Maryland Softball 2017 Preview: Outfield
2/7/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Just like the infield, a mix of old and new will be the case for the Maryland outfield in 2017 as six Terrapins fight for three spots. Three freshman and three returning starters will be in contention for playing time, but no matter who takes the field, the group will be a position of strength for Maryland in 2017.
“It's interesting,” said head coach Julie Wright. “We have a very talented outfield. We have three freshmen that can play it and three returners that have been starters.”
Out of the five in the freshman class, three will see time in the outfield, including Maryland native Kassidy Cross, who started a majority of the fall season in center field.
“Kassidy Cross is a Maryland product who's done a nice job in center field for us and has done a nice job at the plate as well,” said Wright.
Cross comes from nearby Northern, Md. where she contributed to three 3A Maryland State Championships. Northern is the same school that former Terrapins Kaitlyn and Lindsey Schmeiser came from. Joining Cross is fellow freshman Amanda Brashear.
“Then we have Amanda Brashear, who's also a freshman from California,” said Wright. “She has a great arm, a great sense of the game too. She was raised by a coach. Amanda does a nice job out there.”
Brashear also comes from a line of winning, posting four top-five national finishes and a 2011 national championship with her club team, the Firecrackers.
Rounding out the freshman in the outfield is Brigette Nordberg, who hails from nearby Pennsylvania.
“Brigette has a powerful arm and she can get out and run,” said Wright.” She's doing a nice job as well.”
The three freshmen have been able to learn and take pointers from the three upperclassmen in the outfield, who have combined for 152 starts in the Maryland red and black.
Destiney Henderson started all 52 games in the outfield last season, a majority of them in left field. Voted the captain of the outfield by her teammates before this season, the Fontana, Calif. native knows what it takes to get it done on the grass.
Henderson ranked third on the team in runs scored (23) and led the team in three-hit games (4) a year ago. Nothing got by her in the outfield either, adding 57 putouts.
“Destiney anchored left field for us most of last year,” said Wright. “She does a really nice job and is feisty at the plate.”
The lone All-Big Ten selection from a year ago, Sarah Calta is recovered and eager to return after an ACL-injury halted her career 2016 season. The Maryland product lit it up in conference season, batting .408 from the plate and added four triples.
“Sarah Calta was one of our leading hitters,” said Wright. “She played right field for us most of last year before she got hurt at Michigan. Sarah is pretty much back and she's worked her tail off to rehab that ACL. She's done a really nice job in preseason.”
A familiar face to Terrapin fans, Hannah Dewey will also see time in the outfield, as well as in the pitching circle. Dewey is also a force at the plate, posting a .311 combined batting average through her three years in College Park.
“Hannah plays a mean outfield and can really swing it at the plate,” said Wright. “She's a huge asset for us.”
Wright and staff will not be short of options in the outfield in 2017, as the position is primed to provide excitement both in the grass and at the plate.
-Terps-
