What did Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski learn about Cowgirls in fall camp?
Scott WrightThe Oklahoman
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STILLWATER — Kenny Gajewski came out of the fall scrimmage season feeling like he learned a lot about his remade pitching staff.
The challenge in spring will be for the Oklahoma State softball coach to learn how to use that staff.
“What we learned is we’re as deep as we’ve ever been,” Gajewski said. “It’s gonna be really fun to watch these kids compete for innings.”
As they look ahead to their pursuit of a sixth straight Women’s College World Series appearance, the Cowgirls are filling some key spots on the roster, from the pitching staff to the starting catcher and center fielder.
But a couple other positions are up for grabs as well.
Here’s a look at what the Cowgirls learned about themselves in the fall:
Four talented pitchers
Gajewski made the biggest early splash in transfer portal recruiting last summer when he landed former Washington star Ruby Meylan, then added to OSU’s pitching depth with Baylor transfer RyLee Crandall.“I think we had a pretty good idea of who Ruby and Rylee were,” Gajewski said. “But I think we learned that both of them have an ability to get better. As good as they’ve been, they still have a lot they can get better at.”
But perhaps more important than the transfer additions, returning bullpen arms Kyra Aycock and Katie Kutz showed notable improvement after another offseason working with pitching coach Carrie Eberle.
“I feel like we got Kyra back on track,” Gajewski said. “And Katie Kutz had a tremendous fall after a tremendous summer.”
Aycock was a strong No. 3 for the Cowgirls in her freshman season of 2023, but regressed a bit last season before finishing strong. Kutz was a top-10 recruit a year ago, but had to work to adjust to the college game.
Now with that duo backing up Meylan and Crandall — both of whom have significant big-game experience at the NCAA Super Regional or WCWS level — Gajewski feels confident in the staff he has put together to replace what Lexi Kilfoyl and Ivy Rosenberry delivered last year.
Kyra Aycock
Who slides in behind the plate?
One of the key pieces of the batting order Gajewski needed to fill was at catcher with the departure of cleanup hitter Caroline Wang, and while replicating her 17 home runs is a tall order, the coach is pleased with the competition he saw in fall.Returning junior Audrey Schneidmiller backed up Wang last season and North Carolina State transfer Amanda Hasler joined the mix in the summer.
“We’ve got two kids who are absolutely fighting it out and it’s been really cool to see,” Gajewski said. “We’re gonna keep letting them fight it out.
“I would say right now, Amanda is the starter, but Audrey has had a great fall for her.”
Battles at shortstop, center field
Tia Warsop
Gajewski’s success in the transfer portal is bringing some difficult decisions for him and his staff, because they’ve increased their depth to the point that potential starters will be left out of the lineup.
Incumbent Megan Bloodworth, always a reliable fielder, showed her offensive upside in the fall, while New Mexico transfer Rachael Hathoot brought the battle to her as she challenged Bloodworth for the starting shortstop job.
Gajewski says Bloodworth remains in that position for now, which means Hathoot could see time in the outfield. But there’s already a logjam out there.
Center field was the most important hole to fill, and Gajewski did that with Cal State Fullerton transfer Megan Delgadillo, whose speed, defense and knack for getting on base should be a boost to the lineup.
Claire Timm is back in one of the corner outfield spots, but returning starter Lexi McDonald, regularly used reserve Tia Warsop and possibly Hathoot will be fighting for playing time in the other corner.
“As long as this team stays healthy, and as long as they continue to compete the way they are, this’ll be the first time in my time as head coach that we’ve had real problems writing a lineup down,” Gajewski said. “We’ve had issues before, but if they’re all going the way they have been, we’ll have real issues.
“It’s a good problem, but it’s gonna take a lot of coaching just keeping their heads on right.”
Overall, Gajewski has been thrilled with the attitude and work ethic of the transfer group since their arrival as they meshed with the established players on the roster.
“When I talk to these transfers, I tell them, ‘Most of you don’t have time, you don’t have the four years to peak around the corner and figure out what you’re gonna do. The first day, you have to kick the door down and announce your presence, but in a respectful way,’” Gajewski said. “These kids, for probably the first time, really have done that and fit in well right from the first day.”
