2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball team explained
| Mode: | softball |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Team: | Central Arkansas Sugar Bears |
| Conference: | Southland Conference |
| Short Conf: | Southland |
| Record: | 37–19 |
| Conf Record: | 21–6 |
| Head Coach: | David Kuhn |
| Hc Year: | 13th |
| Asst Coach1: | Jenny Parsons |
| Asst Coach2: | Chris Watford |
| Stadium: | Farris Field |
The 2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball team represented University of Central Arkansas during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Sugar Bears played their home games at Farris Field and were led by thirteenth year head coach David Kuhn. They were members of the Southland Conference.
Preseason
Southland Conference Coaches Poll
The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. Central Arkansas was picked to finish fifth in the Southland Conference with 162 votes and one first place vote.[1]
| Coaches poll |
| 1 | Stephen F. Austin | 235 (17) |
| 2 | McNeese State | 217 (4) |
| 3 | Southeastern Louisiana | 183 |
| 4 | Sam Houston State | 172 (1) |
| 5 | Central Arkansas | 162 (1) |
| 6 | Northwestern State | 156 (1) |
| 7 | Nicholls | 131 |
| 8 | Lamar | 86 |
| 9 | Abilene Christian | 82 |
| 10 | Houston Baptist | 81 |
| 11 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | 47 |
| 12 | Incarnate Word | 32 |
|
Preseason All-Southland team
[2]
First Team
- Kaylyn Shephard (UCA, R-SR, 1st Base)
- Cayla Joens (NSU, JR, 2nd Base)
- Cylla Hall (UCA, R-SR, 3rd Base)
- Cori McCrary (MCNS, SR, Shortstop)
- Ella Manzer (SELA, SR, Catcher)
- Samantha Bradley (ACU, R-SR, Designated Player)
- Linsey Tomlinson (ACU, R-SR, Outfielder)
- Kaylee Lopez (MCNS, SO, Outfielder)
- Elise Vincent (NSU, SR, Outfielder)
- Madisen Blackford (SELA, SR, Outfielder)
- Megan McDonald (SHSU, SR, Outfielder)
- Kayla Beaver (UCA, R-FR, Pitcher)
- Kassidy Wilbur (SFA, JR, Pitcher)
- E. C. Delafield (NSU, JR, Utility)
Second Team
- Shaylon Govan (SFA, SO, 1st Base)
- Brooke Malia (SHSU, SR, 2nd Base)
- Bryana Novegil (SFA, SR, 2nd Base)
- Caitlin Garcia (NICH, JR, 3rd Base)
- Alex Hudspeth (SFA, JR, Shortstop)
- Alexis Perry (NSU, SO, Catcher)
- Bailey Richards (SFA, SR, Catcher)
- Caitlyn Brockway (HBU, SO, Designated Player)
- Reagan Sperling (UCA, R-JR, Outfielder)
- Alayis Seneca (MCNS, SO, Outfielder)
- Hayley Barbazon (NSU, SR, Outfielder)
- Saleen Flores (MCNS, SO, Pitcher)
- MC Comeaux (SELA, FR, Pitcher)
- Sammi Thomas (TAMUCC, SO, Utility)
National Softball Signing Day
[3]
Roster
Coaching staff
Schedule and results
| Legend |
|---|
| | Central Arkansas win |
| | Central Arkansas loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation |
| Bold | Central Arkansas team member | |
| 2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball game log |
|---|
| Regular season (34-17) |
|---|
| February (6-7) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| Tiger Classic |
|---|
| Feb. 12 | | | | L 2-6 | Butler (1-0) | Johnson (0-1) | Walters (1) | | 76 | 0-1 | | | Feb. 13 | vs. No. 25 Duke | | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 5-7 | Davidson (1-0) | Sanchez (0-1) | Butler (1) | | 72 | 0-2 | | | Feb. 13 | | | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 2-4 | Goff (1-0) | Beaver (0-1) | None | | 86 | 0-3 | | |
|---|
| Texas A&M Invitational |
|---|
| Feb. 20 | | | | W 6-1 | Beaver (1-1) | Zoch (1-1) | None | | 306 | 1-3 | | | Feb. 20 | | | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | L 0-9 (5 inns) | Herzog (1-0) | Johnson (0-2) | None | | 306 | 1-4 | | | Feb. 21 | | | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | W 4-0 | Sanchez (1-1) | Cabral (0-1) | None | | 95 | 2-4 | | | Feb. 21 | vs. Texas Tech | | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | W 5-0 | Johnson (1-5) | Zoch (1-2) | None | | 100 | 3-4 | | | Feb. 22 | at Texas A&M | | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | L 0-22 | Poynter (1-0) | Beaver (1-2) | Broadus (1) | | 159 | 3-5 | | |
|---|
| Feb. 23 | | | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 0-3 | Wickersham (2-1) | Sanchez (1-2) | None | | 156 | 3-6 | | | Feb. 23 | at No. 11 LSU | | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 0-2 | Kilponen (1-1) | Johnson (1-3) | None | | 327 | 3-7 | | | Michelle Short Memorial Classic |
