SB: 2019 INFIELD

Profiling Washington's infield // 1.28.19

By Washington Huskies

January 28^th, 2019

Washington's rock-solid infield is back for another go-around: every single start at second base and shortstop is back for 2019. Taryn Atlee, All-American Sis Bates, Kaija Gibson, and Nawai Kaupe give the infield plenty of continuity and versatility, with Kaupe and Gibson set to see action in both the infield and outfield. Also back in the infield are the bats of Morgan Allen, Noelle Hee, and Brittany Werre. That group adds three important freshmen, SilentRain Espinoza, Ari Quiñones, and Megan Vandegrift, to round out the squad. Morganne Flores will also see action at first base in addition to her role as catcher, giving Washington another experienced infield bat.

Taryn atlee

2018 Stats: .241/.318/.333, 23 runs, 20 RBI, 8 SB

In her first year with the Huskies, Atlee hit .241 with five multi-RBI games, ending the year with 34 hits to give her an even 100 in her first two years of collegiate softball. Atlee went 33 games without making an error at one point in the year, providing excellent defense at second base. Atlee stole eight bases as well, finishing third on the team in that category. She has 18 career steals entering 2019, the most of any active Husky.

sis bates

2018 Stats: .389/.471/.580, 53 runs, 16 doubles, 25 walks

After one of the more impressive freshman years in the nation, Bates improved even more, winning her first All-American award and being named a finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year award. Bates earned the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year award and carries Washington’s best career fielding percentage ever by a shortstop into her junior year.

Offensively, Bates started the year with a 15-game hitting streak and never let up, ending the year hitting .389/.471/.580. The sophomore scored 53 runs and was one of two Huskies with 75+ hits on the year, giving her 141 in just two years. Bates had 20 multi-hit games on the year and had 24 extra-base hits.

SilentRain Espinoza

Espinoza’s pedigree entering college is impeccable. She was named a MaxPreps All-American and won two CIF championships during high school. She hit over .500 as a sophomore, junior, and senior, knocking 66 extra-base hits in 83 games over that time. She also earned All-State honors. In her high school career, Espinoza won a CIF San Diego Section championship and, in 2017, knocked 28 extra-base hits.

Noelle Hee

2018 Stats: .273/.360/.488, 14 walks, 26 RBI

Hee was another of Washington’s many power threats as she launched seven home runs as a freshman. Hee hit .273 and slugged .488 as Washington’s designated player. In just her third collegiate game, Hee hit two homers and drove in six. She hit .300 with a .462 OBP at the Women's College World Series, ending the season with hits in five of her final six games throughout the postseason.

ARI QUIÑONES

Quiñones was a hitting machine while at Mission Hills High School, with batting averages of .632 as a junior and .585 as a senior. After her junior year, she was named the league MVP, knocking 25 extra-base hits in 25 games. An All-Section selection, Quiñones also picked up a PGF title in her club time with Athletics.

Megan Vandegrift

As a freshman, Vandegrift helped White River High School to a second-place finish at state. After that, she only improved, earning All-League First Team three consecutive years and hitting over .500 during her sophomore year. As a senior, Vandegrift earned All-Area First Team from the Seattle Times.

Brittany Werre

2018 Stats: .400 slg%, 1 double

Werre saw action in five games in 2018. Against Stanford, Werre ripped a double off the centerfield wall, her second career double in just 18 career at-bats. She has served as a dangerous pinch-hitter during her career, recording six hits in pinch-hit situations. Werre will be one of Washington's four senior leaders this season.