BU 2023 Softball Preview
Photos provided by Rampage student photographer Jake Mendoza.
After a difficult 2022 season, women’s softball coach Baylee Allen is excited to begin the 2023 season and has set high goals for her team this year.
In fact, Allen — who has years of softball playing experience, but is new to the coaching role in her second year as head coach — hopes to lead the Lady Rams to the Appalachian Athletic Conference post-season tournament in 2023. But, she’ll have to do so with a young squad. The 2023 roster has several new faces as 14 incoming freshmen come looking to fill prominent roles for the team this spring.
“They bring energy to the team, on and off the field,” Allen said about the 14 freshmen. “They will also be new faces for the teams we play in the conference.”
Among those 14 incoming first-year players is Mackenzie Franklin. The stand-out pitcher and utility player is eager to make a huge impact this season for the Lady Rams.
“I am excited to see what type of season we have this year and how far we go,” she said.
Entering college is a difficult task that can be challenging and stressful, not to mention the added challenge of working on a successful softball season. Franklin said the biggest struggle this year will be “balancing out all the different responsibilities that you have in college.”
Nevertheless, Franklin and the other 13 freshmen have a bright and happy atmosphere around them. The high-energy practices and team morale are what bring this young squad together.
“I think that all the incoming freshmen make us excited to see all the new talent and build a bond with them and watch how we grow as a team,” Franklin said.
With such a young roster, there could be speculation of limited leadership, but not for the Lady Rams. Stand out fifth-year senior Christina Sanchez and captain Macy Martin will bring leadership to the team as they look to keep the Lady Rams on track in 2023.
“Christina is more than just a player for me,” Allen said about her senior leader. “She helps me with workout and practice plans and is another set of eyes when we are at practice, helping anyone she needs to.”
Martin returns for her fourth year at BU. Her incredible work ethic and dedication to the softball program have not gone unnoticed. She said the most important thing the team will need to do this season to ensure success it to bond.
“To build such a bond that we are more like a family,” she said, “and by doing that, we will become more willing to push each other and keep each other accountable. “(We need to) be able to play for each other and pick one another up.”
Martin said she hopes the team will finish in the top five of the conference. Bonding first, she added, will help the team achieve that goal. The Lady Rams began the season on February 5 with two wins against Virginia Union University and will continue play on February 23.
“I am excited to show some teams and people what we got this year,” Allen added. “I believe we will have one of the best years Bluefield softball has ever had.”