Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Freshmen show potential in veteran-laden Raider lineup
4/9/2020 5:00:00 PM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Before the start of the shortened 2020 Middle Tennessee softball season, the Blue Raiders' lineup appeared to be highlighted by veteran stars, and for good reason. When they were forced to stop play because of COVID-19, though, a couple of freshmen were emerging as weapons at the dish.
Included in MT's lineup was some serious veteran presence in seniors Lexi Cushing and Summer Burgess and junior Jocelynn De La Cruz. Cushing and Burgess, two of the program's all-time greats who had hoped to etch their names even deeper into the school's record books, were having typical stellar offensive campaigns when Conference USA and the NCAA called a halt to all spring sports in mid-March. Both hit well over .300 with on-base percentages over .400, and Cushing had already blasted 10 homers to put her third in C-USA. Her 19 RBIs were four behind De La Cruz's team-high 23.
Alongside those three veterans at the top of the Blue Raiders' order were freshmen roommates Kelci Hill and Kaylee Richetto. While they might not have had the same level of experience in collegiate softball as their teammates, they were just as dangerous.
"In the recruiting process and once we got into fall ball, we knew both of them were going to be really good," head coach Jeff Breeden said. "Kelci has all the tools — she runs well, hits well, is a base-hitter and is a big RBI producer … and Richetto, she's just a straight up hitter. Some people you see and the ball just jumps off the bat different. When she hits it, it just has a different sound to it.
"They have some maturity about them and are going to be a main ingredient for probably four years. They're really going to be great players throughout their career here and put up some big numbers as the years go on."
Hill was tasked in her freshman year with replacing four-year starter Kirstyn Cuccia, a Murfreesboro native who played in 187 career games at her hometown school, most of them in center field.
Filling the void didn't seem to be too big a proposition for the Californian. Hill started all 28 games in center, leading the team and tying for third in C-USA with 32 hits, first among the league's freshmen.
Though she started the season in the ninth spot in the lineup, she quickly rose and settled in at second behind Burgess and ahead of the power-hitting De La Cruz, who happens to be from the same area in California as Hill and went to a rival high school.
"I think I went in with an expectation to help the program in any way possible, whether that was in center field, in the lineup or on the bench," Hill said. "I was ready for everything. I just wanted to help the team in whatever role I was called to do.
"I reached out to Jocelynn and she helped me out a lot before I even got to MTSU … and I was really excited to be able to learn from her, Summer and Lexi."
Like Hill, Breeden had high hopes going into the season for Richetto at the plate. He just had to find ways to get the utility player some at-bats.
Playing mostly right field and designated hitter, Richetto showed a good eye and power at the plate, hitting five home runs, including the team's only grand slam of the season on Feb. 28. She ranked fourth in C-USA in batting average (.450), seventh in slugging percentage (.825) and fourth in OBP (.560), all best among the conference's freshmen, and had an OPS of 1.385.
Once Richetto, a Mt. Juliet, Tennessee native, entered the starting lineup against Nicholls State Feb. 15, she never looked back. She played in 22 games with 20 starts, mostly slotting in fifth in the lineup to give the Blue Raiders back-to-back-to back power threats with her, De La Cruz and Cushing.
"I was confident in myself, but having people like Lexi and Jocelynn around me, that was really helpful. I knew if I didn't get the job done, they would," Richetto said. "They're home run hitters and great players, and having them around really gave me confidence."
The NCAA ruled on March 30 seniors in spring sports will be granted another year of eligibility next season. That means MT's deadly lineup could be intact again in 2021, and if Hill and Richetto can replicate their hot starts to 2020, the Blue Raiders might be tough to hold down.
"We all work together out there, and we all have each other's backs," Hill said. "I think we were just starting to get on a roll as a team … and I think giving us this extra year with the seniors will help us out tremendously."
The roommates are, needless to say, excited for what the future may bring once they're able to get back to Murfreesboro and on the diamond.
"We have a really good bond," Richetto said. "We really didn't put much pressure on ourselves … we just want to do our job and keep producing."
Included in MT's lineup was some serious veteran presence in seniors Lexi Cushing and Summer Burgess and junior Jocelynn De La Cruz. Cushing and Burgess, two of the program's all-time greats who had hoped to etch their names even deeper into the school's record books, were having typical stellar offensive campaigns when Conference USA and the NCAA called a halt to all spring sports in mid-March. Both hit well over .300 with on-base percentages over .400, and Cushing had already blasted 10 homers to put her third in C-USA. Her 19 RBIs were four behind De La Cruz's team-high 23.
Alongside those three veterans at the top of the Blue Raiders' order were freshmen roommates Kelci Hill and Kaylee Richetto. While they might not have had the same level of experience in collegiate softball as their teammates, they were just as dangerous.
"In the recruiting process and once we got into fall ball, we knew both of them were going to be really good," head coach Jeff Breeden said. "Kelci has all the tools — she runs well, hits well, is a base-hitter and is a big RBI producer … and Richetto, she's just a straight up hitter. Some people you see and the ball just jumps off the bat different. When she hits it, it just has a different sound to it.
"They have some maturity about them and are going to be a main ingredient for probably four years. They're really going to be great players throughout their career here and put up some big numbers as the years go on."
Hill was tasked in her freshman year with replacing four-year starter Kirstyn Cuccia, a Murfreesboro native who played in 187 career games at her hometown school, most of them in center field.
Filling the void didn't seem to be too big a proposition for the Californian. Hill started all 28 games in center, leading the team and tying for third in C-USA with 32 hits, first among the league's freshmen.
Though she started the season in the ninth spot in the lineup, she quickly rose and settled in at second behind Burgess and ahead of the power-hitting De La Cruz, who happens to be from the same area in California as Hill and went to a rival high school.
"I think I went in with an expectation to help the program in any way possible, whether that was in center field, in the lineup or on the bench," Hill said. "I was ready for everything. I just wanted to help the team in whatever role I was called to do.
"I reached out to Jocelynn and she helped me out a lot before I even got to MTSU … and I was really excited to be able to learn from her, Summer and Lexi."
Like Hill, Breeden had high hopes going into the season for Richetto at the plate. He just had to find ways to get the utility player some at-bats.
Playing mostly right field and designated hitter, Richetto showed a good eye and power at the plate, hitting five home runs, including the team's only grand slam of the season on Feb. 28. She ranked fourth in C-USA in batting average (.450), seventh in slugging percentage (.825) and fourth in OBP (.560), all best among the conference's freshmen, and had an OPS of 1.385.
Once Richetto, a Mt. Juliet, Tennessee native, entered the starting lineup against Nicholls State Feb. 15, she never looked back. She played in 22 games with 20 starts, mostly slotting in fifth in the lineup to give the Blue Raiders back-to-back-to back power threats with her, De La Cruz and Cushing.
"I was confident in myself, but having people like Lexi and Jocelynn around me, that was really helpful. I knew if I didn't get the job done, they would," Richetto said. "They're home run hitters and great players, and having them around really gave me confidence."
The NCAA ruled on March 30 seniors in spring sports will be granted another year of eligibility next season. That means MT's deadly lineup could be intact again in 2021, and if Hill and Richetto can replicate their hot starts to 2020, the Blue Raiders might be tough to hold down.
"We all work together out there, and we all have each other's backs," Hill said. "I think we were just starting to get on a roll as a team … and I think giving us this extra year with the seniors will help us out tremendously."
The roommates are, needless to say, excited for what the future may bring once they're able to get back to Murfreesboro and on the diamond.
"We have a really good bond," Richetto said. "We really didn't put much pressure on ourselves … we just want to do our job and keep producing."
Players Mentioned
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