The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Softball Preview: Outfielders
2/1/2019 | Softball
An In-Depth Look at the Players that will be Roaming the Outfield for the Rebels in 2019
By Caleb Kelly, Ole Miss Athletics Communications
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As the Rebel softball team nears the start of another exciting season, OleMissSports.com will breakdown each position group. Friday's in-depth look features the outfielders, where five newcomers join three returning players from last season's squad.
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The Rebel outfielders include senior Kylan Becker (Miami, Florida), juniors Kaylee Horton (Jasper, Alabama) and Kelsha Loftin (Mendenhall, Mississippi), sophomores Jessica Puk (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Sydney Gutierrez (Pearland, Texas) as well as freshmen Tate Whitley (Angleton, Texas), Katelin Cooper (Choudrant, Louisiana), and Alyssa Pinto (Lodi, California).
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Becker, a three-year starter and the first player in Ole Miss history to be selected to the United States National Team, is back to lead the outfielders after patrolling center field in 51 starts in 2018. The senior also led production at the plate with a team-high batting average of .329 and an OBP of .407. The speedy Floridian enters her final collegiate season already with accolades under her belt, having earned a spot on the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List and being selected as Preseason All-SEC.
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A versatile player with position flexibility, Horton will be another option for head coach Mike Smith when picking his outfield trio. The lefty made 24 of her 47 starts a season ago in the outfield, spending the majority of that time in right field while also filling in up the middle during a brief injury stint for Becker. In addition to her .276 average at the plate, the junior collected 13 multi-hit games on the year, second most on the team.
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The final returning Rebel with experience in the outfield, Puk did a little bit of everything during her freshman campaign in Oxford. The utility player appeared in 42 games in 2018, cracking the starting lineup eight times. Showing some pop in her bat with a double and a triple among her nine base hits, Smith and the Rebel staff are looking for Puk to add some power to the lineup.
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Ole Miss fans will also see plenty of new faces in the Rebel outfield this season, including three freshmen and a pair of junior college transfers.
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The lone Magnolia State native on the roster, Loftin moved to Oxford from Ellisville, where she spent two seasons with JUCO powerhouse Jones County Junior College, helping the Bobcats to the 2018 National Championship while pulling in NJCAA Division II Player of the Year Honors. The All-American ranked second in the nation with 66 steals and fourth in runs at 75, while batting .403 with 41 RBIs.
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Another JUCO product, Gutierrez joined Ole Miss for her sophomore season after playing as a freshman at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. The Pearland, Texas native earned NJCAA Region XIV South Division Player of the Year honors after leading the region in batting average, home runs and RBIs. Gutierrez led the Buccaneers with 66 hits, helping lead Blinn to a fourth-place NJCAA finish.
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The newest Rebel, Pinto spent this past fall at the University of Oregon before deciding to head East and transfer to Ole Miss, joining the Rebels just a few short weeks ago. The Lodi, California product was ranked as the No. 72 player in the class of 2018 by FloSoftball.com and helped lead two different teams to state championships during her high school career.
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Cooper begins her college career after becoming a five-time all-state performer at Louisiana power Cedar Creek High School in Ruston. The Choudrant, Louisiana native put together an illustrious career at CCHS, setting the all-time school record for career home runs while also capturing single-season records for home runs, runs scored and slugging percentage. During her five seasons, Cooper led the Cougars to three state championships and a runner-up finish.
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Last but far from least is Whitley, a freshman out of Angleton High School in Angleton, Texas. A three-time All-American and all-state honoree, Whitley was selected to the PGF All-American Game during her senior season after batting .663 with 10 doubles and six triples. For her career, Whitley batted .575 during her high school playing days, racking up 27 doubles, 18 triples and five home runs, while helping the Wildcats to a spot in the state finals in 2016.
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For allย Oleย Missย softballย news and information, go toย OleMissSports.comย and follow the Rebels on Twitter atย @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook atย Oleย MissSoftballย and on Instagram atย Instagram.com/olemisssoftball. Fans can also follow head coachย Mike Smithย on Twitter atย @msmithsb16.
