Season Preview: Infield
02/02/18 | Softball, @GoDucksMoseley
The Ducks are blessed with veterans around the horn, including seniors at catcher, second base, shortstop and third base.
The third-ranked Oregon softball team opens the 2018 season on Feb. 8 against Georgia at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., plays its home opener March 8 against Toledo and begins Pac-12 play on March 16 against UCLA. GoDucks.com will break down the Ducks' pitchers, infield, outfield and lineup in the coming days, to prepare fans for another run to OKC.
INFIELD
Who's back: C Gwen Svekis, Sr.; 3B Jenna Lilley, Sr.; 2B Lauren Lindvall, Sr.; C April Utecht, Jr.; 1B Mia Camuso, So.
Breakdown: Oregon's most experienced veteran in the circle, junior Megan Kleist, is an extreme groundball pitcher. Thus, the Ducks are blessed to return a veteran infield anchored by seniors at the high-traffic second base and third base positions. Jenna Lilley is entering her fourth season as the Ducks' starter at the hot corner, which lived up to its name last season as Lilley assisted on a team-high 157 outs. "I don't think there's a better third baseman out there right now in the college game," UO coach Mike White said. "Even when she's struggled with the bat a little bit, she's always been solid in the infield. Knowing you've got someone that solid, we're like, 'Hit it to third, hit it to third.'"
Lauren Lindvall assisted on 123 outs as a junior last spring, despite having undergone offseason surgery on her throwing arm. White said Lindvall's arm now is even stronger than it was before the summer 2016 surgery; working with assistant coach Chelsea Spencer, Lindvall was modified her arm slot and now throws with more of an overhand motion, adding power. "We do have the potential of turning some really good double plays, because of her arm strength," White said. At the receiving end of those throws last season was Mia Camuso (below), who provided a solid target at first base despite standing 5-foot-2. "She's got a high-revving motor, and sometimes she needs to slow the game down just a little bit, which will help her footwork," White said. "But I think she'll continue to get better, and man, for a little kid she can stretch. I don't think size is as big a problem as some people thought."
Anchoring the UO infield at catcher is yet another senior, Gwen Svekis. Also an anchor of the lineup at the cleanup spot, Svekis is a charismatic leader on and off the field. "If Gwen's having a bad day, it's got to be something bad that's happened," White said. "She's definitely a kid that's glass half-full all the time, and that rubs off on everyone." Junior April Utecht returns as a backup at catcher, with her primary role as the season dawns being as a power bat off the bench.
Who's new: SS DJ Sanders, Sr.; UT Shaye Bowden, Fr.; C/1B Mary Iakopo, Fr.
Breakdown: To replace departed shortstop Nikki Udria, the Ducks added yet another senior on the infield, transfer DJ Sanders. While making noise with her NCAA-best 29 home runs at Louisiana last season, Sanders also made just seven errors in 55 games. During Oregon's December foreign tour to New Zealand, "DJ really impressed me with her quickness to the ball and her judgment on bounces," White said. "She was playing the ball, not letting the ball play her, which showed her experience."
Sanders' arrival meant freshman Shaye Bowden didn't face pressure to win the shortstop job right when she arrived, and could instead prepare for a super-utility role this season. "She's such a competitor," White said. "She's going to be good." The Ducks think they have yet another good one in Mary Iakopo, a top-10 prospect in the 2017 recruiting class. She figures to get ample playing time as a freshman for the sake of her bat, and is the catcher of the future once Svekis departs. "The potential is huge – strong arm, quick release, athleticism, power bat," White said. "She's your future Janelle Lindvall type. She falls right into that mold we've been developing with catchers."
INFIELD
Who's back: C Gwen Svekis, Sr.; 3B Jenna Lilley, Sr.; 2B Lauren Lindvall, Sr.; C April Utecht, Jr.; 1B Mia Camuso, So.
Breakdown: Oregon's most experienced veteran in the circle, junior Megan Kleist, is an extreme groundball pitcher. Thus, the Ducks are blessed to return a veteran infield anchored by seniors at the high-traffic second base and third base positions. Jenna Lilley is entering her fourth season as the Ducks' starter at the hot corner, which lived up to its name last season as Lilley assisted on a team-high 157 outs. "I don't think there's a better third baseman out there right now in the college game," UO coach Mike White said. "Even when she's struggled with the bat a little bit, she's always been solid in the infield. Knowing you've got someone that solid, we're like, 'Hit it to third, hit it to third.'"
Lauren Lindvall assisted on 123 outs as a junior last spring, despite having undergone offseason surgery on her throwing arm. White said Lindvall's arm now is even stronger than it was before the summer 2016 surgery; working with assistant coach Chelsea Spencer, Lindvall was modified her arm slot and now throws with more of an overhand motion, adding power. "We do have the potential of turning some really good double plays, because of her arm strength," White said. At the receiving end of those throws last season was Mia Camuso (below), who provided a solid target at first base despite standing 5-foot-2. "She's got a high-revving motor, and sometimes she needs to slow the game down just a little bit, which will help her footwork," White said. "But I think she'll continue to get better, and man, for a little kid she can stretch. I don't think size is as big a problem as some people thought."
Anchoring the UO infield at catcher is yet another senior, Gwen Svekis. Also an anchor of the lineup at the cleanup spot, Svekis is a charismatic leader on and off the field. "If Gwen's having a bad day, it's got to be something bad that's happened," White said. "She's definitely a kid that's glass half-full all the time, and that rubs off on everyone." Junior April Utecht returns as a backup at catcher, with her primary role as the season dawns being as a power bat off the bench.
Who's new: SS DJ Sanders, Sr.; UT Shaye Bowden, Fr.; C/1B Mary Iakopo, Fr.
Breakdown: To replace departed shortstop Nikki Udria, the Ducks added yet another senior on the infield, transfer DJ Sanders. While making noise with her NCAA-best 29 home runs at Louisiana last season, Sanders also made just seven errors in 55 games. During Oregon's December foreign tour to New Zealand, "DJ really impressed me with her quickness to the ball and her judgment on bounces," White said. "She was playing the ball, not letting the ball play her, which showed her experience."
Sanders' arrival meant freshman Shaye Bowden didn't face pressure to win the shortstop job right when she arrived, and could instead prepare for a super-utility role this season. "She's such a competitor," White said. "She's going to be good." The Ducks think they have yet another good one in Mary Iakopo, a top-10 prospect in the 2017 recruiting class. She figures to get ample playing time as a freshman for the sake of her bat, and is the catcher of the future once Svekis departs. "The potential is huge – strong arm, quick release, athleticism, power bat," White said. "She's your future Janelle Lindvall type. She falls right into that mold we've been developing with catchers."
Players Mentioned
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