I. Conference Breakdown
The Ohio Valley has twelve member schools that sponsor the sport of softball. Southeast Missouri (SEMO) is the reigning conference champion, having won both the league’s regular-season and tournament championships in 2019. Conference play had not yet begun when the 2020 season ended, but eight OVC teams had winning records when everything shut down. Eastern Kentucky (22-2) and SIU-Edwardsville (13-5) had the highest winning percentages in the shortened year.
This season will be the last in the OVC for Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State; both teams will depart to join the ASun effective on July 1st.
II. 2021 Predictions
Player of the Year: Lexi Osowski, Austin Peay
Pitcher of the Year: Mollie Paulick, Eastern Kentucky
Coach of the Year: Mark Redburn, Southeast Missouri
Conference Champions: Southeast Missouri Redhawks
III. Who to Watch
Rachel Anderson, Southeast Missouri — Even after four years at SEMO and an All-American award in 2019, Anderson still doesn’t get her due at the national level. She owns a .422 batting average during her college career, is a 3-time all-OVC selection, and currently owns the program records in batting average, slugging percentage, triples, and on-base percentage. She’s a model of consistency for the Redhawks, and has started 184 straight games. Back for one more year thanks to the extended eligibility waiver, she’s part of SEMO’s stellar core of standouts.
Eastern Illinois — Tara Archibald made some noise on the transfer market this summer, bringing in four new Panthers via the portal. EIU was already making some improvements in Archibald’s first year, and the influx of transfers could be a shot in the arm for Archibald and her staff’s efforts. Speaking of that staff, Carly Willert departed during the summer, Rachel Houck was promoted to a full-time role, and EIU brought in Aeshia Miles as a graduate/2nd assistant. Look for a rise and some improvements from the Panthers in 2021.
Lexi Osowski, Austin Peay — Osowski has been the Governors’ starting third baseman pretty much since she got to APSU, cementing her spot at the hot corner as a sophomore in 2020. An all-conference and all-region selection as a freshman, Osowski led her team in all of the major statistical categories during the shortened 2020 season. She batted .434 on the abbreviated year, led OVC hitters with 33 hits, and ranked 14th in the nation with ten doubles.
Eastern Kentucky Colonels — EKU turned a lot of heads with their 22-2 record last season, a mark that included an 18-game winning streak and victories over George Washington and Southern Miss. Pitching ace Mollie Paulick returns for her “super senior” season thanks to the NCAA’s eligibility waiver, and the Colonels return, in total, all nine starters, top eleven hitters, and all but one member of the 2020 roster. The team is stacked and ready for another run.
IV. Coaching Moves
Laura Matthews was hired as the head coach at Belmont after Megan Rhodes Smith joined the staff at her alma mater, Tennessee… Eastern Kentucky saw a total staff change-over under Jane Worthington, while Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech both experienced noteworthy moves on their respective assistant coaching staffs.
V. Burning Questions
* Can Eastern Kentucky sustain their red-hot momentum from 2020?
* Which OVC teams will best adjust to the changes in the season’s format and scheduling changes?
VI. Projected Standings
- Southeast Missouri Redhawks
- Eastern Kentucky Colonels
- Austin Peay Governors
- Jacksonville State Gamecocks
- Murray State Racers
- SIU-Edwardsville Cougars
- Eastern Illinois Panthers
- Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
- UT Martin Skyhawks
- Belmont Bruins
- Tennessee State Lady Tigers
- Morehead State Eagles
