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Preview: Comet softball program looks to build off recent success
It’s the golden-age of Cottey Comet softball, but will it continue?
After relatively few victories during their first eight seasons of competition, the Comets have since ascended to new heights.
Coming off a 28-win season, and their second consecutive NJCAA Region 16 championship, Cottey returned to the diamond Thursday to kick off their season with a doubleheader against Evangel University in Springfield. Cottey won the opener, 16-13, and then fell in the nightcap, 3-1.
The Comets, however, will be entering unfamiliar territory, having made the jump from two-year JUCO competition to the four-year NAIA .
Third-year Cottey head coach Mark Skapin discussed the obstacles that lie ahead for his program.
“I expect the first season of the NAIA transition to be extremely challenging, as we have seen (with) the other sports on campus,” said Skapin, referring to the rocky transitions of the Comet volleyball and basketball teams.
“The NAIA is loaded in the (region). We are not eligible for (postseason-play) in our first year in the NAIA. So we will be playing a wide-variety of teams from the area, as we feel the NAIA out.”
Added Skapin: “This will be an important growth-year for the team, and competing in tight games will be the focus. Finding a way to win one-run ball-games at this level will be the goal.”
Cottey returns several key components from last year’s (school) record-setting squad, including sophomore staff-ace Kirsten Wallace, who set the school record for victories (15-3) last season. Following Wallace in the rotation is Wheaton native Emily Killion, also returning for her sophomore campaign.
“Kirsten and Emily formed a dynamic duo in the circle last year, and will look to continue to build (off that),” said Skapin, as both Wallace and Killion garnered All-Region accolades a season ago.
Cottey also keeps the core of its infield intact, with junior second baseman Izzy Milligan and sophomores Katie Fernandez (SS) and Lindsey Boord (1B).
“Izzy is a two-time NJCAA All-Region (selection), and is the all-time Cottey hits leader,” noted Skapin of the North Texas native.
Both Fernandez and Boord hit over .300 last season, while combining for seven round-trippers.
“They anchor two important positions, and play great defense, while being strong team captains,” said Skapin of Fernandez and Boord.
Cottey, however, loses several key pieces, including slugging catcher Rayne Wright, the team’s homerun leader last season.
“We lost five (starters), and a couple of reserve players (who) contributed 41 of the team’s record-setting 55 home runs,” Skapin said, adding that the 2018 team “finished (No. 1) nationally in average homeruns per game.”
Added Skapin: “We believe we should have a strong defense, but (after graduating) quite a few of our top hitters, returning to elite offensive levels will be difficult.”
The third-year skipper is also carrying a much smaller roster than he anticipated, with just 14 team-members. “We need to stay healthy with such a small roster. Strength-training and injury prevention will be huge.”
Helping to off-set the many departures is the further development of sisters Cailin and Sage Fluty.
“They have made a huge leap from where they were as freshman,” said Skapin of the sophomore tandem from Stillwater, Oklahoma. “Sage has become a force behind the plate, and her swing has (also) come a long way. Cailin has blossomed into an excellent defensive center fielder, and pitched as well as anybody on the roster in the fall.”
Further reinforcements include incoming freshmen outfielders Diona Perkins and Kasey Reynolds.
“(Perkins) has made huge strides with her swing since coming to Cottey,” Skapin said of the Fort Smith, Arkansas product. “Her power has truly developed into a plus tool, and her outfield play has improved tremendously. She goes all-out, and should find a place in the middle of (our) batting order.”
Said Skapin of Reynolds: “Kasey batted near the top of the fall lineup (order), and found a way to get on base consistently. She has a strong softball IQ on the base-paths, and in the outfield. Her attitude and work- ethic has made an impact on this team already.”
Summed up Skapin of the upcoming season: “The team is extremely young, and they are still working to uncover how good they can truly be. The team has the potential to have a winning season if they are able to push through the initial challenge of the competition upgrade. We are extremely excited about the young women we are bringing in to compete for starting positions, and the team-chemistry that is possible with such amazing student- athletes.”
Skapin also added assistant coach Christian Novak, Nevada High School’s all-time wins leader. Novak brings immense knowledge of the college game, as the 2013 NHS alum spent five seasons with the University of Memphis Tigers. Additionally, Novak has already secured several recruits for Cottey’s 2019 class, and is now zeroing in on the 2020 recruiting class.
Cottey’s home-opener is slated for Saturday, Feb. 23, against the visiting Bethany (Kan.) College Swedes. The first pitch of the twinbill is set for 2 p.m. from Vanek Family Field, with the nightcap set for 4.
Comets’ 2019 roster
• (Juniors) Izzy Milligan; (Sophomores) Kirsten Wallace, Emily Killion, Katie Fernandez, Lindsey Boord, Sage Fluty, Cailin Fluty, Ashlyn Robertson, and Jen Cruse; (Freshman) Diona Perkins, Kasey Reynolds, Kendalyn Roesner, Morgan Gamboa, and Makenzie Stephens.