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NSUDEMONS.COM 2020 P R EVI EW

REGIONALS ‘98 ‘00 ‘02 ‘13 ‘14 5 Pitching depth and variety are key factors to a team’s softball success. Northwestern State is deeperin the circle this season than coach Donald Pickett has had since winning the Southland Conference regularseason in 2015, orpossibly everas Pickett enters his 12th season in Natchitoches. NSU brings backthree ofits fourprimary pitchers and added NJCAA Division II pitcherofthe yearJensen Howell. Add that to an offensive starting lineup that returns eight ofits top 10 bats, and the Lady Demons figure to be a contenderforthe Southland Conference title. The Lady Demons will attempt to build offa pairofSouthland ConferenceTournament 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. P I TCH ER S JuniorE.C. Delafield (10-4, 2.49 ERA) led the team in wins and ERA, seniorSamantha 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 starterand reliever. Signee Jensen Howell compiled a 22-3 markwhile helping LSU-Eunice to a NJCAA Division II national championship. Pickett said the variety ofarms will offerdifferent looks to opposing hitters. “I don’t know that we’ve everhad fourwith this much experience at one time,”Pickett said.“They set the tone forthis team, and I’m looking forall four ofthem to have a big impact. “With the variety and depth this staffhas, we can make pitching changes quickerand get out ahead ofa momentum change. We have confidence in all fourofthese arms, and we can give all ofthese great offensive teams in our league different looks.” The lone arm not returning is Mikayla Brown, who regained much ofher formerselfas she compiled a 2.78 ERA and a 6-8 record, although she evolved into a primary reliever. Brown did toss fourofNSU’s nine shutouts and finished hercareerwith 12. Delafield was selected to the All-Southland Conference first team as a utility player. Pickett said she’s become a more consistent pitcherin the offseason. “(Delafield) has been consistent in hercommand ofpitches, and she’s come a long way in being able to change speeds,”Pickett said.“She can keep teams offbalanced.” Guile is a left-handed powerpitcherthat improved as she adjusted to NSU’s style ofplay aftertransferring from Southern Utah. Rhoden brings a bulldog mentality and developed herconfidence throughout herfreshman season. “We’ll continue to use Sammie to keep teams off-balanced,”Pickett said. “(Rhoden) has taken huge steps forward with herconfidence. “We’re really excited to have all three ofthese players backin a second season underpitching coach Brooke Boening, who’s done a great job. We don’t have to do a lot ofexplaining with ourpitchers in hersecond season, and we can get right to workon the meat and potatoes.” Howell is a right-handed powerpitcherthat has Division I experience afterpitching at Louisiana Tech as a freshman. “Jensen is a powerpitcherwho can move the ball around and keep batters honest,”Pickett said.“We want to bring heralong slowly, but I know she’s eagerto get out there and prove herself. “The biggest thing is that she doesn’t have to prove everything every time out. Staying within herselfwill be big.” OFFEN SE NSU has slowly rebuilt its power-based offense ofthe early and mid2010s, and the Lady Demons aim to bring the pop backwith eight ofits top 10 bats returning from a lineup that averaged nearly seven runs pergame. The top seven Lady Demons in terms ofbatting average all return,

CHAMPIONS ‘91 ‘98 ‘99 ‘00 ‘15 6 and Pickett expects several ofhis seven incoming freshmen to challenge for playing time. Returners accounted for31 ofNSU’s 35 home runs and 167 of202 RBIs. “We have ourchoice oflefties and righties, and we’ll have more depth overall this year,”Pickett said.“With so many returners, we’re more comfortable switching up the lineup when a certain matchup arises orsomebody gets in a slump. “We should be able to make more things happen with a more versatile lineup, and I don’t thinkwe’ll be as top heavy as we have been.” OUTFI ELDER S Three seniors, two ofwhich have been named all-conference in their careers, will patrol the outfield. SeniorEliseVincent had one ofNSU’s best conference slates this past season to finish strongly and be named to the All-SLC third team with a .304 average and 18 steals. SeniorKaitlyn St. Clairhad a similarseason two years ago in which made the all-conference team, and she still produced a .278 average with 19 RBIs as a junior. SeniorHayley Barbazon will patrol centerfield once again, hoping to build on a season in which she scored 34 runs and was a perfect 11-for-11 on stolen bases. The three outfield seniors are the backbone ofa five-membersenior class, who when combined with Hawthorne have started orplayed significant roles in all fourseasons. “We want all ofourseniors to take steps forward in theirleast years, and we thinkthey can all have huge years,”Pickett said.“(St. Clair) is capable of daily consistency, and (Vincent) is continue to build on that. “(Barbazon) has had a lot ofbright moments, but we want herto find that consistency. Nobody should have as much pressure on them with the depth we have.” Otheroutfielders who could see time include sophomore Casey Irvin and freshmen Jordan Dickerson and Kacee Mertens. JuniorCodi Vernace has played in right field and behind the plate, and herbat could also factorin at designated hitterafter I N FI ELDER S/CATCH ER S All-Southland Conference second baseman Cayla Jones leads a group that will feature three returning starters and two newcomers. Opposing pitchers attempted to pitch around Jones, but she still hit for a .335 average with nine home runs, 35 RBIs and 36 walks, leading to 41 runs scored. “It will be harderto pitch around Cayla with this lineup,”Pickett said. “They’ll still try to make herhit pitches that they feel aren’t herstrength, but I thinkshe’ll have more ofan opportunity to make an impact because we have a deeperlineup.” NSU features a pairofthird baseman who have extensive starting experience. SeniorEmma Hawthorne made 39 total starts this past season, whethershe was at third base ordesignated hitter. Hawthorne came on strong in SLC play and warmed up to a .267 average with 16 RBIs. Hawthorne has served as a starting catcherin past seasons and could find time at first base as well. Rising sophomore Maggie Blackstarted 51 games and was the primary starting third baseman who can also play shortstop. Blackgained confidence throughout the season and finished with 18 RBIs and eight doubles. Fellow sophomore Alexis Perry returns at catcherafterstarting all 57 games this past season. She belted six home runs with 30 RBIs while hitting fora solid .288 average. “Hawthorne tooksteps forward throughout the year, and she’s a veteran that will find a way to contribute,”Pickett said.“Perry has looked really good behind the plate, and she’s a consistent kid who’s a student ofthe game. “Blackmade strides as a freshman, and she’s athletic enough to play multiple positions.” Freshman Keely DuBois could see time at shortstop aftera distinguished careerat Many High.