Softball Brings Strong Pitching Experience Into 2024 Season - North Carolina A&T (2024)

Softball | 2/9/2024 9:54:00 AM

GREENSBORO –There is a newness surrounding the North Carolina A&T softball program. A&T hired Jose GonzalezJr., who had tremendous success at then Division I Savannah State and Division II Claflin, as the head coach in June. Gonzalez later added his assistant from Claflin, Nyesha Arnold, and Claflin graduate Chris McKenzie as his assistant coaches at A&T.

Now Gonzalez, who is the fourth leader of the Aggies program in the past four years, looks to bring stability to the program after transforming Savannah State from a fledgling Division I program to a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) power, and after leading Claflin to its first-ever Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) title in 2022.

"Regarding my (coaching) philosophy, you have to be committed," said Gonzalez. "I think everybody needs to be committed to the betterment of what we're trying to do here. I like to be organized because my team needs to understand that they will have a game plan for what the season should look like. Then there is loyalty, everyone being loyal to one another and passionate about having a family environment. All those aspects are important.

But my philosophy short and simple ... trust the process."

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
The process begins Friday when the Aggies start the season in Rock Hill, S.C., at the Winthrop Eagle Classic. The Aggies open against the University of North Carolina at noon before facing host Winthrop at 2:30 p.m. The Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) poll conducted by the league's head coaches selected A&T to finish ninth in the conference.

Delaware is the favorite, garnering three first-place votes and 112 points. Campbell received six first-place votes, leading to 109 points, a second-place prediction. Hofstra, the defending CAA champion, received three first-place votes and 101 points and is expected to finish third in the 12-team league.

"It's hard to tell how tough the conference is until you experience it," said Gonzalez. "We know we can't take any opponent lightly. We must go out there and play our game because it is a competitive conference. But as long as we do what we are supposed to do and control the things we can control and don't worry about the things we can't, we will fit right in and be very competitive in this conference."

The Aggies had two players make the CAA Preseason Watch List. Pitcher/utility player Megan Ellis made second-team All-CAA in 2023 as a utility player. Veteran infielder Alyxx Estrada returns for her fourth season in Aggieland. Ellis had an excellent season in the circle, compiling a 5-4 record with a 4.60 ERA.

Estrada earned second-team All-MEAC honors as a freshman in 2021 after batting .303 with 25 RBI and 14 extra-base hits. She enters her senior season as a career .282 batter with 19 doubles, eight triples, 65 runs scored, 144 total bases and 59 RBI in 72 games played.

"Alyxx brings leadership wherever she goes," said Gonzalez. "She likes to compete on the field every day. She likes to compete off the field every day. She is just a competitive person. Megan was one of only two players to make the all-conference team last year, and she's just getting started."

RETURNERS
A&T returns nine players from a team that had a coaching change midseason last year before making a late charge under interim head coach Shawn Hendrix to qualify for the CAA tournament in its first season as a league member. A&T was 17-34 overall and 10-14 in CAA play.

Sophom*ore outfielder Katriel Williams had an excellent freshman season, batting .265 with 10 runs scored and 10 RBI. She also had three doubles and three triples. The return of sophom*ore Makayla Layton brings back an outstanding defensive presence after she compiled a .912 fielding percentage from her shortstop position. Senior Kayla Taylor has always been good at stepping in as a pinch hitter and rocketing a few home runs. Camryn Caldwell also returns for the Aggies.

The bulk of A&T's returners come from the circle. The Aggies have five pitchers returning, including Ellis. Junior Joey Barkhimer can get it done at the plate but her main contribution to A&T has been in the circle. In 46 career appearances, she has 9-17 record with a 3.83 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 175.1 innings pitched.

Senior Sharla Kilpatrick has pitched 83.2 innings for A&T in 31 appearances and 10 starts. She has a 6.02 ERA and 29 strikeouts. Kayla Douglas returns for her graduate season. In her previous four seasons, she pitched 177.1 innings with 65 appearances and 22 starts. Junior Amaya Kearse is also back after making 20 appearances and five starts in 2023. Mariah Headen, who played at A&T in 2021, returns to the program for 2024.

The Aggies did lose three big bats from its lineup. All-CAA outfielder Jai Deese transferred after batting .331 and belting nine home runs. Dezianna Patmon, who batted .310 in her first two years as an Aggie, also transferred. Freshman Sierra Baldwin, who produced 14 RBI and six doubles last season, is also gone.

NEWCOMERS
Gonzalez hopes to replace some of that firepower with some newcomers. Graduate transfer Brenay Howard comes to A&T from Claflin, where she was a career .371 hitter with nine home runs, 53 RBI, and 38 extra-base hits. She earned All-CIAA honors last season. Randolph College transfer Charlize Taylor batted .305 a year ago for the Wildcats. Virginia State transfer Kyla Graves batted .421 in 16 games in 2023. After transferring from Grayson College, Amira Smith will also try to help at the plate.

But the majority of A&T's new might will come from freshmen. Destiny Sims and Jamari Moss will play a lot during their first year in Aggieland. Moss comes in after earning All-American honors as a Fastpitch Elite 18U. Sims brings tremendous speed and athleticism to the Aggies outfield. Freshmen Avery Evans, Trinity Glover and Shandi Brown will also look to make contributions.

"The athletes we have returning are pretty good," said Gonzalez. "We have a lot of pitching experience and good leadership at that position, and that's where it starts. You need good leaders at key positions."