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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Softball Position Preview: Outfielders
2/11/2021 | Softball
<i class="icon-paper"></I> Pitchers & Catchers Preview<i class="icon-paper"></I> Corner Infielders Preview<i class="icon-paper"></I> Middle Infielders Preview
Rebels Bring Plenty of Depth to Outfield in 2021
OXFORD, Miss. – With less than 24 hours until the first pitch of the 2021 season, OleMissSports.com wraps up its four-part series by taking a look at the Rebels deep outfield position group.
The Rebels return a trio of starters with veteran experience in Tate Whitley, Abbey Latham and Jessica Puk. The three outfielders have a combined 267 career starts under their belt. Junior Virginia Tech transfer Maddi Banks will also look to contribute in the outfield.
The depth continues at outfield with senior Kelsha Loftin, junior Katelin Cooper and sophomores Nyomi Jones and Raegan Cheyne, all of whom can impact the game with their speed.
Whitley played in 19 games, starting 18, in center field during the shortened 2020 season. The junior registered a .302 batting average and a .403 on-base percentage a year ago, while scoring six runs and adding a pair of RBIs. The Angleton, Texas, native has been a staple in the outfield with 70 career starts.
Latham started 24 games between designated player and the outfield last season. After setting the Ole Miss single-season RBI record, driving in 54 runs in 2019, the power hitter was tied for the team lead with five dingers and ranked second with 15 RBIs before the season was cut short. The Alabama native was also batting .243 and slugging .486 in 2020. Back for a fourth season, Latham should be a key contributor for the Rebels.
With experience all around the diamond, Puk has established herself as a Swiss army knife for the Rebels. Seeing action at catcher and in the infield, Puk spent the bulk of her time in left and right field, ultimately starting all 25 games in 2020. The senior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, batted .324 a year ago with seven extra-base hits and a team-best 16 RBIs.
Banks transferred to Ole Miss during the fall from Virginia Tech. In her time with the Hokies, she started 75 total games throughout the infield and outfield. The Iowa native hit .340 and slugged .581 in 2020 with three doubles, a triple and a pair of home runs. Banks also ranked third among all Hokies with 19 runs scored, adding in nine RBIs. Heading into the 2021 season, she was tabbed Preseason SEC Newcomer of the Year by D1 Softball.
Loftin appeared in all 25 games in the shortened 2020 season, primarily as a pinch-runner. She scored 10 runs, the fourth-most on the team. A threat on the base path, Loftin was a perfect 11-for-11 on steal attempts, tying for the team lead a year ago.
Jones made 17 starts in the outfield last season and appeared in all 25 games. The California product batted .216 and scored eight runs in her freshman season. Jones is another speedster for the Rebels, successfully stealing on 11-of-12 attempts in 2020.
Cooper saw action in 17 games a year ago with three starts in the outfield. Appearing as a pinch hitter and runner, she posted a .167 batting average and scored eight runs, while swiping five bags.
Cheyne played in 21 games, last season and made three starts in the outfield. In her shortened freshman season, she scored three runs and batted another in.
With all the talent ahead of them, newcomers Macey Keester and Ashlee LaRue will be in good hands. The freshmen are prepared to compete and contribute when their name is called.
Keester comes to Ole Miss by way of Cypress High School in Cypress, California. As a senior at CHS, she competed in 12 games before the season was canceled, hitting safely in all 12 games and posting a .346 batting average. Keester helped lead the Centurions to the USSSA National Championship and CIF Southern Section Division 2 Championship in 2017. The freshman outfielder is prepared to help the Rebels in any way she can in 2021.
LaRue rounds out the deep outfield position group for the Rebels. A four-time letterwinner at Blanco High School in Blanco, Texas, LaRue was tabbed district MVP after leading the Panthers to district and area titles in 2018 and 2019. She competed in 20 games before her senior season was canceled, batting .411. LaRue also played travel ball with the Texas Bombers, finishing as the PGF National Championship runner up in 2019 and third place in 2018.
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. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
The Rebels return a trio of starters with veteran experience in Tate Whitley, Abbey Latham and Jessica Puk. The three outfielders have a combined 267 career starts under their belt. Junior Virginia Tech transfer Maddi Banks will also look to contribute in the outfield.
The depth continues at outfield with senior Kelsha Loftin, junior Katelin Cooper and sophomores Nyomi Jones and Raegan Cheyne, all of whom can impact the game with their speed.
Whitley played in 19 games, starting 18, in center field during the shortened 2020 season. The junior registered a .302 batting average and a .403 on-base percentage a year ago, while scoring six runs and adding a pair of RBIs. The Angleton, Texas, native has been a staple in the outfield with 70 career starts.
Latham started 24 games between designated player and the outfield last season. After setting the Ole Miss single-season RBI record, driving in 54 runs in 2019, the power hitter was tied for the team lead with five dingers and ranked second with 15 RBIs before the season was cut short. The Alabama native was also batting .243 and slugging .486 in 2020. Back for a fourth season, Latham should be a key contributor for the Rebels.
With experience all around the diamond, Puk has established herself as a Swiss army knife for the Rebels. Seeing action at catcher and in the infield, Puk spent the bulk of her time in left and right field, ultimately starting all 25 games in 2020. The senior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, batted .324 a year ago with seven extra-base hits and a team-best 16 RBIs.
Banks transferred to Ole Miss during the fall from Virginia Tech. In her time with the Hokies, she started 75 total games throughout the infield and outfield. The Iowa native hit .340 and slugged .581 in 2020 with three doubles, a triple and a pair of home runs. Banks also ranked third among all Hokies with 19 runs scored, adding in nine RBIs. Heading into the 2021 season, she was tabbed Preseason SEC Newcomer of the Year by D1 Softball.
Loftin appeared in all 25 games in the shortened 2020 season, primarily as a pinch-runner. She scored 10 runs, the fourth-most on the team. A threat on the base path, Loftin was a perfect 11-for-11 on steal attempts, tying for the team lead a year ago.
Jones made 17 starts in the outfield last season and appeared in all 25 games. The California product batted .216 and scored eight runs in her freshman season. Jones is another speedster for the Rebels, successfully stealing on 11-of-12 attempts in 2020.
Cooper saw action in 17 games a year ago with three starts in the outfield. Appearing as a pinch hitter and runner, she posted a .167 batting average and scored eight runs, while swiping five bags.
Cheyne played in 21 games, last season and made three starts in the outfield. In her shortened freshman season, she scored three runs and batted another in.
With all the talent ahead of them, newcomers Macey Keester and Ashlee LaRue will be in good hands. The freshmen are prepared to compete and contribute when their name is called.
Keester comes to Ole Miss by way of Cypress High School in Cypress, California. As a senior at CHS, she competed in 12 games before the season was canceled, hitting safely in all 12 games and posting a .346 batting average. Keester helped lead the Centurions to the USSSA National Championship and CIF Southern Section Division 2 Championship in 2017. The freshman outfielder is prepared to help the Rebels in any way she can in 2021.
LaRue rounds out the deep outfield position group for the Rebels. A four-time letterwinner at Blanco High School in Blanco, Texas, LaRue was tabbed district MVP after leading the Panthers to district and area titles in 2018 and 2019. She competed in 20 games before her senior season was canceled, batting .411. LaRue also played travel ball with the Texas Bombers, finishing as the PGF National Championship runner up in 2019 and third place in 2018.
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. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
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