2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers softball team

2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers softball
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
Record	27–19 (8–12 SBC)
Head coach	Shelly Hoerner (4th season)
Assistant coaches	Shane Showalter Amanda Fefel
Home stadium	Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium
Seasons ←  2020 2022  →

2021 Sun Belt Conference softball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 15 Louisiana  ‍†‍‡‍y	21	–	3		.875			47	–	12		.797
Texas State  ‍‍‍y	17	–	6		.739			39	–	14		.736
Troy  ‍‍‍y	17	–	6		.739			37	–	17		.685
South Alabama  ‍‍‍y	13	–	9		.591			31	–	21		.596
Appalachian State  ‍‍‍	8	–	12		.400			27	–	19		.587
Georgia Southern  ‍‍‍	9	–	14		.391			17	–	26		.395
UT Arlington  ‍‍‍	9	–	14		.391			17	–	34		.333
Coastal Carolina  ‍‍‍	9	–	15		.375			21	–	24		.467
Louisiana–Monroe  ‍‍‍	6	–	15		.286			17	–	32		.347
Georgia State  ‍‍‍	3	–	18		.143			16	–	30		.348
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of May 23, 2021 [1] Rankings from NFCA

The 2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers softball team represented Appalachian State University during the 2020 NCAA Division I softball season. The Mountaineers played their home games at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium. The Mountaineers were led by fourth-year head coach Shelly Hoerner and were members of the Sun Belt Conference.

Preseason

Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll

The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2021. Appalachian State was picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt Conference with 43 votes. ^[2]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Louisiana	100 (10)
2	Troy	87
3	Texas State	72
4	Coastal Carolina	68
4	UT Arlington	68
6	Appalachian State	43
7	Georgia Southern	38
8	South Alabama	36
9	Louisiana-Monroe	22
10	Georgia State	16

National Softball Signing Day

^[3]

Player	Position	Hometown	Previous Team
Kathleen Barton	Catcher	Helotes, Texas	Sandra Day O'Connor HS
Kam Caldwell	Shortstop	Bogart, Georgia	Prince Avenue Christian
Katelynn Crowe	Utility	Denver, North Carolina	East Lincoln HS
Kylie LaRousa	Catcher	Harrisburg, North Carolina	Hickory Ridge HS
Kenzi Lyall	Pitcher	Sparta, North Carolina	Alleghany HS
Sejal Neas	Pitcher	Johnson City, Tennessee	Science Hill HS
Kennedy Upshire	Infielder	Rancho Murieta, California	Sheldon HS
Hailey Webb	Infielder/Utility	Antioch, Illinois	Antioch Community HS
Addie Wray	Shortstop	Claremont, North Carolina	Bunker Hill HS

Roster

2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers roster
	Pitchers 1 Kenzie Longanecker - Senior 2 Taylor Nichols - Junior 7 Camryn Brazile - Sophomore 9 Amala Clawson - Freshman 11 Delani Buckner - Freshman 13 Sydney Holland - Senior 24 Lindsey Manhart - Freshman Outfielders 4 Emily Parrott - Sophomore 6 Shelby Cornett - Freshman 10 Gabby Buruato - Senior 12 Kayt Houston - Freshman 15 Claire Carson - Freshman 16 Mary Pierce Barnes - Junior 20 Abby Cunningham - Freshman 22 Kati Waalk - Redshirt Sophomore		Catchers 18 Taylor Thorp - Redshirt Sophomore 27 Baylee Morton - Senior 41 Camryn Jones - Sophomore Infielders 3 Keri White - Senior 5 Caylie Kifer - Senior 8 Shelbi Tucker - Freshman 21 Maegan Calandra - Sophomore 23 Emma Jones - Freshman 29 Sidney Russell - Senior Utility 14 Addison Jones - Sophomore 19 Allie Sewell - Freshman 31 Sidney Martin - Freshman

Coaching staff

2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers coaching staff
Shelly Hoerner – Head Coach – 4th year Shane Showalter – Assistant Head Coach – 4th year Amanda Fefel – Assistant Head Coach – 2nd year Shanna Smith – Volunteer Assistant Coach – 1st year

Schedule and results

Legend
	Appalachian State win
	Appalachian State loss
	Postponement/Cancellation/Suspensions
Bold	Appalachian State team member