|---|
| Feb. 25 | | | | W 9-1 | Sanchez (2-2) | Hampton (0-3) | None | | 84 | 4-7 | | | Feb. 25 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 5-0 | Beaver (2-2) | Hunsaker (2-1) | None | | 88 | 5-7 | | | Feb. 27 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 9-1 | Sanchez (3-2) | Carlin (1-2) | None | | 102 | 6-7 | | | |
|---|
|
| March (13-3) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| Mar. 3 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 8-0 (5 inns) | Beaver (3-2) | Franks (0-2) | None | | 113 | 7-7 | | | Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic |
|---|
| Mar. 5 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 10-0 (5 inns) | Johnson (2-3) | Page (0-3) | None | | 92 | 8-7 | | | Mar. 5 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 10-1 (5 inns) | Beaver (4-2) | Hubbard (0-2) | None | | 104 | 9-7 | | | Mar. 6 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 8-0 (5 inns) | Sanchez (4-2) | Smith (0-2) | None | | 109 | 10-7 | | | Mar. 6 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 11-0 (5 inns) | Johnson (3-3) | Galloway (1-3) | None | | 187 | 11-7 | | |
|---|
| Mar. 8 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 3-1 | Beaver (5-2) | Platt (2-5) | None | | 86 | 12-7 | | | Mar. 9 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | L 1-4 | Haff (10-1) | Johnson (3-4) | None | | 755 | 12-8 | | | Mar. 12 | | | | L 0-1 | Tate (2-5) | Beaver (5-3) | None | | 257 | 12-9 | 0-1 | | Mar. 13 | at McNeese State | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 5-4 | Beaver (6-3) | Vallejo (1-4) | None | | 207 | 13-9 | 1-1 | | Mar. 13 | at McNeese State | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 3-5 | Tate (3-5) | Sanchez (4-3) | None | | 207 | 13-10 | 1-2 | | Mar. 19 | | | | W 7-0 | Beaver (7-3) | Bradley (3-8) | None | | 250 | 14-10 | 2-2 | | Mar. 19 | at Abilene Christian | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | W 8-0 (6 inns) | Johnson (4-4) | White (3-7) | None | | 250 | 15-10 | 3-2 | | Mar. 20 | at Abilene Christian | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | W 15-2 (5 inns) | Beaver (8-3) | Bradley (3-9) | None | | 250 | 16-10 | 4-2 | | Mar. 26 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 11-1 (5 inns) | Beaver (9-3) | Dunn (4-4) | None | | 218 | 17-10 | 5-2 | | Mar. 26 | Sam Houston State | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 1-0 | Johnson (5-4) | Vento (3-3) | None | | 250 | 18-10 | 6-2 | | Mar. 27 | Sam Houston State | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 5-1 | Johnson (6-4) | Vento (3-4) | None | | 202 | 19-10 | 7-2 | | Mar. 30 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | Game postponed to April 27 | |
|
| April (11–7) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| Apr. 2 | | | | W 3-1 | Johnson (7-4) | Howell (5-4) | None | | 250 | 20-10 | 8-2 | | Apr. 2 | at Northwestern State | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 4-0 | Beaver (10-3) | Delafield (5-2) | None | | 250 | 21-10 | 9-2 | | Apr. 3 | at Northwestern State | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 4-3 | Beaver (11-3) | Rhoden (4-3) | Johnson (1) | | 203 | 22-10 | 10-2 | | Apr. 6 | | | | L 1-4 | Borgen (8-4) | Beaver (11-4) | Diederich (1) | | 201 | 22-11 | | | Apr. 7 | | | | L 3-4 | Willis (11-4) | Beaver (11-5) | None | | 66 | 22-12 | | | Apr. 9 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 14-2 | Johnson (8-4) | Danehower (3-5) | None | | 125 | 23-12 | 11-2 | | Apr. 9 | Nicholls | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 2-0 | Beaver (12-5) | Moon (1-5) | None | | 152 | 24-12 | 12-2 | | Apr. 10 | Nicholls | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 7-1 | Beaver (13-5) | Westbrook (2-6) | Johnson (2) | | 132 | 25-12 | 13-2 | | Apr. 17 | | | | W 5-2 | Johnson (9-4) | Patak (5-8) | None | | 50 | 26-12 | 14-2 | | Apr. 17 | at Houston Baptist | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 0-1 | Swanson (6-0) | Beaver (13-6) | None | | 50 | 26-13 | 14-3 | | Apr. 18 | at Houston Baptist | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 1-2 | Patak (5-8) | Johnson (9-4) | None | | | 26-14 | 14-4 | | Apr. 21 | at No. 8 Arkansas | | | L 6-7 (8 inns) | Haff (20-3) | Johnson (9-6) | None | | 873 | 26-15 | | | Apr. 