Erin Coffel, right, admits preseason rankings have motivated UK. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky softball is off to a 6-2 start with two wins over then No. 3 Stanford and both losses to ranked teams going into today’s games against Akron and USC Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C.
All-American senior shortstop Erin Coffel is hitting .346 with one home run and four RBI’s. She’s also struck out just once in 30 plate appearances.
Coffel shared a few insights on the season during UK’s Media Day before the Cats played their first game.
Question: How do you like this team?
Coffel: “I think we have a really unique defense. Me and (third baseman) Grace (Lorsung) next to each other have been doing that for a long time now and have great chemistry. A lot of the girls stayed over the summer and we were able to work together and understand each other more. But it all comes down to playing in the moment as a team and not getting too out of our heads.”
Question: How does not being ranked in the top 25 and picked 10th in the SEC motivate/challenge this team?
Coffel: “I actually sent a screenshot in a group chat the other day and kind of used that as fuel when we talked about it. Use it as a chip on our shoulder. I don’t think we ended last year the way we wanted to and people are looking at last year and we lost (All-American catcher) Kayla (Kowalik). It can be easy to think that but I think we will let our play speak for itself.”
Question: So you think Kentucky will be better than what others are expecting?
Coffel: “Personally I think so. We are better but we have to prove it every single day.”
Question: What did you learn about this team in fall and winter ball?
Coffel: “This year coming into fall it was just a really competitive environment. This group is really good at having our fun but we are also competing at a really high level. We are all friends. We all love each other. But during practice and scrimmages we are competing. That is what makes a champion.”
Question: Will coach Rachel Lawson really be okay not calling pitches and in control of what is going on?
Coffel: “I think it will be good for her. I think it will take more stress off her but I could be totally wrong. Who knows? I don’t know what goes through her mind sometimes. I think it will take stress off and be good for her and let her see she does not have to focus just on the pitcher because that is a really big job and it can be a lot of stress. I think it will be better for her and she can stress about other things like defense and hitting.”
Question: What is it like for you having former teammate Grace Baalman now as one of your coaches?
Coffel: “It is a really fun thing. I still call her Gracie B. because that’s what we called her when she played. I love her. She adds a different aspect to the staff. She is really, really smart. I think she adds a lot to our team.”
Question: Is Baalman almost too nice to be a coach?
Coffel: “She just brings a different aspect. We have other coaches who are very different people. She balances the staff out. A lot of people can lean on her for emotional support sometimes with her just getting out of playing.
