team’s 54 home runs and just under half of the squad’s RBIs. Clayton led the Cougars with a .373 average and was second behind All Conference selection Dugas in on-base percentage. BYU’s table setters will need senior Delaney Willard, who hit 11 HR’s last year, and sophomores Carly Duckworth and Madisen Robb to do the heavy lifting.
Pitchers:
Sophomore Tori Almond and Junior Hannah Howell will work to fill the shoes of Mountain West Pitcher of the Year Paige Affleck. Almond was 10-4 in 2011 with a 3.13 ERA. Howell was 4-2 with just 52 innings and an ERA of 2.69. 6’1” freshman hurler, Caroline Umphlett will be the first North Carolinian to pitch for BYU. Coach Eakin expects Umphlett, who was three time 2A All-State honoree, to dominate.
Who to Watch:
Freshmen Megan Arnold and Haley Schenasi will need to make an immediate impact. Coach Eakin’s comments about both indicate he has high hopes for their early success. Arnold is an outstanding hitter out of Esperanza High, leading her team to the Sunset League championship in 2008 and 2010. In the summer she played for the Cal Lite 18 Gold, batting .472. Schenasi is a powerful, speedy and highly decorated player from Palos Verdes High. She is extremely versatile on defense, capable of playing any position on the field.
Final Projection:
It will be a high hurdle for BYU to win its fourth conference title in a row and their first WAC Championship with their losses due to graduation, specifically in the circle. The Cougars’ pitching staff, including freshman Caroline Umphlett, will need to do well, especially early in the season, to give the offense an opportunity to round into shape. The middle of the order must come through with timely power. A tough early schedule will help BYU’s RPI and give solid positioning heading into their first year of WAC Conference play. The Cougars will have to generate a complete team effort in the circle and at the plate from key returners Almond, Clayton, Messerschmidt and Dugas to reach the post season, but if they continue to improve and newcomers Umphlett, Arnold and Schenasi shine, BYU should reach the NCAA tournament.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: JC Clayton, IF, 177
Hits: JC Clayton, IF, 66
Home Runs: Delaney Willard, OF, 11
RBIs: Delaney Willard, OF, 42
Runs: JC Clayton, IF, 37
Stolen Bases: Jessica Dugas, 3B/OF, 13
Wins: Tori Almond, P, 10
Innings Pitched: Tori Almond, P, 85
Strikeouts: Tori Almond, P, 96
Saves: Hannah Howell, P, 4
