Some of the best offensive players in Division I may be names you don’t even know!
By Cassie Tysarczyk, JWOS Contributor
If you’re a softball fan, then you probably know most of the nation’s top hitters; names like Alyssa DiCarlo, Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza, Rachel Garcia, and Amanda Sanchez come to mind. There are also some hitters that fly under the radar, but that can be game-changers and dangerous offensive weapons. We’ve spotlighted nine of them here.
Whitney Walton, UT-Arlington
> The Mavericks’ leadoff hitter is one of the toughest outs in the Sun Belt Conference. Walton has recorded a hit in 24 of 26 contests this season, 14 of those being multi-hit games. On the cusp of surpassing her hits, homeruns, walks, total bases, and runs scored from a year ago, just halfway through the 2019 season, the shortstop is arguably the most improved on the UTA roster. She is an offensive catalyst, sitting at a .500 batting average and with an on-base percentage of .598. Against opponents in the top 50 in RPI (including UCLA, Texas Tech, and Baylor), her production has remained consistent. Walton’s poise at the plate, performance in pressure situations, and ability to turn routine plays into hits lands her on our list.
Mikayla Coelho, California
> With much of the Pac-12 race focused on UCLA, Washington, and Arizona, left-handed hitter Mikayla Coelho is reminding the country that Cal will not go unnoticed. She leads her team in RBIs (25), on-base percentage (.550), homeruns (7), and walks (21). With teammate Lindsay Rood (.458 BA) atop the Golden Bears’ lineup, Coelho sits 2nd or 3rd and has consistently produced so much that opponents are beginning to throw around her. Coelho will have plenty of additional opportunities in conference matchups to show out versus ranked foes and against some of the best pitchers in Division I. The outfielder garnered a spot on the All-Pac 12 Freshman Team in 2018, and is vying for additional all-conference honors in her sophomore campaign.
Sara Jubas, James Madison
> James Madison sits 23rd in RPI with Sara Jubas leading the offensive charge. A member of the CAA All-Rookie Team a year ago, Jubas’ most successful outings in her sophomore season have come against top-tier opponents in Minnesota and Arizona. The shortstop leads the nation in batting average at .558 and ranks 3rd in on-base percentage with .620. Yet to record a strikeout, Jubas is relieving the Dukes’ upperclassmen of some offensive pressures. The Dukes open up CAA conference play versus Elon this weekend.
Kayla Konwent, Wisconsin
> Konwent’s comeback season has been a remarkable one, after sitting out all of 2018 recovering from a shoulder injury. As freshman in 2017, Konwent was sidelined after just 13 appearances and is currently listed as a junior on the roster. She has certainly found her stride, most notably in games versus ranked foes in Texas Tech, Texas, and Arizona State. Boasting a .485 batting average and 29 RBIs, Konwent has eight base knocks on the year and sixteen extra base hits. Head coach Yvette Healy has most recently structured her lineup in a unique fashion, perching this powerfully swinging utility/designated player atop the Badgers’ lineup. Should she remain leadoff, Konwent is likely to double her at bats, and, potentially, the numbers she’s attained thus far in 2019.
Julie Rawls, Louisiana-Lafayette
> After three home runs in the Ragin’ Cajuns’ last four games, transfer Julie Rawls is on track to demolish her offensive numbers from her previous school, Northwestern State. She hits from the left side and is top 20 in the nation with a .475 batting average. Tallying nine multi-RBI games on the year, Rawls has proven to be practically indomitable when she’s seeing the ball well. The Cajuns’ offense has undoubtedly adapted to head coach Gerry Glasco’s explosive hitting style, and Rawls’ numbers are indicative of more offensive prowess on the horizon.
Bella Loya, Illinois
> This California native is making some noise in her sophomore campaign. The Illini pace the Big Ten conference in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, largely as a result of Loya’s aggressive swing. The catcher/designated player is hitting .400 and climbs to 3rd in the conference, both with eight homers and a slugging percentage of .829. Her 23 RBIs lead the Illini roster that’s loaded, with six additional athletes notching an average of .300 or higher. With that kind of talent consistently on base for a cleanup hitter who makes adjustments and takes big hacks, there’s no questioning Illinois’ #20 debut in RPI rankings.
Morgan Geno, Ohio
> This 3-time All-Mid-American Conference selection is going out with a literal bang in her senior season. Ohio’s utility player Geno is tied for third nationally with 39 RBIs, alongside the likes of LSU’s Shelbi Sunseri and Arizona State’s Morgan Howe, but has done so in three fewer contests. Hitting for power to all fields, she has continuously found success against high-level pitching. Geno has already matched her home run total of ten from a season ago and could make a run for the school’s single-season RBI record come May. The Bobcats open conference play against Bowling Green this weekend.
Rachel Anderson, Southeast Missouri
> Led in offense by junior Rachel Anderson, the Redhawks have scored 54 runs during their current 10-game win streak. Anderson just earned the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week award, highlighted by breaking the school’s all-time triples record. She leads the OVC in batting average (.478), slugging percentage (.889), and total bases (80). Nationally, the center fielder ranks second in triples and third in hits. With 15 multiple hit games, Anderson is on base in over half of her plate appearances and is averaging an RBI per game. Anderson’s multi-faceted brand as an offensive threat by means of power, speed, and mentality garner her a spot on our list.
Jenna Cone, George Washington
> Cone is no stranger to offensive successes. In each of her first two seasons, the California native received Atlantic 10 All-Conference and NFCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors. She ranks 2nd nationally in RBIs (41), T-3rd in total bases (80), and T-10th in homeruns (11). On pace to break several of her own George Washington offensive records, set a season ago, Cone is only getting stronger with experience. She swings early in the count, takes advantage of mistakes, and has incredible confidence at the plate. With Cone and her teammates displaying remarkable improvements, the Colonels and first-year head coach Shane Winkler may be on the brink of the school’s first NCAA Regional.
Whitney Walton photo (c) Sharon Ellman via utamavs.com