2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers softball game log
Regular season (26-17)
February (6-4) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Feb. 12 at Charlotte Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium • Charlotte, NC L 3-4 (8 inn) Walljasper (1-0) Holland (0-1) None 0-1 Feb. 16 at Charlotte Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium • Charlotte, NC W 12-7 Holland (1-1) Mitchell (0-1) None 1-1 Feb. 16 at Charlotte Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium • Charlotte, NC L 3-5 Walljasper (2-0) Buckner (0-1) None 1-2 Feb. 20 at UNC Greensboro UNCG Softball Stadium • Greensboro, NC W 9-5 Longanecker (1-0) Stiltner (0-2) None 2-2 Feb. 21 at UNC Greensboro UNCG Softball Stadium • Greensboro, NC W 7-5 Holland (2-1) Scott (0-2) None 3-2 Feb. 21 at UNC Greensboro UNCG Softball Stadium • Greensboro, NC L 5-9 Varga (1-0) Brazile (0-1) None 3-3 Feb. 27 at UNC Wilmington Boseman Field • Wilmington, NC W 3-2 Longanecker (2-0) Pate (0-2) None 115 4-3 Feb. 27 at UNC Wilmington Boseman Field • Wilmington, NC W 5-4 Nicholas (1-0) Gamache (0-1) None 115 5-3 Feb. 28 at UNC Wilmington Boseman Field • Wilmington, NC L 2-5 Bjorson (1-0) Buckner (0-1) None 32 5-4 Feb. 28 at UNC Wilmington Boseman Field • Wilmington, NC W 7-1 Longanecker Pearce (0-1) None 125 6-4
March (8-6) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Mar. 5 at North Carolina A&T Lady Aggie Softball Complex • Greensboro, NC W 15-1 (5 inns) Longanecker (4-0) Kirby (0-4) None 12 7-4 Mar. 5 at North Carolina A&T Lady Aggie Softball Complex • Greensboro, NC W 8-4 Holland (3-1) Richards (0-3) None 17 8-4 Mar. 7 at North Carolina Central Thomas Brooks Park • Cary, NC W 8-0 (6 inns) Longanecker (5-0) Hurley (0-8) None 75 9-4 Mar. 7 at North Carolina Central Thomas Brooks Park • Cary, NC W 17-0 (5 inns) Buckner (1-2) Barr (0-3) None 10-4 Mar. 9 at East Tennessee State Betty Basler Field • Johnson City, TN L 0-2 Schmidt (3-1) Holland (3-2) None 160 10-5 Mar. 9 at East Tennessee State Betty Basler Field • Johnson City, TN W 7-1 Longanecker (6-0) Boling (1-2) None 175 11-5 Mar. 13 at South Alabama Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL L 0-1 Lackie (8-3) Longanecker (6-1) None ESPN+ 200 11-6 0-1 Mar. 13 at South Alabama Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL L 4-7 Hughen (3-3) Holland (3-3) None ESPN+ 200 11-7 0-2 Mar. 14 at South Alabama Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL L 0-4 Lackie (9-3) Longanecker (6-2) None ESPN+ 200 11-8 0-3 Mar. 21 Texas State Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC L 3-4 King (4-1) Longanecker (6-3) McCann (1) 50 11-9 0-4 Mar. 21 Texas State Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC L 3-8 Barrera (1-0) Holland (3-4) Mullins (2) 50 11-10 0-5 Mar. 23 at Western Carolina Catamount Softball Complex • Cullowhee, NC W 5-1 Longanecker (7-3) Eilers (3-8) None ESPN+ 36 12-10 Mar. 23 at Western Carolina Catamount Softball Complex • Cullowhee, NC W 4-3 (10 inns) Buckner (2-2) Rice (2-7) None ESPN+ 36 13-10 Mar. 26 Georgia State Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 6-5 (8 inns) Longanecker (8-3) Doolittle (0-1) None ESPN+ 50 14-10 1-5 Mar. 28 Georgia State Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone Mar. 28 Georgia State Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone
April (10–3) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Apr. 3 Radford Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 5-2 Longanecker (9-3) Marvin (4-10) None ESPN+ 50 15-10 Apr. 3 Radford Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 3-1 Holland (4-4) Dehart (3-2) None ESPN+ 50 16-10 Apr. 7 UNC Greensboro Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 4-3 Longanecker (10-3) Scott (8-5) None ESPN+ 50 17-10 Apr. 10 Louisiana–Monroe Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 8-2 (6 inns) Longanecker (11-3) Williams (2-5) None ESPN+ 50 18-10 2-5 Apr. 10 Louisiana–Monroe Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 1-0 Holland (5-4) Hulett (4-3) None ESPN+ 50 19-10 3-5 Apr. 11 Louisiana–Monroe Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 1-0 (8 inns) Buckner (3-2) Hulett (4-4) None ESPN+ 50 20-10 4-5 Apr. 16 at Georgia Southern Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA L 3-11 (6 inns) Garcia (3-4) Longanecker (11-4) Richardson (1) ESPN+ 135 20-11 4-6 Apr. 16 at Georgia Southern Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 6-3 Holland (6-4) Waldrep (3-5) Buckner (1) ESPN+ 135 21-11 5-6 Apr. 17 at Georgia Southern Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 5-2 Holland (7-4) Feil (0-6) None ESPN+ 150 22-11 6-6 Apr. 21 East Tennessee State Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 4-3 Buckner (4-2) Schmidt (7-8) None 50 23-11 Apr. 21 East Tennessee State Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 8-0 (6 inns) Longanecker (12-4) Boling (2-3) None 50 24-11 Apr. 24 Troy Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC Game cancelled Apr. 24 Troy Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC L 2-3 Johnson (18-5) Longanecker (12-5) None ESPN+ 50 24-12 6-7 Apr. 25 Troy Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC L 6-8 Baker (6-3) Buckner (4-3) Johnson (2) ESPN+ 50 24-13 6-8
May (2-4) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record May 1 at UT Arlington Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX L 0-2 Valencia (4-6) Longanecker (12-6) Gardiner (4) 156 24-14 6-9 May 1 at UT Arlington Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX L 0-6 Hines (5-11) Holland (7-5) None 156 24-15 6-10 May 2 at UT Arlington Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX W 2-0 Longanecker (13-6) Henriksen (2-5) None 156 25-15 7-10 May 6 Coastal Carolina Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 7-5 Longanecker (14-6) De Jesus (5-8) Buckner (2) ESPN+ 50 26-15 8-10 May 6 Coastal Carolina Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC L 0-8 Beasley-Polko (10-9) Holland (7-6) None ESPN+ 50 26-16 8-11 May 7 Coastal Carolina Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC L 3-12 (6 inns) Brabham (6-6) Buckner (4-4) None ESPN+ 50 26-17 8-12
Post-Season (1-2)
SBC tournament (1-2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record May 12 vs. (4) South Alabama (5) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 0-11 (5 inns) Lackie (17-9) Longanecker (14-7) None ESPN+ 218 26-18 May 13 vs. (10) Georgia State (5) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 2-1 Holland (8-6) Mooney (7-12) None ESPN+ 104 27-18 May 14 vs. (4) South Alabama (5) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 1-2 Hardy (3-2) Longanecker (14-8) Lackie (4) ESPN+ 147 27-19

