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Georgia Tech Softball: Yellow Jacket 2018 Softball Preview

By Anthony Hartwig

CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 20: A Close up of tattered baseballs and softballs the players use to practice with on August 20, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 20: A Close up of tattered baseballs and softballs the players use to practice with on August 20, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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A preview of the 2018 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets women’s softball team.

A new coaching staff has brought new energy into the Yellow Jacket softball team for the 2018 season. Aileen Morales has taken over the helm of the softball program. Aileen as a player and coach was part of one of the most successful stretches in Georgia Tech softball history. She comes to Atlanta with four seasons of head coaching under her belt, most recently two seasons as the coach of Radford.

Morales brings with her an experienced coaching staff ready to bring success to a program that has struggled the last couple years. Her staff of assistants includes Reese Mariconda, Alison Owen, volunteer assistant Kate Kantor, and graduate assistant Shelby Pickett.

What they lost: The Yellow Jackets lost three starters to graduation last year, 2nd baseman Jessie Kowalewicz, and outfielders Samantha Pieranunnzi and Colleen Darragh. Kowalewicz lead the team in batting average hitting .325 to go along with her 7 home runs and 24 RBI. Pierannunzi was tied for the team lead in home runs with 11, hit .272 and a sluging percentage of .547. Darragh hit 5 home runs, including a walk off against Notre Dame, and had a fielding percentage of .967

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Returning Talent: Junior Katie Krzus is the only returning player who hit above.300 last season, she will look to keep her average up and improve her production numbers this season as last year she only ad 16 RBI. Kelsey Chisolm will be the Yellow Jackets biggest power threat being tied for the team lead in home runs last year with 11 and leading the team in RBI with 41. Kaylee Ellebracht finished the second half of the season bringing her batting average up from the .140s to finishing at .253 she will look to continue her upswing.

Pitching: The Yellow Jackets return their whole pitching staff from last season including their leader in ERA Emily Anderson who finished with an ERA of 3.91. She started 27 of the Yellow Jackets 53 games. The Jackets also bring in freshman pitcher Naomi Dickerson The pitching staff will be coached by former professional pitcher for the Akron Racers in the NPF Alison Owen.

Big Games: The Jackets schedule is filled with plenty of big time games. Jackets host the ACC/Big 10 challenge welcoming Indiana and Nebraska on February 16-18 They travel to in state rival Georgia on March 6th, and welcome the Bulldogs to Atlanta on April 4th. The Jackets host Alabama on March 14th. The Jackets have a favorable ACC schedule this season missing Notre Dame, Syracuse, and Louisville. Their conference schedule includes trips to Virginia, Duke, Pittsburgh, and Boston College. Their home conference schedule includes NC State, Florida State, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech.

Tech opens the season at the Sand Dollar Classic with games against Lamar, Penn State, Florida A&M, and Lipscomb.