Troy University Athletics
The Best is Yet to Come: Troy Softball Focuses on Future
6/14/2018 8:27:00 AM | Softball
TROY, Alabama – Following its first appearance in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinals since 2010, the Troy softball team and head coach Beth Mullins have every reason to be optimistic when looking ahead.
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The Trojans improved their win total by 14 games from 2017 to 2018, won four games in the conference tournament – more than the previous seven years combined, and did it all with just three seniors on the roster.
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Behind Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, Annie Willis, and junior Peyton Glover, Troy turned in its lowest team ERA (3.21) since 2014. With both returning next season along with Kynsley Rae Blasingame and Claire Graves, who also chewed up innings last year, Mullins could easily feel comfortable with her 2019 pitching situation … but contentment doesn't win championships.
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For the second straight season, Mullins welcomes the best high school arm in the state of Alabama. Willis, a product of Westminster Christian in Huntsville, and Brantley High School's Leanna Johnson, who signed with Troy in November, represent the last two Alabama Sports Writers Association Miss Softball recipients – the highest athletic award given to a player in the state. Auburn is the only other school to sign consecutive ASWA Miss Softball winners since the award was introduced in 2003 – the Tigers inked the first three recipients.
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"I think having back-to-back Miss Softball winners sign with Troy says a lot about our staff's effort in recruiting the best talent in the state of Alabama," Mullins said.
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The duo combined for 91 wins and 1,079 strikeouts during their final year of prep softball. The success translated for Willis and Mullins expects much of the same for Johnson.
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"We are blessed with a great pitching coach and an experienced pitching staff with two seniors at the top (Glover and Graves)," Mullins said. "I know that was a big help for our freshmen last year having those two help them transition to Division I. I think Leanna will have the same support and will able to make a smooth transition."
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On the offensive side, Troy returns 82.9 percent of its runs from 2018 including sophomore All-Sun Belt performers Katie Webb and Logan Calhoun, while rising senior catcher Kaylee Hussey shut down opponents' running game allowing just 12 stolen bases in 55 games behind the dish.
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With all of the pieces seeming to align, Mullins is far from satisfied and is challenging the team to raise the bar another level to achieve a feat that has eluded the program since joining the Sun Belt in 2005 … a conference championship.
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"Our goal is always to be at the top of the Sun Belt Conference, but it's going to take us continuing to get better every year," Mullins said. "Troy softball has never won a Sun Belt championship, so the first, when it happens, will help this program make huge strides forward."
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After a successful 2018 campaign, there are certainly plenty of pats of the back to be handed out. But for those sporting Troy softball gear, all eyes are fixed forward to what is undoubtedly a bright future.
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The Trojans improved their win total by 14 games from 2017 to 2018, won four games in the conference tournament – more than the previous seven years combined, and did it all with just three seniors on the roster.
Â
Behind Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, Annie Willis, and junior Peyton Glover, Troy turned in its lowest team ERA (3.21) since 2014. With both returning next season along with Kynsley Rae Blasingame and Claire Graves, who also chewed up innings last year, Mullins could easily feel comfortable with her 2019 pitching situation … but contentment doesn't win championships.
Â
For the second straight season, Mullins welcomes the best high school arm in the state of Alabama. Willis, a product of Westminster Christian in Huntsville, and Brantley High School's Leanna Johnson, who signed with Troy in November, represent the last two Alabama Sports Writers Association Miss Softball recipients – the highest athletic award given to a player in the state. Auburn is the only other school to sign consecutive ASWA Miss Softball winners since the award was introduced in 2003 – the Tigers inked the first three recipients.
Â
"I think having back-to-back Miss Softball winners sign with Troy says a lot about our staff's effort in recruiting the best talent in the state of Alabama," Mullins said.
Â
The duo combined for 91 wins and 1,079 strikeouts during their final year of prep softball. The success translated for Willis and Mullins expects much of the same for Johnson.
Â
"We are blessed with a great pitching coach and an experienced pitching staff with two seniors at the top (Glover and Graves)," Mullins said. "I know that was a big help for our freshmen last year having those two help them transition to Division I. I think Leanna will have the same support and will able to make a smooth transition."
Â
On the offensive side, Troy returns 82.9 percent of its runs from 2018 including sophomore All-Sun Belt performers Katie Webb and Logan Calhoun, while rising senior catcher Kaylee Hussey shut down opponents' running game allowing just 12 stolen bases in 55 games behind the dish.
Â
With all of the pieces seeming to align, Mullins is far from satisfied and is challenging the team to raise the bar another level to achieve a feat that has eluded the program since joining the Sun Belt in 2005 … a conference championship.
Â
"Our goal is always to be at the top of the Sun Belt Conference, but it's going to take us continuing to get better every year," Mullins said. "Troy softball has never won a Sun Belt championship, so the first, when it happens, will help this program make huge strides forward."
Â
After a successful 2018 campaign, there are certainly plenty of pats of the back to be handed out. But for those sporting Troy softball gear, all eyes are fixed forward to what is undoubtedly a bright future.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Softball
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/ Softball
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/ Softball
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/ Softball
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/ Softball
INF/C
/ Softball
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