Softball Position Preview: Pitchers

Jan. 31, 2017

By Jackie Servais, Ole Miss Athletics Communications

As the Rebel softball team continues preseason work on the field, OleMissSports.com will breakdown each position group over the next week. Tuesday's in-depth look features the pitchers, where two returners and three newcomers will look to lead the Rebels in the circle.

The Rebels' pitching staff includes two veteran returners, redshirt junior Alyssa Clayton (Section, Alabama) and junior Elisha Jahnke (Grand Junction, Colorado), a junior transfer Kaitlin Lee (Gulfport, Mississippi), and two underclassmen in sophomore transfer Brittany Finney (Wichita, Kansas) and freshman Morgan Bruce (Roanoke, Virginia).

With a mix of experience and youth among the group, head coach Mike Smith and his staff believe it to be an open competition throughout the year.

"Our pitching roster is very well rounded and they all bring something different to the table, which is a plus as a head coach," Smith said. "We are probably going to be pitching by committee this year, meaning whoever has the hot hand and whoever will match up well against the team that we are facing."

Clayton didn't waste any time adapting to life in the circle in the SEC, as she started eight games in the first three weeks of 2016 and went 4-1 with a 1.60 ERA. She had quickly established herself early on with three shutouts and four complete game efforts, before an injury in late February ended her debut season as a Rebel.

"(Clayton) was probably our number one pitcher before she got injured last season. I think the injury caused her to be humble very quickly having to sit and watch her team throughout the season," Smith said. "As hard as that was, I think it did her well to be able to see that, and it gave her a fire she didn't have before. Moving forward, that's really going to help her this year."

When Clayton went down, the Rebels looked to Jahnke to accompany now departed senior Madi Osias, who won 23 games in the circle. The now junior transfer took it without hesitation starting 19 games in her first campaign as a D-I athlete.

This past season for the Rebels, Jahnke appeared in 33 games with a 10-7 record and tallied a 4.10 ERA. She allowed two earned runs or less in 24 of her outings, including the first seven of the year where she went four appearances without a run.

"(Jahnke) gave quality innings last year and now is one battling for a starting spot this season," Smith said. "Last season she brought a really good changeup to keep batters off balance, and during the off-season she has spent time developing a new pitch, which I believe will help her."

Another addition in 2017 is transfer Kaitlin Lee from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. As a freshman, Lee went 20-4 with three saves and a 1.79 ERA to help her team to finish ninth at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. This past season, she was named the MACJC Pitcher of the Year and earned a place on the 15-player 2016 All-Region 23 team. She appeared in 33 games with a 22-4 record totaling a 0.84 ERA, which ranked second in the country. While this will be Lee's first season with the Rebels, Smith believes that it will be a smooth transition both in the circle and in the dugout.

"Kaitlin has a very good chance to be a potential starter. If not, she is one we will look to bring in when teams get comfortable at the plate," Smith said. "She will frustrate a hitter with her off-speed, and while she may be little in stature, she has a bulldog warrior attitude. She is also a great teammate and will be a joy to be around in the dugout, which is another reason I am really going to love giving her the ball."

In addition to Lee, Finney will join the Rebels for her first year as a sophomore transfer from Oklahoma. The national champion brings something different to the table, her knowledge from the batter's box and experience in winning.

As a freshman for the Sooners, Finney played in 12 games with four starts in the circle. In May, she recorded her first career save by giving up just one unearned run in 3.0 innings at Iowa State. With a 1.12 ERA in nine appearances, Finney helped the Sooners to the Women's College World Series Championship.

"Brittany brings experience to the game and she knows what it takes to win," Smith said. "From a pitching standpoint, she is still a freshman. She is still learning how to pitch at this level and once she understands it, I think she is going to be a huge asset for us. When she is not pitching she will be one we look at for the designated player role."

Freshman Morgan Bruce also brings with her a considerable list of accolades, as she was recognized by Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) as a 2016 Regional High School All-American. Also earning Blue Ridge District Pitcher and Player of the Year honors, Bruce finished her four-year career with a .520 average, including 24 doubles, 29 home runs and 117 RBI. When she wasn't raking from the plate, she was dealing in the circle. Bruce once struck out 17 hitters in a game, becoming the 10th-most ever in the VHSL.

"Bruce has a lot of good experience playing at a high level. When given the ball, she loves to compete and tends to be a perfectionist, which we like," Smith said. "I am looking forward to seeing what she will do here as a freshman. I think she is going to have a great career here at Ole Miss."

Above all, depth is key in the SEC, and on paper, Ole Miss looks to have it headed into the 2017 campaign.

"They all bring something different and that's what you need from the circle. We don't want to be predictable," Smith said. "Each one of them had a good fall and beginning of spring, so I am very eager to see what this group looks like come go time."

For all Ole Miss Softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball and on Instagram at Instagram.com/olemisssoftball. Fans can also follow head coach Mike Smith on Twitter at @msmithsb16. Additionally, fans can get a behind-the-scenes look at Ole Miss Softball on Snapchat under the handle, @OleMissSoftball.

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Players Mentioned

Morgan Bruce

Alyssa Clayton

Brittany Finney

Elisha Jahnke

Kaitlin Lee

Madi Osias

The University of Mississippi Athletics