ย
ย
As the Rebel softball team nears the start of another exciting season, OleMissSports.com will breakdown each position group. Friday's in-depth look features the outfielders, where five newcomers join three returning players from last season's squad.
ย
The Rebel outfielders include senior Kylan Becker (Miami, Florida), juniors Kaylee Horton (Jasper, Alabama) and Kelsha Loftin (Mendenhall, Mississippi), sophomores Jessica Puk (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Sydney Gutierrez (Pearland, Texas) as well as freshmen Tate Whitley (Angleton, Texas), Katelin Cooper (Choudrant, Louisiana), and Alyssa Pinto (Lodi, California).
ย
Becker, a three-year starter and the first player in Ole Miss history to be selected to the United States National Team, is back to lead the outfielders after patrolling center field in 51 starts in 2018. The senior also led production at the plate with a team-high batting average of .329 and an OBP of .407. The speedy Floridian enters her final collegiate season already with accolades under her belt, having earned a spot on the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List and being selected as Preseason All-SEC.
ย
A versatile player with position flexibility, Horton will be another option for head coach Mike Smith when picking his outfield trio. The lefty made 24 of her 47 starts a season ago in the outfield, spending the majority of that time in right field while also filling in up the middle during a brief injury stint for Becker. In addition to her .276 average at the plate, the junior collected 13 multi-hit games on the year, second most on the team.
ย
The final returning Rebel with experience in the outfield, Puk did a little bit of everything during her freshman campaign in Oxford. The utility player appeared in 42 games in 2018, cracking the starting lineup eight times. Showing some pop in her bat with a double and a triple among her nine base hits, Smith and the Rebel staff are looking for Puk to add some power to the lineup.
ย
Ole Miss fans will also see plenty of new faces in the Rebel outfield this season, including three freshmen and a pair of junior college transfers.
ย
The lone Magnolia State native on the roster, Loftin moved to Oxford from Ellisville, where she spent two seasons with JUCO powerhouse Jones County Junior College, helping the Bobcats to the 2018 National Championship while pulling in NJCAA Division II Player of the Year Honors. The All-American ranked second in the nation with 66 steals and fourth in runs at 75, while batting .403 with 41 RBIs.
ย
Another JUCO product, Gutierrez joined Ole Miss for her sophomore season after playing as a freshman at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. The Pearland, Texas native earned NJCAA Region XIV South Division Player of the Year honors after leading the region in batting average, home runs and RBIs. Gutierrez led the Buccaneers with 66 hits, helping lead Blinn to a fourth-place NJCAA finish.
ย
The newest Rebel, Pinto spent this past fall at the University of Oregon before deciding to head East and transfer to Ole Miss, joining the Rebels just a few short weeks ago. The Lodi, California product was ranked as the No. 72 player in the class of 2018 by FloSoftball.com and helped lead two different teams to state championships during her high school career.
ย
Cooper begins her college career after becoming a five-time all-state performer at Louisiana power Cedar Creek High School in Ruston. The Choudrant, Louisiana native put together an illustrious career at CCHS, setting the all-time school record for career home runs while also capturing single-season records for home runs, runs scored and slugging percentage. During her five seasons, Cooper led the Cougars to three state championships and a runner-up finish.
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Last but far from least is Whitley, a freshman out of Angleton High School in Angleton, Texas. A three-time All-American and all-state honoree, Whitley was selected to the PGF All-American Game during her senior season after batting .663 with 10 doubles and six triples. For her career, Whitley batted .575 during her high school playing days, racking up 27 doubles, 18 triples and five home runs, while helping the Wildcats to a spot in the state finals in 2016.
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For allย Oleย Missย softballย news and information, go toย OleMissSports.comย and follow the Rebels on Twitter atย @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook atย Oleย MissSoftballย and on Instagram atย Instagram.com/olemisssoftball. Fans can also follow head coachย Mike Smithย on Twitter atย @msmithsb16.
ย
Players Mentioned
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