2024 Alabama Softball Season Preview: What's Next for Crimson Tide Post-Montana Fouts?
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Patrick Murphy hosted the members of Alabama's senior class at his house before the season. He asked each athlete 12 questions. One of those questions asked what their biggest concern for Team 28 was.
For Murphy, who is entering his 28th year with the program and 26th season as head coach, the concern was pretty obvious.
"How do we replace Montana Fouts?" Murphy shared.
And it's the biggest question surrounding the Crimson Tide coming into the season? After her five-year reign in the circle as one of the most decorated and successful pitchers in program history, who will step up to replace Fouts?
The Crimson Tide finished last season at the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, but it was an up-and-down season with the most losses in a single season (22) since Murphy's first year as head coach in 1999.
Alabama has several options in the circle alongside new and familiar faces all across the diamond as the Crimson Tide prepares to open the season Thursday at the Buzz Classic in Atlanta against Villanova. Does Alabama have what it takes to make another run to OKC?
Here's a position-by-position look at Team 28.
Pitchers
For more than a decade, there has been a sense of familiarity and comfort coming into an Alabama softball season knowing who the ace would be. The last five years, that role was filled by Fouts. Before that it belonged to names like Alexis Osorio, Jackie Traina and Kelsie Dunne.
With six pitchers on the roster, Alabama's biggest group yet, it's going to be more of a pitch-by-committee approach, but Murphy is also looking for an ace to emerge throughout the season.
"We really have not seen someone in that moment in the sixth/seventh inning where it’s a 2-1 game, and we have a one-run lead and you gotta go out and get six outs," Murphy said. "We haven’t seen that really from anybody. Jaala did a heck of a good job in regionals in the postseason, but that’s a little bit different than doing it against the SEC week in and week out. I think it’s going to be fun… I still think it’s going to be as the season goes along."
As mentioned by Murphy, senior Jaala Torrence will be the most familiar option in the circle. She had the second most appearances behind Fouts last season, and stepped up in the postseason in Regionals when Fouts was out with an injury. Torrence made 28 appearances with 11 starts, finishing with a 2.08 ERA and 75 strikeouts.
The other most likely name to step into the ace role is graduate-senior transfer Kayla Beaver. A lifelong Alabama fan, Beaver joins the Crimson Tide from Central Arkansas, where she went 25-7 and had a 1.15 ERA with 194 strikeouts over 201.2 innings last season. She was named to the top 50 Watch List for the 2024 USA Softball Player of the Year award. Beaver will be the most Fouts-like speed wise with the ability to throw above 70 mph.
Alabama also brought in LSU transfer Alea Johnson. Murphy said the sophomore might have the best changeup in program history. The other new face in the circle is freshman Jocelyn Briski out of Phoenix, Arizona. Briski was a unanimous top-15 prospect in the 2023 class rankings.
Alongside Torrence, the other returns in the circle include redshirt junior Alex Salter and transfer Lauren Esman. Salter started 14 games last season, highlighted by the complete-game win at Tennessee, while Esman was mainly used as a lefty specialist.
Murphy said Alabama will use all six pitchers this season and will take the approach of using the best matchups throughout a game. While Fouts regularly pitched complete games, Alabama will likely be mixing it up a lot more with pitchers cycling in and out within a game.
"If somebody has four or five lefties in a row, we have a lefty pitcher, and she’s got a nasty curveball. So why not put her in against all those lefties?" Murphy said. "You could see us mixing and matching because we’ve got a really good curveball, really good drop ball. Beaver throws 70+. We’ve got the lefty, we have a freshman that throws up and down with a nasty changeup. Alea Johnson probably has the best changeup we’ve ever had at Alabama."
With five games in opening weekend at the Buzz Classic, there's a good chance Alabama will have five different starting pitchers.
Catchers
It's not just in the circle that Alabama is losing massive production from a season ago. In 2023, the Crimson Tide only had two hitters finish with an average above .300– catcher Ally Shipman and Ashley Prange. Shipman started 63 of Alabama's 65 games last year at catcher, but Murphy seemed confident in the options he has this season behind the plate.
Alabama returns sophomore Marlie Giles and brought in sophomore Riley Valentine from Texas A&M out of the transfer portal. Murphy said he has two really, really good catchers.
The coaches have been testing the catchers throughout the spring scrimmages with base stealers, and according to Murph, the caught-stealing percentage has been close to 90 percent.
Giles didn't get much playing time behind Shipman last season, but made the most of her plate appearance at the Women's College World Series with her second home run of the season.
