KENTUCKY BASEBALL HC NICK MINGIONE:
* Darren Williams back healthy on the mound. Was throwing it as well as anybody when he got hurt last year, ERA under 1. Working his way back. Had a couple of really good outings getting ready for the season. Don't know if he'll start out as a starter or maybe be used as the back-end stopper like Tyler Guilfoil was.
* A lot of other arms with "meaningful innings" under their belt -- Bosma, Lee, Hagenow, Strickland, Logue, Moore, (also Cotto, who wasn't mentioned). Excited about Travis Smith being healthy. He was their top-rated pitcher two years ago, was hurt at the end of his HS career. Back healthy and ready to contribute. Throwing mid-90s, good stuff, good breaking ball. Will be a starter, whether it's mid-week or weekend remains to be seen.
* Replacing eight guys in the lineup, all but catcher Devin Burkes. A LOT of new faces, transfer portal help. Their portal class has been ranked #6 in the country. Excited about seeing what those guys bring to the table.
* Pitre is a guy they like on the infield, whether it's SS or 2B. Hasn't really got the chance to show what he can do yet because he was behind a Gold Glover in Ryan Ritter.
* Team finished 9-6 in last 15 SEC games. Only four SEC teams did that a year ago. Feels like that momentum has carried over. Guys have tasted it. Want to continue it.
* Schedule is brutal, but what else is new. 17 games vs. teams in preseason Top 10. "That's the SEC."
* All four coaches are full-time now. Feels like that's a long-needed positive change.
* New wall at KPP this season. The old one was showing age, stained by weather/environmental conditions. New one will be black instead of blue. Looks great.
* Says they'll employ "mass chaos" on the basepaths. Wants to be super-aggressive running the bases this year, forcing opponents to make plays.
* Gotta strike out less. Big key for the lineup this season. Major focus of preseason work.
* Expects to coach 3rd base again. Thought it went well at the end of the season, helped him connect with guys, maybe even took some pressure off with him not being in the dugout all the time.
* Two of the last three years, they've been on the bubble and sweating out needing another win or two to get in the NCAA Tournament. Sick of feeling that way, so they did everything possible to make the schedule even better for their RPI this season. Wants this team to take care of business earlier so they're not under that kind of pressure in the last week or two.
* Defense should be really good with this team. Thinks that's essential playing in KPP. Run prevention is huge there. Jackson Gray could be a really good one in CF.
*****
KENTUCKY BASEBALL'S BOSMA, BURKES, WILLIAMS:
*****
KENTUCKY SOFTBALL HC RACHEL LAWSON:
* Loves the fact that the softball program has such a good following now. Jokes that the first one of these she did there was one guy asking all the questions, and he was actually from the UKA department.
* Excited about this team. Thinks they have some real star power.
* Tough schedule. Back to the scheduling they had prior to Covid. Restrictions hurt the sport of softball for a couple of years. Back to normal now, and thinks it will help everyone compete more during the regular season. HOWEVER, you have to be ready to play from the get-go, too.
* A lot of options in the circle. Not sure who the opening-day starter will be, but it's not because there is concern, they have several good options. Schoonover may have the inside track. Tremendous growth the last two years. Sullivan has really improved, throwing harder, commanding her stuff better. Izzy Harrison is a wild card to watch. Has the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the country if she puts it all together. You need a deeper staff these days, she adds. Hitters are just that much bigger, better than they used to be. Thinks the pitching staff is good, "but they're going to have to prove it."
* Speaking of size, Cats aren't as big as she'd like to be, but she likes what the strength staff has done with her players. They may not look like "monsters," but they're extremely strong.
* Kowalik's experience and expertise should be big for this team. She's "hit a new gear" with handling the pitching staff. Demands a lot from them as their catcher. Loves softball. Passionate about the game and UK. Really wanted to be back for another year. "She didn't give me a choice." Ha.
* Asked about speed, Lawson says they're "very fast. A lot of team speed." It will probably be the fastest OF in the SEC. Infield has some wheels, too.
* Lineup has to have some ladies step up and provide protection for their proven star hitters because they've lost some key bats. They think they have the replacements, but they have to prove it.
* Asked for a word to describe the team, Lawson first says "they're pretty cool," with a laugh, but then adds that it's a very "loyal" bunch.
* Asked about NIL... Hasn't really paid off for their players yet, but she thinks it eventually will.
