The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/916614
84 ■ THE WOLFPACKER On the mound, Wallace — who had six wins and a 3.57 earned run average over 68 2 ⁄3 innings pitched as a freshman at Coastal Carolina — has been a revelation for Rychcik. "She's done a really nice job coming in, getting adjusted, and I think she's really developed and grown here," he noted. "She can throw relatively hard, but I think as she hit the strength and conditioning over the fall her velocity is way up and she puts a lot of pressure on hitters." Rychcik also credited senior Harli Hub- bard, junior Brittany Nimmo (who can also play in the field) and freshman Kama Wood- all for throwing good innings during the fall. "We have a little more of a staff, we have a few more options, than we've had in years past," Rychcik said. "We'll use them accordingly to who's throwing well, but I've been pleased. Everything starts with pitching in this game, and if you don't have it, it's going to be a long year. I think we're back to having some people that can compete and dominate on the mound and really put some pressure on hitters." Behind the plate, freshman Lily Bishop hit three home runs in the fall and was the leading RBI producer, and Rychcik expects to use her bat in the middle of the order. "Lily Bishop has got a good arm, good receiver that throws the ball well," Rychcik added. In the infield, senior Alyssa Compton provides the veteran leadership, but whether she will start at second or shortstop may depend on how quickly the freshmen get ac- climated. A pair, Chandley Garner and Tim- berlyn Shurbutt, are competing for starting jobs. Sophomore Haley Finn is also in the mix after starting 35 contests a year ago. Junior Cheyenne Balzer, whose six home runs last season are the most among return- ing players, started all 56 games and is back at first base. The outfield will feature the top returning player in sophomore Jade Caraway, who hit a single-season school-record .389 as a freshman and was 12 of 13 stealing bases. She was named second-team All-ACC. Rizzi will likely be an immediate-im- pact transfer. She was invited to the USA Softball Women's National Team's open tryouts beginning Dec. 31 in Clearwater, Fla., and hit .354 last season as a freshman at LIU Brooklyn. Freshman Sam Russ' impressive fall has her competing for a starting job in the outfield, along with returning starter and senior Macauley Prickett. "Last year I thought we had one of the better outfields in the country, and this year I think it's the same thing," Rychcik said. "We have kids that can run around and get to the ball." Despite all the newcomers, Rychcik's goal remains the same: get to the NCAA Tournament, which would end a two-year postseason drought for the program. "We're young so there are going to be some challenges as to who's going to hit, who's going to get into some slumps, but I think with the pitching and the prospects of what can happen with that pitching, it gives us an opportunity to compete to get to the postseason," he concluded. ■ Coastal Carolina transfer Devin Wallace, who compiled six wins and a 3.57 ERA as a freshman in 2017, will be a factor on the mound for the Wolfpack this spring. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP ■ By The Numbers 5.95 Earned run average for NC State a season ago with a short-handed pitching staff. Head coach Shawn Rychcik is optimistic about improve- ments on the mound. 8 Newcomers on this year's team — six true fresh- men and a pair of transfers — the vast majority of whom are expected to make an immediate impact. 13 Home runs hit by returning players from last year's team that blasted 39 dingers overall. Rychcik anticipates an offense that will be led more by speed this year. Noting The Pack • NC State went 18-38 overall a year ago, but was more competitive in the ACC with a 10-14 mark. One of the reasons: a brutal non-conference slate that included games against national runner-up Oklahoma; College World Series participant UCLA; Minnesota, which finished No. 20 in the final national poll; Oregon State, which received votes in the last rankings; and Florida Atlantic, which was listed in the top 25 when NCSU played it. "Last year we had the No. 1 strength of schedule in non-conference in the country," Rychcik noted. "We were getting challenged better than anybody in the country, and with the pitching losses we had I think it was probably too much. With us possibly starting five freshmen at some point, I think it was wise to probably back up." • NC State signed two players in the fall for its 2018 recruiting class. Pitcher Sydney Nester from Carroll County High in Hillsville, Va., is considered the No. 22 recruit nationally by FloSoftball.com and was the 2016 Gatorade State Player of the Year. She is 55-2 overall in three years in high school, having never lost a regular-season or seven-inning game. Catcher/infielder Kelli Wagner from Trinity High in Archdale, N.C., is ranked No. 103 in the country by FloSoftball. com after posting a .463 career batting average through her junior season. The small class has enough firepower to be ranked No. 29 in the country by FloSoftball.com. Newcomer To Watch Infielder Chandley Garner There are a lot of candidates on a team loaded with newcomers. Garner was one of the most highly touted recruits in a top-20 class that Shawn Rychcik signed and will compete for a starting job. FloSoftball.com rated her the No. 50 overall pros - pect in the country and second-best player in the state after she hit .538 with 11 home runs as a senior for North Stokes High in Lawsonville, N.C.