NSUDEMONS.COM
2020 PREVIEW
Pitching depth and variety are key factors to a team’s softball success. Northwestern State is deeper in the circle this season than coach Donald Pickett has had since winning the Southland Conference regular season in 2015, or possibly ever as Pickett enters his 12th season in Natchitoches. NSU brings back three of its four primary pitchers and added NJCAA Division II pitcher of the year Jensen Howell. Add that to an offensive starting lineup that returns eight of its top 10 bats, and the Lady Demons figure to be a contender for the Southland Conference title. The Lady Demons will attempt to build off a pair of Southland Conference Tournament wins that launched NSU into the winner’s bracket as a No. 6 seed, highlights a 30-win campaign that included a 15-12 league mark. PITCHERS Junior E.C. Delafield (10-4, 2.49 ERA) led the team in wins and ERA, senior Samantha Guile (9-11, 2.76 ERA) led the squad in strikeouts and innings pitched (77 in 116 2/3 innings) and sophomore Bronte Rhoden (5-3, 3.52 ERA) earned valuable experience as a starter and reliever. Signee Jensen Howell compiled a 22-3 mark while helping LSU-Eunice to a NJCAA Division II national championship. Pickett said the variety of arms will offer different looks to opposing hitters. “I don’t know that we’ve ever had four with this much experience at one time,” Pickett said. “They set the tone for this team, and I’m looking for all four of them to have a big impact. “With the variety and depth this staff has, we can make pitching changes quicker and get out ahead of a momentum change. We have confidence in all four of these arms, and we can give all of these great offensive teams in our league different looks.” The lone arm not returning is Mikayla Brown, who regained much of her former self as she compiled a 2.78 ERA and a 6-8 record, although she evolved
REGIONALS
into a primary reliever. Brown did toss four of NSU’s nine shutouts and finished her career with 12. Delafield was selected to the All-Southland Conference first team as a utility player. Pickett said she’s become a more consistent pitcher in the offseason. “(Delafield) has been consistent in her command of pitches, and she’s come a long way in being able to change speeds,” Pickett said. “She can keep teams off balanced.” Guile is a left-handed power pitcher that improved as she adjusted to NSU’s style of play after transferring from Southern Utah. Rhoden brings a bulldog mentality and developed her confidence throughout her freshman season. “We’ll continue to use Sammie to keep teams off-balanced,” Pickett said. “(Rhoden) has taken huge steps forward with her confidence. “We’re really excited to have all three of these players back in a second season under pitching coach Brooke Boening, who’s done a great job. We don’t have to do a lot of explaining with our pitchers in her second season, and we can get right to work on the meat and potatoes.” Howell is a right-handed power pitcher that has Division I experience after pitching at Louisiana Tech as a freshman. “Jensen is a power pitcher who can move the ball around and keep batters honest,” Pickett said. “We want to bring her along slowly, but I know she’s eager to get out there and prove herself. “The biggest thing is that she doesn’t have to prove everything every time out. Staying within herself will be big.” OFFENSE NSU has slowly rebuilt its power-based offense of the early and mid2010s, and the Lady Demons aim to bring the pop back with eight of its top 10 bats returning from a lineup that averaged nearly seven runs per game. The top seven Lady Demons in terms of batting average all return,
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