Cassie Kelley

Softball 1/28/2022 2:24:00 PM

SB Position Preview: Infielders

ABILENE - The Wildcats clinched a postseason berth in their final game of the regular season in 2021 and the team is looking to make that next step as they make the transition to the WAC. ACU has an abundance of youth and a new-look roster as they step into 2022 primed for success.

The right side of the infield will remain intact as both Calie Burris and Shaylee Alani return to man first and second base, respectively. It will be an all-Hawaiian middle infield as freshman Logan Gaspar will step into shortstop. JUCO transfer Matti Reiling will man the hot corner to round out the starting infielders. Paige Harris and Rose Gonzales will both have opportunities with the infield, but could also serve as DH options at the plate.

The infield is a very athletic mix of players who have been willing to find where they can best help the team succeed. We will continue to focus on turning double plays to get out of jams and positioning properly to defend against each hitter we face in order to support our pitchers and free them up to execute pitches and use the defense to get outs.

Defensive coach Caty Reeves

#4 Logan Gaspar

Logan Gaspar | Fr. | SS | R/R | 5-5 | Kapolei, Hawaii / Maryknoll HS

2019 ILH Honorable Mention
2019 and 2021 ILH Champions
Hit .500 in the 2021 season

#5 Shaylee Alani

Shaylee Alani | Jr. | 5-6 | L/R| 2B | Kailua-Kona, Hawaii / Yavapai College

Career Highs

Hits: 3 (four times; last vs. AMCC, 5/8/21)
Runs: 2 (five times; last vs. AMCC, 5/8/21)
Runs Batted In: 4 (vs. Sam Houston, 4/9/21)
Doubles: 1 (12 times, last at Southeastern Louisiana, 5/12/21)
Homeruns: 1 (two times; last vs. UIW, 4/30/21)
Walks: 2 (at Nicholls, 4/24/21)
Stolen Bases: 1 (three times, last vs. UIW, 5/2/21)

As a Sophomore (2021)

Made 46 appearances with 45 starts, all at second base
Second on the team in batting average, hitting .306 on the season
Led the team with 12 doubles on the season. Her 12 doubles were good enough for fourth in the Southland that season and tied for second in ACU's DI history for doubles in a season.
Ranked sixth in the Southland for double plays turned with 13, that mark was good enough for the third-best mark in a season for ACU.

#6 Matti Reiling

Matti Reiling | So. | 5-5 | R/R | 3B | Lincoln, Neb. / Iowa Western CC

Appeared in all 64 contests for IWCC last spring
Led the Reivers with a .381 batting average, 83 hits, and 63 runs scored
Had a team-high 15 stolen bases in 2021
Helped team to a 44-22 record and an appearance in the NJCAA Region XI Championship series
Tied for fifth most triples in a season for the Reivers
Named second team all-conference

#19 Calie Burris

Calie Burris | Gr. | 5-7 | L/R | 1B | Haltom, Texas / Birdville HS

Career Highs

Hits: 3 (five times; last at Nicholls, 4/24/21)
Runs: 2 (three times; last vs. Sam Houston, 4/9/21)
Runs Batted In: 5 (at Nicholls, 4/24/21)
Doubles: 3 (vs. Mississippi Valley State, 2/16/19)
Homeruns: 1 (10 times; last vs. Sam Houston, 4/10/21)
Walks: 3 (at Southeastern Louisiana, 3/26/21)
Stolen Bases: 1 (four times, last vs. AMCC, 5/7/21)
Innings pitched: 7.0 (four times; last at Houston Baptist, 5/3/19)
Strikeouts: 4 (two times; last vs. Prairie View A&M, 2/23/19)

As a Senior (2021)

Appeared and started in all 47 games
Hit .282 on the season with 11 doubles and eight homeruns
Led the team with 30 RBI and 11 drawn walks on the year
Ranked in the top ten of the Southland in four categories: 2. Fielding double plays (19), 2. Putouts (334), 7. Doubles (11), 8. Homeruns (8)
19 double plays turned was the most in a single season in ACU's DI history, 334 putouts was good for second in ACU's DI history

#21 Rose Gonzales

Rose Gonzales | Fr. | 5-7 | R/R | INF | Grand Prairie, Texas / South Grand Prairie HS

District 8-6A Offensive Player of the Year
8-6A Co-District Champs

#29 Paige Harris

Paige Harris | So. | 5-9 | R/R | 1B | Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall HS

Career Highs

Hits: 1 (Five times; Last vs Sam Houston, 4/9/21)
Runs: 2 (last vs Sam Houston, 4/9/21)
Runs Batted In: 2 (at Houston, 2/28/21)
Homeruns: 1 (at Houston, 2/28/21)
Walks: 1 (twice; last at Mcneese, 4/17/21)

As a Freshman (2021)

Made 26 appearences with five starts
In 25 at bats she had five hits, one homerun, and four RBI
Pitched 14.1 innings

I'm excited about the bats that our infield will bring to our lineup this year. Our infield spans the range of offensive style--some with a lot of speed, and others with a lot of power. Look for Shaylee Alani and Calie Burris to be big contributors at the plate this year.

Hitting coach Jessica Twaddle