The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball ranked No. 9 in 2022 D1Softball preseason poll
01.18.2022 | Softball
This marks the second straight season that Texas has opened ninth in the organization’s rankings
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas softball program will start the 2022 campaign at No. 9 in the D1Softball preseason Top 25 rankings according to a Tuesday release by the organization.
Defending national champion Oklahoma led the way at No. 1, while Alabama, Oklahoma State, UCLA and Florida rounded out the top five. In order, Florida State, Washington, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri held down spots 6-10.
The Longhorns are slated to play five of the top six teams (Oklahoma, Alabama, Oklahoma State, UCLA, Florida State) and nine of the preseason Top 25 during the 2022 season.
Coming off a 43-14 record in 2021, a No. 12 final ranking in the ESPN.com/USA Softball & USA Today/NFCA polls and an appearance at the NCAA Stillwater Super Regional, Texas is returning 10 players that appeared in at least 30 games (six appeared in at least 40 contests and four in at least 50 match-ups) and 13 total letter winners that combined to total 68% of the runs, 66% of the hits, 53% of the doubles, 86% of the triples, 59% of the HR's, 59% of the RBIs, 68% of the walks and 77% of the stolen bases from last season's program-record-setting offense as well as 47% of the team's pitching victories and 51% of the pitching strikeouts.
The Longhorns have also added 11 players to the roster including five high-profile transfers and a six-member signing class that ranked No. 7 in the nation according to Extra Inning Softball's 2021 Top 100 College Rankings.
Included among the returnees are three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American Janae Jefferson (senior second baseman - .446 avg., 49 runs, 75 hits, eight doubles, five HR's, 14 stolen bases, 26 RBIs), 2021 NFCA All-Region honorees Mary Iakopo (senior catcher - .322 avg, 48 hits, six doubles, 16 HR's, 45 RBIs), Shea O'Leary (junior pitcher - 16-6, 1.82 ERA, 25 starts, 15 complete games, six shutouts, 161.2 IP, 121 strikeouts) and McKenzie Parker (junior shortstop - .367 avg., 44 hits, nine doubles, eight HR's, 26 RBIs), 2021 Big 12 Conference All-Freshman selections JJ Smith (.319 avg., 22 hits, 11 extra-base hits, 13 RBIs), Alyssa Washington (10 runs, 14 hits, two doubles, three HR's) and Jordyn Whitaker (.358 avg., 24 hits, four HR's, 16 RBIs) and standout senior utility player Lauren Burke (.302 avg., 48 hits, 27 runs, 10 extra-base hits, 33 RBIs).
Joining Texas via the transfer portal are former Fresno State All-American fifth-year senior right-handed pitcher Hailey Dolcini (22-5 record in 2021 while earning Mountain West Pitcher of the Year honors, 1.12 ERA, 180.2 IP, 259 strikeouts); former Baylor junior outfielder Lou Gilbert (2021 NFCA All-Region and All-Big 12, .327 avg., 20 extra-base hits, 15 multi-hit games), former Arizona redshirt sophomore outfielder Bella Dayton (.252 avg. in 2021, 29 runs scored, 11 walks, 13 steals, 37 starts), former N.C. State sophomore left-handed pitcher Estelle Czech (four wins in 2021, 3.14 ERA, 73.2 IP, 39 K's) and former Houston junior right-handed pitcher Logan Hulon (10 career wins, 3.54 career ERA, eight career complete games, 107 career K's, 130.2 career IP)
Freshman signees include (Position(s)/Hometown/High School/Travel Ball): Katie Cimusz (C/UTL/Humble, Texas/Atascocita High School/Hotshots Fastpitch), Mya Holmes (OF/Texas City, Texas/Texas City High School/Impact Gold Jackson), Ashton Maloney (OF/Liberty, Mo./Liberty High School/Aces Fastpitch), Vanessa Quiroga (UTL/Corpus Christi, Texas/Mary Carroll High School/Athletics Mercado), Mia Scott (IF/Angleton, Texas/Angleton High School/Texas Bombers Gold) and Sophia Simpson (RHP/Mont Belvieu, Texas/Barbers Hill High School/Texas Bombers Gold).
In all, five freshman signees were listed among Extra Inning Softball's Extra Elite 100 player rankings (all six were in the top 200): No. 4 (Simpson), No. 7 (Scott & Maloney – tie), No. 12 (Cimusz) and No. 24 (Holmes). Flo Softball also had Scott (21), Holmes (22-tie) and Cimusz (39) rated among its most recent Hot 100 Rankings, while Softball America listed Simpson (No. 9), Cimusz (No. 28), Holmes (No. 46), Scott (No. 57) and Maloney (No. 64) among its Top 100 players listing.
