Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Blue Raider softball: Infielders
2/10/2016 1:00:00 PM | Softball
Payton Grove and Carlie Jenkins look to have a big season for the Raiders in 2016
MURFREESBORO – When softball coaches talk about defense, they usually talk about being strong up the middle. This means that your catcher, middle infielders and center fielder should be the strongest defensive players on the team. Because of that, it's usually hard for young talent to break through in those positions.
But Middle Tennessee softball Head Coach Jeff Breeden anticipates true freshman Payton Grove to grab the short stop role.
"[Grove] showed very good athleticism in fall games and early in spring scrimmages," Breeden said. "As she matures into the shortstop position she can be dynamite for us."
At Dickson County High School, Grove was named All-District and All-Region four times, and also earned All-Mid-State honors three times. The three-sport star was a three-time All-District selection in soccer and a four-time All-District and All-Region performer in basketball.
Carlie Jenkins will be making the move from first base to second this season, but will bring her bat along for the move. Jenkins led the Raiders in several offensive categories including batting average (.383), hits (57), doubles (12), and RBIs (39) in 2015. Jenkins's batting average was good enough for fifth best all-time in Blue Raider history and her 39 RBIs was second all-time, just three shy of Brittany Herald's 2004 record of 42. Jenkins also led MT with a .984 fielding percentage on just six errors with 17 assists and a whopping 344 put outs.
Junior Austyn Whaley is another option at second base for the Raiders, as she has played the position the past two seasons. Whaley started 44 games a year ago and hit .237 with one home run and 14 RBIs. In an early February meeting last season with Mississippi Valley State, she earned her best performance going 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and two of her seven doubles in the 13-2 win. Whaley also had a .923 fielding percentage with 108 put outs and 61 assists on just 14 errors.
"Whaley has started at second base for two seasons and has had a good early spring," Breeden stated. "As her bat gets better she will make good contributions in 2016."
First base looks to be patrolled by Danielle Munoz, a redshirt freshman who spent all of 2015 on the disabled list due to a knee injury. Munoz was a four-year letter winner at St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs, California and helped her team capture their first softball state championship in school history in 2013. Munoz led her team with a .506 batting average, 32 RBIs, eight doubles and a slugging percentage of .527.
"Munoz will be starting at first base," Breeden said. "A knee injury kept her off the field in 2015, but she has bounced back with a great work ethic and is ready for the 2016 season. She brings power and energy to our team."
The hot corner, third base, appears to have a platoon in place, at least for the time being. Murfreesboro native Kristin Uselton and Megan Griffith will be splitting time at the moment.
Uselton played in 23 contests a year ago, including starting the final 15 as she hit .224 in 49 at bats and earned nine RBIs. Uselton also picked up seven walks to increase her on base percentage to .321 and her .982 fielding percentage was second on the team. Uselton was good in the classroom as well as she earned a Conference USA Academic Commissioner's Medal for boasting a GPA of 3.75 or better.
Griffith played in 39 games in 2015, including 30 starts, and hit .243 with one homer and 20 RBIs in 103 at bats. That one home run was a dramatic one, as her first Blue Raider long ball was a pinch-hit grand slam against rival WKU in a 6-1 win.
"Each can be an impact on the field for us," Breeden stated. "Uselton has great hands and is very ball savvy. She makes good plays defensively. Griffith is a power-hitting senior who will be in the designated player mix when not playing third. We look for Griffith to have a very good offensive season with good power numbers."
Middle Tennessee begins their season Friday afternoon in sunny Fort Myers, Fla. with a match-up against Big Ten foe Michigan State before taking on the host FGCU Eagles Friday night.
Check back tomorrow for information on the Blue Raiders outfield and designated players.
But Middle Tennessee softball Head Coach Jeff Breeden anticipates true freshman Payton Grove to grab the short stop role.
"[Grove] showed very good athleticism in fall games and early in spring scrimmages," Breeden said. "As she matures into the shortstop position she can be dynamite for us."
At Dickson County High School, Grove was named All-District and All-Region four times, and also earned All-Mid-State honors three times. The three-sport star was a three-time All-District selection in soccer and a four-time All-District and All-Region performer in basketball.
Carlie Jenkins will be making the move from first base to second this season, but will bring her bat along for the move. Jenkins led the Raiders in several offensive categories including batting average (.383), hits (57), doubles (12), and RBIs (39) in 2015. Jenkins's batting average was good enough for fifth best all-time in Blue Raider history and her 39 RBIs was second all-time, just three shy of Brittany Herald's 2004 record of 42. Jenkins also led MT with a .984 fielding percentage on just six errors with 17 assists and a whopping 344 put outs.
Junior Austyn Whaley is another option at second base for the Raiders, as she has played the position the past two seasons. Whaley started 44 games a year ago and hit .237 with one home run and 14 RBIs. In an early February meeting last season with Mississippi Valley State, she earned her best performance going 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and two of her seven doubles in the 13-2 win. Whaley also had a .923 fielding percentage with 108 put outs and 61 assists on just 14 errors.
"Whaley has started at second base for two seasons and has had a good early spring," Breeden stated. "As her bat gets better she will make good contributions in 2016."
First base looks to be patrolled by Danielle Munoz, a redshirt freshman who spent all of 2015 on the disabled list due to a knee injury. Munoz was a four-year letter winner at St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs, California and helped her team capture their first softball state championship in school history in 2013. Munoz led her team with a .506 batting average, 32 RBIs, eight doubles and a slugging percentage of .527.
"Munoz will be starting at first base," Breeden said. "A knee injury kept her off the field in 2015, but she has bounced back with a great work ethic and is ready for the 2016 season. She brings power and energy to our team."
The hot corner, third base, appears to have a platoon in place, at least for the time being. Murfreesboro native Kristin Uselton and Megan Griffith will be splitting time at the moment.
Uselton played in 23 contests a year ago, including starting the final 15 as she hit .224 in 49 at bats and earned nine RBIs. Uselton also picked up seven walks to increase her on base percentage to .321 and her .982 fielding percentage was second on the team. Uselton was good in the classroom as well as she earned a Conference USA Academic Commissioner's Medal for boasting a GPA of 3.75 or better.
Griffith played in 39 games in 2015, including 30 starts, and hit .243 with one homer and 20 RBIs in 103 at bats. That one home run was a dramatic one, as her first Blue Raider long ball was a pinch-hit grand slam against rival WKU in a 6-1 win.
"Each can be an impact on the field for us," Breeden stated. "Uselton has great hands and is very ball savvy. She makes good plays defensively. Griffith is a power-hitting senior who will be in the designated player mix when not playing third. We look for Griffith to have a very good offensive season with good power numbers."
Middle Tennessee begins their season Friday afternoon in sunny Fort Myers, Fla. with a match-up against Big Ten foe Michigan State before taking on the host FGCU Eagles Friday night.
Check back tomorrow for information on the Blue Raiders outfield and designated players.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
SS/UT
/ Softball
1B/OF
/ Softball
C/1B
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INF
/ Softball
INF
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