2014 Season Outlook
The Winthrop softball team is coming off
the program’s 13th Big South Conference
championship game as it finished as the
2013 runner-up, falling in the title game to
Longwood.
Head coach Mark Cooke feels he and
his staff have assembled a team to make an-
other run at the Big South title in 2014. Last
year’s team was very dependent on the long
ball as it broke the school record for home
runs in a season with 64 (previous record
was 52).
While the Eagles do return a couple of
starters with some proven power, Cooke
feels the greatest strength and difference
with this year’s team will be speed and ath-
leticism. “This is going to be a speed team. I
think the strength is our legs, these kids can
fly.”
In 2013 the Eagles batted .271 with run-
ners in scoring position and Cooke feels the
team left too many runners out there.
“This team will not be betting so many
home runs but they will put the ball in play
with runners on base and make things hap-
pen,” added Cooke. “That’s our goal is to
challenge opposing defenses to throw us
out. In the fall games and spring practices
that has been our focus. We’re finding ways
to drive them in and I think that’s our biggest
improvement.”
Cooke will have to deal with the depar-
ture of one of the most decorated players in
school history, Chelsey Schoenfeldt, as well
as Kathryn Eberlin, Teja Durante and Jenna
Harbin. The four of them spent the majority
of their careers as starters. Schoenfeldt set
the school record for home runs last season
with 17 as she also finished one shy of the
school single-season RBI mark of 60. That
group accounted for 224 runs, 52 home runs
and 243 RBI during their careers.
Filling their shoes will be an obvious
tough task but Cooke feels he may have
more depth than any team he’s had. “We
have more viable athletes this year. We
could start 14-15 players and not lose a
beat. I think the strength of this team is the
versatility of our players. I think we have one
of the deepest, strongest team’s we’ve ever
had.”
As for a starting lineup, only a couple
of roles may be solidified as Cooke says
competition has been strong as a lot of kids
are stepping up. So expect to see different
lineups over the first few weeks as the team
starts to form its identity and starters.
MILESTONES
The Winthrop softball program is closing
in on 1,000 victories as it currently boasts
a record of 984-793-3 all-time. The Eagles
will play in the program’s 1,800th game this
season, which is schedule to happen against
Connecticut at home on Mar. 7 at 5 p.m.
Another milestone that could be reached this
season is the 750th win all-time for Cooke.
He has 739 victories in his 28 seasons enter-
ing this season. Last season he passed 650
wins at Winthrop when the Eagles defeated
IN THE CIRCLE
Last season sophomore Sutton Watson
was forced into more innings than originally
expected as the staff dealt with several inju-
ries over the course of the season.
Watson had over 100 more innings
pitched than any other Eagle and finished
the year 17-15. Schoenfeldt was also in the
rotation but battled an injured shoulder and
only made 19 appearances with 12 starts.
She finished second on the staff with 82
innings but is the only arm not returning this
season.
Cooke feels Watson had a great sopho-
more campaign, her first as a starter, and
can be even stronger this season. “Sutton is
going to keep us in the game. She’s going
to challenge people. She really worked hard
to improve her game and I feel she got a lot
better in the fall.”
Watson as the edge to be the top starter
but Cooke has the competition wide open
as he plans to use all of his pitchers to start
the season to figure out his starting rotation.
Senior Sarah Allen along with sophomores
Dallas King and Bradlee Holeman will be in
the mix. Allen tossed 57.1 innings last year
and was 2-3 but Cooke said she had a good
fall as she is throwing hard and with bet-
Eagles Look For Return To Big South Title Game
McKenzi Corn became sixth Winthrop player to bat .400
or better in a single-season (hit .408 in 2013)
