2022 SOUTHEAST MISSOURI SOFTBALL GUIDE SEASON PREVIEW
T
he reigning back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference Champion Southeast Missouri softball team carries a lot of momentum into its upcoming 2022 campaign. SEMO, this year’s preseason OVC favorite, has its sights set on a three-peat, something that’s been done only once in school history since the program turned Division I in 1991-92. If there’s any difference from last season to this year, it is that the Redhawks will field a much younger team under eighth-year Head Coach Mark Redburn this spring. “We want to keep our expectations high due to all the recent success we’ve had in our program,” said Redburn. “At the same time, we are a really young team. We still want to go out and win the OVC, conference tournament and even make it to an NCAA Regional. I look forward to seeing how this young squad comes together.”
SEMO has a 22-member roster predominantly full of underclassmen, including nine sophomores and eight freshmen. The Redhawks also return five position starters and their top three pitchers from 2021. In addition, SEMO has a pair of veteran fifth-year seniors back in OVC Pitcher of the Year Rachel Rook and outfielder Kaylee Anderson, the team’s second-leading home run hitter. “We’re in a much better situation having both Rachel and Kaylee returning,” said Redburn. “They are great leaders with a lot of experience. We are going to rely on them a lot. Overall, I’m really excited about our talent level. It’s just a matter of how quickly we can put it all together.” SEMO secured 16 of the possible 20 first-place votes in this year’s OVC Preseason Poll assembled by the league’s Head Coaches and Communication Directors. Austin Peay, Murray
State, Eastern Illinois and UT Martin filled out the top five. SIU Edwardsville, Tennessee Tech, Belmont, Tennessee State and Morehead State completed the voting. The Redhawks wrapped up their 2021 season with an overall record of 30-17 and topped the OVC with a 23-6 mark. Statistically, SEMO led the conference in on-base percentage (.369), opposing batting average (.213), strikeouts looking (69), saves (8), fewest hits allowed (247), fewest runs allowed (139) and fewest earned runs allowed (121). Additionally, the 23 OVC wins were a school record. In the last two-plus seasons alone, SEMO compiled an overall record 121-60 and 55-18 in the OVC with Redburn at the helm, a two-time OVC Coach of the Year. Since 2019, the Redhawks won a pair of OVC regular-season titles, one conference tournament crown and advanced to one NCAA Tournament. Here is an extensive look at this year’s Redhawks: Catcher Marshall University transfer Kat Sackett (Erie, Colo.) looks to assume the starting role as SEMO’s catcher in her first season with the Redhawks this spring. Sackett is a shutdown catcher with a great arm and, according to Redburn, has all the potential to be one of the best arms behind the dish the Redhawks have had. She started 19 of 24 games for Marshall as a freshman in 2021. Sackett hit .254 with seven runs, seven doubles, five home runs and 16 RBI. Sophomore Karsyn Davis (Harrisburg, Ill.) will comple-
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ment Sackett after playing in 36 games and making 27 starts at catcher last season. Pena shared starting duties with Davis a year ago and is another possibility. Meanwhile, freshmen Tori Bradley (Blue Springs, Mo.) and Sydney Melton (Eddyville, Ky.) stretch the depth at catcher. Infield Junior Alyson Tucker (Farmington, Mo.) and sophomore Kynzie Wrigley (Mt. Zion, Ill.) are the two returning starters on SEMO’s infield. Tucker is back at shortstop after starting 41 games there during her first season of Division I softball a year ago. She hit .289 with 17 runs, 28 hits, four doubles, four home runs, 12 RBI and three stolen bases. Tucker (.338) was one of nine Redhawks who hit over .300 in league play. Wrigley, after spending a strong rookie season as SEMO’s starting second baseman, moves to third this spring. She ranked third on the team with a .336 batting average as a true freshman. Wrigley added 20 runs scored, eight doubles, two home runs and 13 RBI in 34 starts. At first base, SEMO has a huge hole to fill following the departure of its all-time career home run and RBI leader Ashley Ellis. Ellis will remain with the Redhawks as a volunteer assistant coach after her remarkable playing tenure. True freshman Aubrie Shore (Mahomet, Ill.) is the leading candidate to take over at first base. Shore was a First-Team All-Conference pick at Mahomet-Seymour High School, where
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