If sophomore Izzy Harrison throws strikes, she could be UK's best pitcher. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Her team opens the softball season in the NFCA Lead-Off Classic in Clearwater, Fla., today with games against St. John’s and Louisville and Kentucky coach Rachel Lawson is convinced her team’s pitching is “significantly more advanced” than it was last year when UK went 37-19.
Junior Stephanie Schooner has everything Lawson thinks it takes to be a No. 1 pitcher in the Southeastern Conference.
“When she brings her A game, she is really good. Her speed has increased. In live workouts, she has been hitting 67 or 68 (miles per hour),” said Lawson. “She has always had good command of her pitches but she has really found it again.
“I was impressed at the end of last year with how she started to figure it out. She can throw to all quadrants and now has better control of her off-speed pitches and she’s the hardest in-game thrower I have ever had. She’s really athletic. I am expecting a lot from her.”
She pitched in 23 games last year with a 7-5 record and 5.15 earned run average. She had four complete games in her 17 starts and had 68 strikeouts in 69 innings.
Sophomore Alexia Lacatena pitched in 24 games as a true freshman with a 3.22 ERA and 9-4 record. She gave up 71 hits in 63 innings.
“Alexia always had exceptional command of her pitches. She’s been working on having more deception,” Lawson, who is also UK’s pitching coach, said. “She can start games for us but also close and pound the (strike) zone.”
Sophomore Izzy Harrison made six starts and 13 appearances in 2022 with a 2-0 record and 3.85 ERA.
“When she throws the ball in the zone, she’s probably our best pitcher. The key is some days her pitches are hitting the mascot (because she’s wild),” the UK coach said. “She can hit 68 to 72 (miles per hour) but she has a crazy amount of spin that is hard to control. She has days where she is electric and just lights out. When she is like that, she can beat anybody.”
Lawson has other pitches she also expects to contribute in various ways.
“I think I will be comfortable starting several different people and I just think overall our staff will be a lot better,” she said.
Offensively Kentucky returns catcher Kayla Kowalik and shortstop Erin Coffel, two of the most prolific hitters in the SEC. Coffel hit .423 last season with 20 homers and drove in 68 runs. Kowalik hit .420, scored 57 runs and drove in 28.
However, Lawson says the key is to find players who can protect them in the batting order like seniors Lauren Johnson and Renee Abernathy did last year.
She hopes Indiana transfer Grace Lorsung, the expected starter at third base, will help.
“She grew up with Coffel and played on the same travel ball team. She has a lot of experience to take over for (Miranda) Stoddard at third and help with the offense,” Lawson said.
Sophomore Taylor Ebbs hit .298 with 10 homers and 30 RBI’s last season when she started at first base most of the season.
“Ebbs is very good. She was at first base and did us a favor because her natural spot is in the outfield,” Lawson said. “She is a great left-handed hitter and I think she could really have a special year.”
True freshman Karissa Hamilton was ranked as the nation’s 22nd best player in her recruiting class by Extra Innings Softball. She hit .604 with 22 home runs and drove in 55 runs her high school senior season in Indiana.
“She is Kowalik’s successor (at catcher),” Lawson said. “She’s an outstanding hitter. She will see some time behind the dish because all the wear and tear there is tough and affects a player’s legs and power numbers. It’s important we get Kowalik some rest. If Hamilton is not behind the dish, we will need to get her in the lineup.”
