Texas Tech Softball Position Preview: The Outfield

LUBBOCK, Texas – With just over two weeks to go until the Red Raiders' season opener, head coach Adrian Gregory leans on a young but experienced group of outfielders to help the Texas Tech softball program reach new heights in 2019.

Gregory welcomes back three key letterwinners from last season – Karli Hamilton, Heaven Burton and Michaela Cochran – and will add two new faces in freshmen Peyton Blythe and Yvonne Whaley.

"We have been working really hard on getting the right read off the bat and I think that we've started to close on balls much better," Gregory said. "These players believe they're going to catch the ball and they believe they're going to run it down and throw players out. Their confidence is up on their reads and that has been a major change for us."

The Tech outfield holds a slew of offensive weapons that Gregory hopes will serve as a catalyst going into her fifth season at the helm. Integral pieces of the Tech lineup, Hamilton, Burton and Cochran combined for 207 of the Red Raiders' 475 hits in 2018 and each player earned Big 12 distinctions for their efforts on the field.

THE RETURNERS

Karli Hamilton – Redshirt Junior
Starting all 59 games last season, Hamilton returns for her junior season as a well-experienced member of the Tech outfield. The everyday right fielder racked up 60 hits last season, earning her All-Big 12 Second-Team honors. Hamilton, along with Burton, led the Big 12 and broke the school's single-season triples record with five on the year.

Hamilton's success at the plate continued as she ranked second on the squad with 50 RBI, 13 doubles, eight home runs, 15 stolen bases and an impressive .569 slugging percentage. She recorded 27 hits on a 19-game hitting streak – the longest by a Red Raider since 2004 – which spanned from Apr. 10 to May 17. A 2018 NISC All-Regional Team selection, Hamilton was near-perfect in the field with 75 putouts, five assists and a .976 fielding percentage.

"Karli has really taken over and has set an example of what it looks like to lead the outfield," Gregory said. "She's done a great job setting the tone both physically and mentally and seeing her emerge as a leader is really encouraging. Karli has been vying for a role in center field since she got here and she has been working day in and day out to get there."

Heaven Burton – Redshirt Sophomore
Burton, who transferred in from Louisiana-Lafayette prior to the 2018 season, made an immediate impact in her inaugural campaign as a Red Raider. Used primarily as the team's designated player, the Round Rock, Texas, native garnered NFCA All-Region Third Team, Big 12 All-Freshman Team and NISC All-Region Team honors after making huge offensive strides over 52 starts and 57 appearances.

She led Tech with 74 hits – the third most by a Red Raider in a single season – while tallying 10 doubles, five triples and one home run. Burton rode a 16-game hitting streak that lasted from Feb. 18 through Mar. 11, where she racked up 29 hits. Her .379 average at the plate ranked second on the team, as well as ninth in the league, and marked the sixth-highest average for a Red Raider in a single season.

"Heaven has had a tremendous amount of growth since last season," Gregory said. "She's so intelligent and really came into her own this fall. She was voted a team captain and has really stepped it up on all fronts. She's competing to break out of the DP role, so we're really excited to see her skills and leadership develop throughout the season."

Michaela Cochran – Redshirt Sophomore
Another member of the 2018 Big 12 All-Freshman Team, Cochran returns to for her second season on the field after starting all 59 games as Tech's everyday center fielder. She ranked second on the team with 73 hits, which ranks fifth in school single-season history, and was one of four freshmen in the Big 12 to rank in the league's Top 10 in hits.

Cochran crossed home plate 40 times during the 2018 season and she finished third on the team with a .381 on base percentage and .356 average at the plate. Her efforts at the Big 12 Championship earned her All-Tournament Team honors and she capped off her redshirt freshman campaign with 2018 Academic All-Big 12 First Team laurels.

"Michaela did a great job for us in center last season," Gregory said. "She had great offensive production from the left side and ended up being our season leader in single-base hits. She competes real hard both offensively and defensively and we expect her to contribute even more this season."

THE NEWCOMERS

Peyton Blythe – Freshman
Adding depth to a young outfield, Blythe comes to Tech after earning four letters at Hughes Springs High School. As a senior, she helped the Mustangs to an impressive 31-4 overall record that ended in the Class 3A State Finals. Along with District 14-3A MVP laurels, she was honored as the Longview News-Journal All-East Texas and Texarkana Gazette All-Area MVP. Blythe was a first-team member of the Tyler All-East Texas and the ETSN.FM Softball Super Teams to cap off an outstanding senior season.

A four-time TGCA Class 3A All-State First-Team selection, she was pinned as the 2017 ETSN.FM East Texas Softball Player of the Year, ETVarsity.com All-East Texas MVP, Texarkana Gazette All-Area MVP and District MVP following the conclusion of her junior campaign. Blythe earned her first District MVP honor as a sophomore in 2016 and was named to the 2015 District 16-3A First Team as a freshman.

"Peyton is a real gutsy player and she creates so much depth for our outfield," Gregory said. "She is willing to risk everything and you don't have to talk her into taking a chance on a play. It's been a while since I've had a freshman come in with mentality. We have a couple of things to fine-tune, but she is super athletic and a really strong asset for us in the outfield."

Yvonne Whaley – Freshman
A quick utility player who will also make contributions to the Tech outfield, Whaley steps onto the field after a successful four-year career at Dobie High School. Whaley was voted the District 22-6A MVP after leading the Longhorns to a 23-9 overall record and 11-3 mark in district play in 2018.

She earned TSWA Class 6A All-State Honorable Mention status following her sophomore and junior campaigns and was an All-District 22-6A First-Team selection her first three seasons. A consistent contributor for the Longhorns, Whaley was voted Dobie High School's Offensive and Defensive MVP as a freshman and junior.

"Yvonne was originally chosen as a utility player," Gregory explained. "We had a few players vying for a spot at second base and she's done a great job adapting to the outfield. She brings speed and a lefty bat to our lineup, which we've found a lot of success in before. We feel like Yvonne is very similar to Michaela in how she plays the game and we're excited to see what she brings to the table."

With a solid group of outfielders on hand, Gregory is confident that this group will set themselves apart from other schools in the league.

"We have a good group of athletes battling it out for a position right now," Gregory added. "Deciding who will win that position in a couple of weeks will be tough, but it's the best kind of challenge to face. We are striving to be the best outfield in the Big 12 and this group is taking great pride in that."

Texas Tech is set to open up the season on Friday, Feb. 8, at the Lone Star Collegiate Classic in Conroe, Texas. For all the latest news on the Texas Tech softball team, follow @TexasTechSB on Twitter and Instagram or visit TexasTech.com.

Texas Tech University Athletics

Texas Tech Softball Position Preview: The Outfield

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Players Mentioned

Peyton Blythe

Heaven Burton

Michaela Cochran

Karli Hamilton

Yvonne Whaley

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