THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball returns to the field to open the 2022 season with the 23rd annual Buzz Classic, beginning Feb. 11 with a doubleheader against Saint Joseph’s and Villanova at Mewborn Field. Returning their ace in the circle and star in the backstop, the Yellow Jackets are set to reload with both backups behind the dish entering year two on The Flats as well as a pair of additional returners and four newcomers stepping in for four departed pitchers.
Preseason All-ACC catcher Emma Kauf is slated to continue her duties as the mainstay behind the plate in 2022 on the heels of a decorated 2021 season. The Lincoln, Neb., native was tabbed the top catcher in the conference as an All-ACC First Team and ACC All-Freshman Team member a year ago. En route to those honors, Kauf batted .345 with 48 hits, seven doubles, two triples and 10 homeruns for 33 RBI, 30 runs scored and a .640 slugging percentage along with six steals last season. Each of those marks placed her second on the team apart from her pair of triples, which led the squad.
Reinforcing Kauf at the two spot are second-year catchers Sara Beth Allen and Sandra Beth Pritchett, both of whom made appearances as pinch hitters in 2021.
The pitching staff is led by All-ACC Tournament Team right hander Blake Neleman, joined by returning seniors Palmer Pinholster and Lexi Ray. Michigan transfer Chandler Dennis adds more experience among the newcomers as freshmen Emma Minghini, Kinsey Norton and Sophia Voyles round out the bullpen.
Neleman enters the year following a hot finish to the 2021 season. The young slinger tossed a no-hitter with nine sit downs in a 6-0 win over Syracuse followed by a valiant performance against No. 10 Clemson in the ACC softball tournament, earning ACC All-Tournament Team honors to close out the year. Neleman led all Tech pitchers a season ago with 12 wins and 111 punchouts through 20 starts in 26 appearances. The Marietta, Ga., native’s punchout total placed her eighth in the conference while her 7.3 strikeouts per seven innings ranked ninth in the league. Neleman also heaved 10 complete games, including three shutouts.
Pinholster and Ray each saw action as well last year, making 16 combined appearances and picking up three total wins while tallying 11 strikeouts apiece. Pinholster picked up a pair of the wins in 22 innings of work while Ray added a win of her own in the form of a complete game shutout, allowing just one hit. Ray tossed 25 2/3 innings on the season.
Dennis comes to The Flats with a pair of seasons in Ann Harbor, Mich. under her belt. The junior hurler appeared in eight games donning the Maize and Blue, earning one start in the circle and sparking a Michigan comeback win with a game-tying, pinch hit, two-run double against Northwestern for her first collegiate hit. Hailing from Suwanee, Ga., Dennis returns home by coming to Tech following a decorated career at North Gwinnett High School. The slinger was named a FloSoftball High School All American (2-17), a three-time all-state honoree (2016-18) and tabbed Gwinnett County Pitcher of the Year as a senior (2018). A four-year All-Gwinnett County selection, Dennis was named the Georgia Diamond Club Player of the Year, Georgia Dugout Club Player of the Year and Gwinnett Daily Post Player of the Year after helping North Gwinnett to a Georgia state championship as a sophomore (2016). She posted a 62-15 career record, including a 16-2 postseason mark, with a 1.04 earned-run average and 603 strikeouts while also batting .408 for her career. Dennis now holds school records for career doubles (26), career wins (62) and season wins (21), earning prospect rankings of No. 29 by FloSoftball and No. 16 by Extra Inning Softball entering college.
Regarding the highly-touted freshman class, Minghini is set to wear multiple hats including pitching as a utility player, while Norton and Voyles will focus solely on pitching.
2022 SOFTBALL TICKETS
Season tickets remain on sale and can be purchased HERE. Season tickets are located in the reserved chairback sections of Mewborn Field and cost $100 per seat. Season ticket members enjoy every game in the same seat for a discounted rate.
2022 single-game tickets for all home contests are also on sale and can be purchased HERE.
Single-Game Pricing:
Reserved Chairback: $5
Adult GA Bench: $3
Youth/Senior GA Bench: $2
Group (10+) GA Bench: $2
Standing room only tickets will be sold for $2 each if all other sections are sold out. Georgia Tech students and faculty/staff can receive free admission to regular season home games while seats remain available by showing a valid BuzzCard at the entrance.
More ticketing information, including the steps to become a member of the Mew Crew and the benefits of joining, can be found on the official Georgia Tech Softball Tickets page.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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