24 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | L 0-3 | Wilbur (24-3) | Johnson (9-7) | None | | 119 | 26-16 | 14-5 | | Apr. 24 | Stephen F. Austin | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 7-2 | Beaver (14-6) | Chism (3-1) | None | | 206 | 27-16 | 15-5 | | Apr. 25 | Stephen F. Austin | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | L 0-6 | Wilbur (25-3) | Sanchez (4-4) | None | | 136 | 27-17 | 15-6 | | Apr. 27 | Memphis | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 4-3 (9 inns) | Beaver (15-6) | Ellett (2-9) | None | | 107 | 28-17 | | | Apr. 30 | | | | W 6-0 | Johnson (10-7) | Zumo (15-4) | None | | 224 | 29-17 | 16-6 | | Apr. 30 | at Southeastern Louisiana | | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 5-0 | Beaver (16-6) | Hannabas (2-5) | None | | 224 | 30-17 | 17-6 | |
|
| May (4-0) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| May 1 | at Southeastern Louisiana | | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 7-6 (10 inns) | Beaver (17-6) | Zumo (15-5) | None | | 245 | 31-17 | 18-6 | | May 7 | | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 7-0 | Johnson (11-7) | Ruiz (3-9) | None | | 219 | 32-17 | 19-6 | | May 8 | Lamar | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 12-1 (5 inns) | Beaver (18-6) | Mixon (3-16) | None | | 218 | 33-17 | 20-6 | | May 8 | Lamar | | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 11-2 (6 inns) | Engelkes (1-0) | Ruiz (3-10) | None | | 218 | 34-17 | 21-6 | |
|
| Post-Season (3-2) |
|---|
| (0-0) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
|---|
| May 13 | vs. (3) McNeese State | (2) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | L 5-6 | Tate (12-7) | Johnson (11-8) | Flores (3) | | 335 | 34-18 | | | May 14 | vs. (5) Southeastern Louisiana | (2) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 2-1 | Beaver (19-6) | Zumo (16-7) | None | | 275 | 35-18 | | | May 14 | vs. (4) Northwestern State | (2) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 5-2 | Beaver (20-6) | Delafield (12-5) | None | | 339 | 36-18 | | | May 15 | vs. (1) Stephen F. Austin | (2) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 5-4 | Beaver (21-6) | Wilbur (30-6) | None | | 307 | 37-18 | | | May 15 | vs. (3) McNeese State | (2) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | L 0-1 | Edwards (9-2) | Johnson (11-9) | Tate (3) | | 345 | 37-19 | | |
| |
Schedule Source:[4] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.
Postseason
Conference accolades
- Player of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA
- Hitter of the Year: Shaylon Govan – SFA
- Pitcher of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA
- Freshman of the Year: Jenna Wildeman – UCA
- Newcomer of the Year: Jenna Edwards – MCNS
- Coach of the Year: Nicole Dickson – SFA
All Conference First Team
- Shaylon Govan (SFA)
- Bryana Novegil (SFA)
- Haylee Brinlee (MCNS)
- Cori McCrary (MCNS)
- Heidi Jaquez (HBU)
- E. C. Delafield (NSU)
- Mackenzie Bennett (SFA)
- Jenna Wildeman (UCA)
- Megan McDonald (SHSU)
- Aeriyl Mass (SELA)
- Kayla Beaver (UCA)
- Kassidy Wilbur (SFA)
All Conference Second Team
- Kaylyn Shephard (UCA)
- Mary Kate Brown (UCA)
- Lindsey Rizzo (SELA)
- Camryn Middlebrook (SFA)
- Hannah Scheaffer (SHSU)
- Gaby Garcia (SFA)
- Kaylee Lopez (MCNS)
- Donelle Johnson (ACU)
- Jil Poullard (MCNS)
- Audrey Greely (SELA)
- Jordan Johnson (UCA)
- Whitney Tate (MCNS)
All Conference Third Team
- Caitlyn Brockway (HBU)
- Cayla Jones (NSU)
- Alex Hedspeth (SFA)
- Ashlyn Reavis (NICH)
- Chloe Gomez (MCNS)
- Jasie Roberts (HBU)
- Anna Rodenberg (SELA)
- Kaitlyn St. Clair (NSU)
- Sheridan Fisher (SHSU)
- Pal Egan (TAMUCC)
- Lyndie Swanson (HBU)
- Heather Zumo (SELA)
References:[5]
Notes and References
- Web site: Ladyjacks Tabbed 2021 Softball Preseason Favorites . www.southland.org . 20 March 2021 . en.
- Web site: 2021 Southland Preseason All-Conference Softball Teams Announced . www.southland.org . 20 March 2021 . en.
- Web site: Bears Sign Seven to 2021 Recruiting Class . University of Central Arkansas Athletics . 23 March 2021 . en.
- Web site: 2021 Softball Schedule . University of Central Arkansas Athletics . 23 March 2021 . en.
- Web site: SFA’s Kassidy Wilbur Named Southland Player of the Year . www.southland.org . 6 January 2022 . en.