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: Ciara Bryan – LA
• Pitcher of the Year: Summer Ellyson – LA
• Freshman of the Year: Sara Vanderford – TXST
• Newcomer of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA
• Coach of the Year: Gerry Glasco – LA

All Conference First Team Ciara Bryan (LA) Summer Ellyson (LA) Sara Vanderford (TXST) Leanna Johnson (TROY) Jessica Mullins (TXST) Olivia Lackie (USA) Kj Murphy (UTA) Katie Webb (TROY) Jayden Mount (ULM) Kandra Lamb (LA) Kendall Talley (LA) Meredith Keel (USA) Tara Oltmann (TXST) Jade Sinness (TROY) Katie Lively (TROY)

All Conference Second Team Kelly Horne (TROY) Meagan King (TXST) Mackenzie Brasher (USA) Bailee Wilson (GASO) Makiya Thomas (CCU) Kaitlyn Alderink (LA) Abby Krzywiecki (USA) Kenzie Longanecker (APP) Alissa Dalton (LA) Julie Rawls (LA) Korie Kreps (ULM) Kayla Rosado (CCU) Justice Milz (LA) Gabby Buruato (APP) Arieann Bell (TXST)

References: ^[5]

References

1. "2021 Softball Standings". SunBeltSports.org. Sun Belt Conference. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
2. Conference, Sun Belt. "Sun Belt Conference Announces Preseason Softball Honors". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
3. "Softball Signs Nine to the 2021 Roster". App State Athletics. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
4. "2021 Softball Schedule". App State Athletics. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
5. "Sun Belt Announces 2021 Softball Postseason All-Conference, Individual Awards". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved January 5, 2022.