Valentine made 20 starts for the Aggies last year in her freshman season, batting .188 with six home runs and 20 RBIs.
Infield
Prangle was a staple starter at third base for Alabama over the last two seasons, so Alabama would need someone knew to step up at the hot corner. Senior Bailey Dowling saw the opportunity and need, and she filled that role.
Dowling started her Alabama career at shortstop before moving over to second base. Last season, she mainly started as the designated hitter and saw limited time in the field. Two years removed from a devastating knee injury, Dowling feels much more comfortable in the field and is ready to step up as a senior leader.
"Throughout the first two years after I got hurt, it was just hard to come back from it," Dowling said. "I mean, I blew my whole knee out. It was just hard. It was trauma for sure to come back from, but I definitely feel really good this year, and I feel normal, so I’m excited."
Dowling led the team with 49 RBIs last season and finished second with eight home runs.
In the middle of the infield, sophomore Kenleigh Cahalan returns as the starter at shortstop with junior Kali Heivilin likely manning the second base position. Murphy said sophomore Abby Duchscherer would be the other middle infielding option.
Cahalan was the only player to start all 67 games for Alabama last season. She got off to a hot start in her freshman campaign before entering a little bit of a slump by the time SEC play rolled around. She finished with a .284 batting average, seven homes runs and 31 RBIs.
Options at first base include Esman, Duchscherer and senior Emma Broadfoot. Esman and Broadfoot split time at first base last season, with Broadfoot getting the majority of the starts in her first season with the Crimson Tide. Murphy said Briski can also play first base if needed with Esman being the best defensive option.
Outfield
The outfield is the position group with the most stability from a season ago with three starters returning: Jenna Johnson in left, Kristen White in center and Larissa Preuitt in right. However, White may been unavailable for opening weekend as Murphy said she had a minor surgery in the offseason.
White and Preuitt are the two fastest players on the team and also have the best arms in the outfield. The two combined for 25 stolen bases last season, and that number will likely jump significantly this year. Murphy said White's slapping has improved under the direction of Kayla Braud.
The addition of Braud as an outfield coach has been a huge boost according to Murphy and all the players– even better than Murphy expected. Alongside the returning starters, Alabama brings back senior Kat Grill in the outfield, who Murphy called an unsung hero for the team.
"She’s taken everybody under her wing as a lefty hitter, as a slapper, as a bunter and then also as an outfielder," Murphy said. "She’s got the best EQ on the team and knows what to say and when to say it. She’s a great, great kid."
Other options in the outfield will be some new faces. Johnson's sister, freshman Lauren Johnson and transfer Kendall Clark. Murphy said Lauren has some of the best outfield fundamentals on the team and could see a lot of playing time this season. With White potentially missing some time, Preuitt could slide into centerfield with Lauren and Clark getting opportunities in right field.
"We have really good depth in the outfield though, so it’s going to be tough to put a lineup out there," Murphy said.
Opening Weekend
Beginning Thursday at 5 p.m., Alabama will play five games in three days at the Buzz Classic hosted by Georgia Tech. While the two matchups with the Yellow Jackets appear to be the marquis games on the schedule opening weekend, the other two opponents won't be pushovers.
"Two of the three are picked to win their leagues— Villanova’s picked to win the Big East, and Longwood’s picked to win their conference," Murphy said. "So right away, it’s not like cupcake city. And they’re all circling us as the team to beat, especially post-Montana. So we have to be ready for first pitch against anybody, doesn’t matter. Our sport’s getting more and more balanced every year."
Last year, Alabama dropped its season opener at home against Lehigh and will be looking to avoid that landmine this season. The lineup in the first game will not necessarily be indicative of who Murphy thinks the best starting-nine are on the team. He plans to give lots of players opportunities this weekend and will likely use five different lineups in all five games.
How to Watch the Buzz Classic:
Schedule:
- Thursday, Feb. 8 vs. Villanova – 5 p.m. CT
- Friday, Feb. 9 vs. Longwood – 10 a.m. CT
- Friday, Feb. 9 at Georgia Tech – 3 p.m. CT*
- Saturday, Feb. 10 vs. Longwood – 12:30 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Feb. 10 at Georgia Tech – 3 p.m. CT*
*Only the two games against Georgia Tech will be streamed, both on ACC Network Extra. All five games will be radio broadcast on The Crimson Tide Sports Network at 97.5 FM in Tuscaloosa with Tom Canterbury and Gray Robertson on the call.