*****
KENTUCKY SOFTBALL'S KOWALIK, HARRISON, SMITH:
* Darren Williams back healthy on the mound. Was throwing it as well as anybody when he got hurt last year, ERA under 1. Working his way back. Had a couple of really good outings getting ready for the season. Don't know if he'll start out as a starter or maybe be used as the back-end stopper like Tyler Guilfoil was.
* A lot of other arms with "meaningful innings" under their belt -- Bosma, Lee, Hagenow, Strickland, Logue, Moore, (also Cotto, who wasn't mentioned). Excited about Travis Smith being healthy. He was their top-rated pitcher two years ago, was hurt at the end of his HS career. Back healthy and ready to contribute. Throwing mid-90s, good stuff, good breaking ball. Will be a starter, whether it's mid-week or weekend remains to be seen.
* Replacing eight guys in the lineup, all but catcher Devin Burkes. A LOT of new faces, transfer portal help. Their portal class has been ranked #6 in the country. Excited about seeing what those guys bring to the table.
* Pitre is a guy they like on the infield, whether it's SS or 2B. Hasn't really got the chance to show what he can do yet because he was behind a Gold Glover in Ryan Ritter.
* Team finished 9-6 in last 15 SEC games. Only four SEC teams did that a year ago. Feels like that momentum has carried over. Guys have tasted it. Want to continue it.
* Schedule is brutal, but what else is new. 17 games vs. teams in preseason Top 10. "That's the SEC."
* All four coaches are full-time now. Feels like that's a long-needed positive change.
* New wall at KPP this season. The old one was showing age, stained by weather/environmental conditions. New one will be black instead of blue. Looks great.
* Says they'll employ "mass chaos" on the basepaths. Wants to be super-aggressive running the bases this year, forcing opponents to make plays.
* Gotta strike out less. Big key for the lineup this season. Major focus of preseason work.
* Expects to coach 3rd base again. Thought it went well at the end of the season, helped him connect with guys, maybe even took some pressure off with him not being in the dugout all the time.
* Two of the last three years, they've been on the bubble and sweating out needing another win or two to get in the NCAA Tournament. Sick of feeling that way, so they did everything possible to make the schedule even better for their RPI this season. Wants this team to take care of business earlier so they're not under that kind of pressure in the last week or two.
* Defense should be really good with this team. Thinks that's essential playing in KPP. Run prevention is huge there. Jackson Gray could be a really good one in CF.
*****
KENTUCKY BASEBALL'S BOSMA, BURKES, WILLIAMS:
*****
KENTUCKY SOFTBALL HC RACHEL LAWSON:
* Loves the fact that the softball program has such a good following now. Jokes that the first one of these she did there was one guy asking all the questions, and he was actually from the UKA department.
* Excited about this team. Thinks they have some real star power.
* Tough schedule. Back to the scheduling they had prior to Covid. Restrictions hurt the sport of softball for a couple of years. Back to normal now, and thinks it will help everyone compete more during the regular season. HOWEVER, you have to be ready to play from the get-go, too.
* A lot of options in the circle. Not sure who the opening-day starter will be, but it's not because there is concern, they have several good options. Schoonover may have the inside track. Tremendous growth the last two years. Sullivan has really improved, throwing harder, commanding her stuff better. Izzy Harrison is a wild card to watch. Has the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the country if she puts it all together. You need a deeper staff these days, she adds. Hitters are just that much bigger, better than they used to be. Thinks the pitching staff is good, "but they're going to have to prove it."
* Speaking of size, Cats aren't as big as she'd like to be, but she likes what the strength staff has done with her players. They may not look like "monsters," but they're extremely strong.
* Kowalik's experience and expertise should be big for this team. She's "hit a new gear" with handling the pitching staff. Demands a lot from them as their catcher. Loves softball. Passionate about the game and UK. Really wanted to be back for another year. "She didn't give me a choice." Ha.
* Asked about speed, Lawson says they're "very fast. A lot of team speed." It will probably be the fastest OF in the SEC. Infield has some wheels, too.
* Lineup has to have some ladies step up and provide protection for their proven star hitters because they've lost some key bats. They think they have the replacements, but they have to prove it.
* Asked for a word to describe the team, Lawson first says "they're pretty cool," with a laugh, but then adds that it's a very "loyal" bunch.
* Asked about NIL... Hasn't really paid off for their players yet, but she thinks it eventually will.
*****
KENTUCKY SOFTBALL'S KOWALIK, HARRISON, SMITH:
