The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball ranked No. 8 in 2022 USA Softball preseason Top 25
01.25.2022 | Softball
Texas returns 13 letter winners from last season’s 43-14 squad that reached NCAA Super Regionals
AUSTIN, Texas – Another 2022 preseason ranking is out with Texas listed among the top 10 as the Longhorns were rated No. 8 in Tuesday's initial release of the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
Oklahoma was the unanimous choice at No. 1 followed by Alabama, UCLA, Oklahoma State and Florida. Florida State, Washington, Texas, Arkansas and Virginia Tech rounded out slots six through 10.
The Burnt Orange & White are scheduled to face five of the top six squads (Oklahoma, Alabama, UCLA, Oklahoma State, Florida State) and nine of the Top 25 during the upcoming campaign.
The Longhorns are welcoming back 13 letter winners from last year's squad that went 43-14 overall with an appearance in the NCAA Stillwater Super Regional. Included back are three-time 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).
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.
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.
