Softball | 2/1/2020 10:11:00 AM

 
 
 
GOODWELL, Okla. -  After a successful fall pre-season, the Oklahoma Panhandle State University softball team will take its first steps into the 2020 season this weekend. For the first time in seven years, the Aggies will have a new face at the helm, as Chad Kerr also makes his debut as the program's head coach.
 
Panhandle lifts the lid on 2020 – as it has in each of the previous three seasons – with a four-game series at the University of the Southwest in Hobbs, New Mexico. The two teams will play a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday (Feb. 1/1 p.m.) and Sunday (Feb. 2/12 p.m.).
 
"It's been an exciting journey," Kerr said of guiding the Aggies. "The ladies had a great fall portion of the season, going 10-0, and really showed a desire to compete. They want to improve and are willing to take instruction.
 
"But most important, there has been a real feeling of family throughout the squad. They care for each other and hold each other accountable, which is a huge factor if you want to have a successful team."
 
Any accomplishments by this 2020 squad will no doubt center around his six seniors returning from the 2019 roster. The group includes: outfielders Chrislyn Dovers (Haslet, Texas) and Abby Gregory (Mooreland, Okla.), infielder Jena Konieczka (Plano, Texas), utility player Brissa Rivera (Brownsville, Texas), catcher Haley Neal (Choctaw, Okla.) and pitcher Kaylor Battiest (Tulsa, Okla.).
 
Battiest was an All-Sooner Athletic Conference second team selection last year, after compiling a 15-10 record, with a 2.58 earned run average in 165.2 innings pitched.  Battiest made 41 appearances and led the NAIA in both saves (10) and fielding percentage (1.000). She had highs of 12 strikeouts versus Mid-America Christian (3/29/19) and registered 11 K's versus both Southwestern Christian (4/7/19) and Central Christian (4/12/19)
 
Battiest ranked 41st in NAIA for innings pitched (165.2). In SAC statistics, she ranked among league leaders in: Saves (1st/10); Fielding Percentage (t. 1st/1.000); Wins (6th/15); Strikeouts-per-Game (2nd/7.35); Total Strikeouts (t. 3rd/174); Innings Pitched (5th/165.2); Opponent Batting Average (7th/.238), and ERA (8th/2.58).
 
Her battery mate Neal, was a workhorse behind the plate and caught every inning for the Aggies (314.2) of all 51 games of 2019. Neal threw out 8 runners and had a .976 fielding percentage in a team-leading 335 chances (eight errors). At the plate, she hit .307 (39-127), with three doubles, 25 runs and 14 runs batted in. Neal ranked No. 34 in NAIA for total chances (335) and No. 37 in putouts (310). In SAC statistics, she was No. 18 on-base average (.436); No. 18 fielding percentage; No. 3 total chances/game (6.57); and No. 4 total putouts.
 
Gregory was also an All-SAC second team honoree. Gregory made 49 appearances, with 45 starts, and second on the team with a .350 batting average (36-103). She had four double and tied for team lead with four home runs, resulting in a  .505 slugging percentage. Gregory scored 32 runs and led team with a perfect 10-for-10 in steals. She drove in 21 runs and drew 19 walks.
 
Gregory went a season-best 4-for-4 vs. Sterling, with nine RBI (2/13/19) and three of her home runs coming in that game, as well. She ranked among the leaders in SAC statistics at No. 20 in batting average; No. 18 in slugging percentage; No. 13 home runs/game (0.08); tied for No. 13 in total home runs; No. 20 steals/game (0.20), and; No. 9 on-base average (.460).
 
Dovers, who roamed left field in 2019, played – and started – in 45 games in 2019. Dovers had a .178 batting average (13-73), with one double, one triple and nine walks. She scored 17 runs and collected nine RBI. She had a collegiate-career best .934 fielding percentage (61 total chances/2 errors), as well.
 
Konieczka, an All-SAC honoree from 2018 who mostly played shortstop last season, appeared in – and started – 50 games as a junior. Konieczka amassed a .329 BA (51-155) - six doubles, two triples and one home run - scored 35 runs and had a team-leading 39 RBI, on her way to a .439 slugging percentage.
 
Konieczka drew 20 walks and produced a .408 on-base average. With the glove, she had a .919 fielding percentage (135 chances/11 errors). In the final SAC statistics she ranked: No. 16 runs/game (0.71); No. 18 total runs; No. 20 hits/game (1.02); No. 11 RBI/game (0.77); No. 13 total RBI; t. No. 6 triples/game (0.08); tied for No. 3 total triples; No. 11 at-bats/game (3.08) and; No. 20- total assists.
 
Rivera played in 33 games, sporting a .317 batting average (19-60). Rivera drove in nine and slapped two triples. She scored 11 runs, drew 16 walks to bolster her .455 on-base average.
 
"It is certainly a team strength to have so much senior leadership returning," Kerr said. "There is always a 'blending' and team maturation that occurs each season. Having a strong cache of returners can make that process easier."
 
Kerr also has several other returning players who have been a part of the Aggies' program, some who have already received good experience from previous playing time. Among those is Anjunessia Husband, a redshirt junior (but a senior in the classroom) who say out 2019. In her two previous campaigns in 2017 and 2018, Husband played in 64 games and made 54 starts and a .295 career batting average.
 
Junior Kayli Grove (Norman, Okla.) returns for a third season. Grove started all 50 games as Aggies' primary firstbaseman, hitting .331 (49-148). Grove led OPSU in doubles (16), triples (5) and co-leader in homeruns (4), resulting in a team-best .588 slugging percentage. Grove was second on the Aggies with 38 RBI, drew 13 walks and had 33 runs scored. She was No. 36 in NAIA for triples (5) and No. 50 in doubles (16). In SAC statistics she was: No. 8 in slugging percentage; No. 18 in runs/game (0.69); tied for No. 19 total runs; No. 10 RBI/game (0.78); No. 12 total RBI; No. 4 in doubles/game (0.31); No. 6 total doubles; No. 1 triples/game (0.10); No. 2 total triples; No. 14 home runs/game (0.08); tied No. 13 total home runs; No. 10
bases/game (1.56); No. 13 total bases (88); tied for No. 15 in fielding percentage; No. 7 in total chances/game (4.63); No. 10 total chances; No. 7 putouts/game (4.35); tied for No. 7 in total putouts.
 
Fellow junior thirdbaseman Jaylinn Reyes appeared in 45 games, starting 42, last season. Reyes had a healthy .323 (41-127) batting average, along with five doubles, one triple and three home runs. She scored 21 runs, had 24 RBI and was hit-by-pitch a team-leading seven times. Reyes had an .875 fielding percentage in 88 total chances. In SAC statistics, she was No. 19 home runs/game (0.07) and tied for No. 18 for total home runs.
 
Also back from the 2019 roster are sophomore infielders Rachel Diercks (Woodward, Okla.) and Ashley McKellips (Hydro, Okla.). Redshirt freshman Caitley Adams, a utility player, returns to the fold, as well.
 
Kerr will need all of those weapons, as well as expected contributions from a talented corps of newcomers, if his team expects to make some noise in a very difficult 2020 schedule that features 10 games versus NAIA top-25 foes. For proof of that fact, one needs only to examine the SAC itself with the NAIA pre-season No. 2 (USAO) and No. 3 (Oklahoma City) teams. The Aggies also have single games versus NAIA No. 16 Columbia College (Mo.), as well as a bout versus No. 23 University of Houston-Victoria.
 
 
"We want the mindset that we can play with anyone." Kerr summarized. "We will play at the same level no matter the opponent, ranked or not ranked, and I believe - if we do this - great things will happen for this team this season."