Team USA experience added to Erin Coffel’s confidence

Shortstop Erin Coffel is a preseason all-Southeastern Conference choice but was named the best third baseman in the under-18 World Cup playing for Team USA last summer. (USA Softball Photo)

Playing for Team USA was the “opportunity of a lifetime” for Kentucky sophomore shortstop Erin Coffel who got to play with some of the nation’s best players during the Under-18 World Cup in Peru in December.

“It taught me how to have fun. The international level of play was not as good overall as the SEC but I learned to just enjoy the moment with who I am with. It definitely brought me a different perspective,” Coffel said.

Coffel hit a team-high .478 in the eight games — the second-best average of any player in the tourney — with a slugging percentage of .870, the best in the event. She had two home runs, drove in seven runs, scored nine times, and had a hit in all but one game. She will also play for Team USA in the Pan-American Games this summer.

“It definitely added to my confidence,” Coffel said. “Toward the end of the season, I did not have the outcome I wanted to have but part of that comes from playing in the SEC because it is so tough. Playing for Team USA boosted my confidence but I can’t let myself get too high because I know how the SEC can humble you.”

Coffel had a UK freshman record 16 home runs last year and drove in 56 runs while hitting .337. She is a preseason all-SEC pick by the league coaches and was slotted at No. 69 in the top-100 list by Extra Innings Softball.

Coffel got off to a blazing start in 2021 before her home runs and hits both dropped a bit in SEC play.

“The SEC can be humbling. That’s why I think this preseason going against some good competition will help us in SEC play,” she said. “I tried not to question my confidence last year in SEC games. My teammates and coaches helped me a lot and I know you are not going to have success all the time. In softball, you are going to fail a lot. I am just grateful for the teammates I have.”

“I had never played in the SEC but I had a good idea what it would be like. I knew I wasn’t going to have as much success as I had in the preseason (non-conference). That’s just how it is.”

That’s part of why playing for the U.S. national team was fun. It was her first time being out of the county and she got to visit Peru and Columbia.

“I was obviously a little nervous because I did not know anyone on the team but we all shared our college stories and bonded very well,” Coffel said.

She also played third base for Team USA — a position she had only played a little bit during travel softball — and was named the best third baseman in the World Cup.  Coffel said it helped with reaction time having to read “slappers and bunters” and now she feels more comfortable helping younger players who might play third base at times this year for UK.

Kentucky coach Rachel Lawson says Coffel was “outstanding” defensively during the preseason. Lawson recalled a year ago when she was not sure if Coffel or Emmy Blaine would start at shortstop.

“Opening day I went with Erin and she was outstanding,” Lawson said. “Erin worked so hard this summer and through the fall and looks understanding.”

Coffee knew she needed to improve defensively and admitted at times last year she was “not a reliable shortstop.” She worked to increase her agility, speed and range during the offseason.

“When things are not going my way I want to be a source teammates can come to and see I am having fun even if I am not doing well,” Coffel said. “Coach Lawson challenges me every day to be better.”

Coffel won’t reveal any specific goals she has in mind for herself but admits there are some.

“I can be hard on myself. I have those goals in mind but I don’t want to think about them,” Coffel said. “I am working to be a great teammate. I can’t put that into numbers. I always want to exceed my numbers from the previous year but I also just want to be a reliable teammate.”

Coffel has helped Kentucky get off to a 9-1 start that includes a win at No. 11 Arizona last Saturday. She is hitting .481 and has driven in 15 runs in 10 games with her 13 hits. She has homered twice and doubled twice. Coffel has also walked three times, been hit by a pitch once, and stole two bases.