SB Class Preview: Sophomores

ABILENE - For the Wildcats sophomore class, this season provides them the opportunity to make their first impact for a full season with the Wildcats. Two players, who transferred in from JUCO's, will debut for ACU this spring while the other three are excited to get back to the field and see their hard work pay off. This class brings versatility and energy to the program and it will be exciting to watch them work this spring.

Our sophomore class is a group of really strong leaders who have grown tremendously since this Fall. They are competitive and driven to be their best and bring out the best in others. They will play key roles in our season this year.

Head Coach, Abigail Farler

#5 Shaylee Alani

First team all-conference (2019)
First team NJCAA All-America (2019)
First team NFCA All-American(2019)
Team finished with a 46-14 record in 2019

On her expectations for the season:

“I'm expecting a lot of good things. Our pitchers are working really hard right now and I think they will be able to dominate games. Our offense is looking great and I think our defense will is in a great place as well.”

#6 Moriah Ortiz

Spent her freshman year as a redshirt
Saw her first career action last season
Appeared in 7 games, scoring one run and tallying one RBI.

On her expectations for the season:

“For us to be the most flexible team, to take on every challenge we could face this season. I believe we will be the most passionate and enthusiastic team out there.”

"We are very excited to see Shaylee fight for us this season. She is a competitor in the box and has a great swing. Shaylee is fun to watch on defense and has quickly developed great chemistry with our other infielders."
“Mo is a big part of our team dynamics. She comes to practice ready to compete, push her teammates and bring out the best in everyone, every day. We appreciate Mo's versatility and ability to help in a wide variety of roles for our team.”

#18 Lacy Johnson

Appeared in 24 games, making 21 starts
Hit .277 in 2020 with four doubles and a homerun
Scored 12 runs and totaled seven RBI
Hit her first career homerun at nationally ranked Oklahoma
Johnson made an immediate impact in her freshman season and is a key part of the Wildcats efforts on both sides of the ball moving forward

On her season expectations:

“We’re going to have a great season this year. All of the trials and curveballs we’ve had thrown at us this fall have only made us better. We don’t believe in disadvantages, only advantages, and have had great leadership to reach that point. I expect this season to be explosive and memorable for any Wildcat fan.”

#22 Maya Saneishi

East Region first-team All-Star (2019)
Golden Glove award (2019)
All-American Scholar Athlete (2019)
.448 BA, .509 OBP, .974 fielding percentage

On her season expectations:

“This season I believe we will need to expect the unexpected. I think our team has done a good job of preparing for that and the coaches have set us up to have success. I think we will bring a positive mindset into each day we get to compete and know that we are competing as a family each time we step on the field.”

“Lacy is an incredible asset for us in the outfield. She has great speed, great reads on the ball and a solid arm. Lacy makes thrilling plays routinely and brings a spark to our outfield. She has a variety of tools at the plate and on the bases making her an exciting player to watch.”
“Maya will provide us with options at the plate, on the bases and in the outfield. She has the ability to compete in all fields. At the plate she has great bat control and situational awareness. It will be fun to see what she does against outside competition.”

#77 Val Rudd

Appeared in 10 games making nine starts
Totaled five hits and three RBI in limited action
Injured in the second game of the season and missed three weeks

On her expectations for this season:

“My expectation for this year is to see our growth put into action. We’ve been practicing for so long, and since our season was cancelled last year, I’m super excited to see everyone on the field again!”

“Val has stepped up for us this year and has grown tremendously with her leadership and softball IQ. She is an exciting player to watch because she is so confident in her skillsets and elevates the players around her.”

These athletes have stepped up and are ready to compete this spring. After nearly a year of uncertainty and taking everything day by day, they are looking forward to their first competition since last March. This class brings great skill and energy to the field and will a big part of Wildcat Softball for the next few years.

The Abilene community will have their first chance to watch these athletes on Feb. 11 when the Wildcats open their season hosting UTEP in the opener of their weekend-long tournament. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Poly Wells field.