By Brendan Holba
(The views of Brendan Holba do not necessarily reflect those of Cardinal Sports Zone)
Although it may not feel like spring yet, with days full of sun and warm breezes still a dream, the groundhog has had its day, and now it’s time to return to the diamond. In college athletics, few sports have seen as rapid growth across the country as softball. In today’s fast-paced world, softball offers everything a fan could desire: a quick pace of play, a villain at the top of the sport whom everyone loves or loves to hate, and burgeoning superstars becoming more visible each season as streaming markets expand. In the middle of this stands Holly Aprile and her Louisville Cardinals a program buzzing after a record-setting 2023 season. Despite key departures including one of the best to ever wear a Cardinal uniform, the 2024 group looks to keep the momentum rolling.
After breaking a two-year NCAA tournament drought (2020 is not counted), the 2023 University of Louisville Softball team concluded its season in the Knoxville Regional, boasting a 35-18 record and a 16-7 mark in league play – tying the program record for conference wins. Now, we all know preseason rankings are about as accurate as Professor Trelawney’s visions, but for now, Louisville softball finds itself in the middle of the pack in the ACC. For decades softball was dominated by the softball power three (Pac 12, Big 12, and SEC) but recently the ACC has kicked the door down and announced its presence as a conference to be reckoned with. Before 2017 neither Clemson nor Duke had varsity softball programs, both are now consistently in the top 25 and annually hosting regionals. Florida State is a staple at the Women’s College World Series and now with the transfer portal teams like Virginia Tech and Notre Dame are attracting top talent giving the conference 7 or 8 tournament teams every May. But Coach Aprile doesn’t just want the Cards to be in the middle of the pack, she has her team ready to return the program to its former glory when the road to Oklahoma City ran through Louisville.
Schedule Breakdown
In many college sports, early-season tournaments are an excellent opportunity for teams to gauge where they are and provide newcomers a chance to shine before conference play. College softball is unique because they don’t just play one early season tournament. Instead, the sport leverages multiple weekends of tournaments and round robins, particularly benefiting schools in colder regions that may not be able to get outside otherwise.
This year the season begins with the Cardinals participating in the FGCU Kickoff Classic in Ft. Myers, Florida where they will face LIU, Georgetown, and Florida Gulf Coast. The following weekend, the Cards head to Boca Raton for the Joan Joyce Classic before then heading to South Carolina for the Battle at the Beach. They finally open up Ulmer Stadium with an in-state battle on February 27 against Western Kentucky. The early homestand won’t last long, though, because the Cards return to the warmth of the south for the USF Tournament in Tampa, Florida the first weekend in March.
Conference play will start the second weekend in March, but thankfully the Cards are hosting all the preseason top 25 teams. The ACC schedule will be notably challenging, with home series against Virginia Tech, Duke, Clemson, and Florida State—all of whom finished 2023 ranked in the top 25 and are predicted to be at the top again. Road games against Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Boston College will further test Louisville in a demanding ACC lineup.
Key Returners
2024 will be a challenging one for Aprile and staff because of the holes left from the departures of Taylor Roby and Korbe Otis to graduation and the portal. Yet, this will provide opportunities for new talent and veterans to shoulder larger roles.
In softball, quality pitching is the hallmark of any competitive team, and despite losing Roby, this year’s group is in good hands with Alyssa Zabala leading the staff. The sophomore from Miami, Florida, had an impressive freshman year, ending with All-ACC Third Team and ACC All-Freshmen Team honors. She also led the team with 14 wins, two saves, and 94 strikeouts in 121 innings. With a challenging schedule, expect her to get the ball in many of the crucial moments.
Winning teams win because they get timely hits, and have quality pitching to go along with stifling defense, especially up the middle. Daisy Hess, who started all 56 games at shortstop last year and earned a spot on the All-ACC Second Team, will provide the leadership this defense needs to keep opponents off the bases. But beyond her defense, Hess is also expected to contribute more offensively, building on her .335 batting average, seven doubles, four triples, and four home runs from last year. She also led the Cards in stolen bases and ranked second in the ACC with 24.
An offense with a poor leadoff hitter is like a ship sailing into the wind. Thankfully for the Cards, they have Easton Lotus, a speedy slapper with an uncanny ability to get on base. After bouncing back from an injury-riddled freshman year, Lotus earned All-ACC Third Team honors as a sophomore in 2023. She set the table often during the season reaching base safely in almost every game. She’s not a thumber but did add 4 doubles and 4 triples to go along with a 13-game hitting streak and a 16-game on-base streak. She also took care of business in the classroom earning herself her spots on the CSC Academic All-District Team, the All-ACC Academic Team, and the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
Key Additions
The transfer portal, whether you like it or not, provides athletes and coaches opportunities to write a new chapter in their softball stories. And while it took away a rising star like Korbe Otis it also gave Coach Aprile and her staff the chance to add veterans with valuable postseason experience. This season the coaching staff was busy with roster turnover. Almost half the roster is new with the addition of 11 freshmen or transfers.
Riley Frizell had a strong fall season after transferring from Missouri. She spent three years at Mizzou and brings the valuable veteran leadership and experience that Coach Aprile needs in the locker room.
Brooke Gray, the 2023 Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year, didn’t have to travel far to play college softball. She led Ballard High School to the state semifinals last year with a 27-0 record, a 0.68 ERA, and 287 strikeouts in 175.2 innings. Together with Zabala, Gray will make the pitching staff young but exceptionally talented.
The beginning of any season is filled with hope, excitement, and anticipation. Despite challenges, including those brought by COVID, the Louisville softball program is resurgent. The ACC schedule will be tough, but hosting the league’s top teams offers an advantage. Midweek games against Top 25 opponents, like Arizona, provide opportunities to enhance the team’s resume and prepare for a potential deep run in May. Even with the loss of last year’s top players, this year’s group is eager for success and coming into their own at the perfect time. Spring in Louisville promises to shine brightly on the diamond!
