The RoundHouse | 4/22/2021 9:56:00 AM
Jeff Langley started going to watch Wichita State softball teams in 1989, a time when he and friends helped rake the field and keep score for coach Jim Maynard.
Now Langley is one of the loyal Shocker softball fans rewarded for years at Wilkins Stadium. They enjoyed the high points of Maynard, Walton and Bredbenner and NCAA berths in 1989, 2005, 2016 and 2018. They endured the lows. Cold, wind and anonymity as a softball fan did not dim their enthusiasm.
This spring, they are enjoying a landmark 2021 season with a strong NCAA regional resume and pondering this team's growing credentials as the best in Shocker history. They are welcoming fans who might want to check out the season's hottest team at Wilkins Stadium.
"Seeing those kids in the rankings and their passion for the game is really cool," Langley said. "I enjoyed the time (2018) we were winning and went to Arkansas. This is now one step higher. We are one step higher in the ecosystem of softball."
No. 23 Wichita State is on a high, one that seems to equal or surpass that 2018 NCAA regional at Arkansas when it advanced to the championship against the host Razorbacks. The Shockers (32-6-1) are ranked in the four major softball polls for the first time, including their first appearance in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll at No. 25 last week and now at No. 23.
"They're pretty salty," said Janice Bowers, a season-ticket holder for the past three years and a former pitcher at Emporia State. "They've got good teamwork and they love to play. I can relate to that."
Wichita State leads the American Athletic Conference at 14-1-1 and plays host to second-place USF (21-11, 9-2) for a four-game series beginning at 1 p.m. Friday.
Alan Myrtle and Jay Gerdes are regulars in the aluminum bleachers down the first-base line. In past seasons, they sometimes traveled with the Shockers. Myrtle's enthusiasm starts with the deep lineup of power hitters and enough speed to steal bases and put pressure on the defense.
"We got it," Myrtle said. "It's a complete team. You cannot walk anybody and get to an easy batter. I don't care who you walk – the next one can hit a home run."
The Shockers lead the American with a .318 batting average and a .603 slugging percentage. Their 73 home runs rank fourth nationally and surpassed the 2018 team (58) for most in a Shocker season.
Freshman right fielder
Addison Barnard holds the school season record with 18 home runs. Catcher
Madison Perrigan holds the career record with 50 home runs and shortstop
Sydney McKinney leads the conference with a .442 batting average.
"They've got so many good hitters," Gerdes said.
Langley also sees a depth that wasn't there in past Shocker teams, even the strongest ones.
"For a whole team – yes," he said. "And then they have several freshmen sitting on the bench. The future looks good."
The Shockers lead the conference with a 2.12 earned run average with
Caitlin Bingham (1.55 ERA and an 8-1 record) and
Bailey Lange (1.82, 16-2) ranked in the top four of American pitchers. The defense, led by McKinney, second baseman
Kaylee Huecker and center fielder
Bailee Nickerson, churns out highlight plays.
Earlier in April, Howard and Becky Hackney came to their first Shocker softball game this season. They watched on ESPN+ early in the season and decided to come to Wilkins Stadium for the first time in several seasons.
"They're thrilling to watch," Becky Hackney said. "The girls are top-notch players. The coaching is phenomenal. There's nothing like the crack of the bat, and you can keep hearing it."
Langley, who works as a production scheduler at Textron, hangs Shocker poster schedules in his cubicle. His softball poster attracts more attention this spring.
"I always have a poster up and talk about them," he said. "It's a lot more fun now. What I've noticed is that I have more people ask – 'How are they doing?' 'What did they do this weekend?''
The Shockers, after this weekend, have home games against No. 11 Oklahoma State (April 27) and No. 1 Oklahoma (May 4) before the conference tournament at Tulsa.
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
