Trio Anchors Young Cyclones

AMES, Iowa - The Cyclone softball team graduated five seniors last year, leaving 2011 junior Heidi Kidwell, sophomore Erica Miller and lone Cyclone senior Rachel Zabriskie the only holdovers from the 2010 starting lineup.

Kidwell, the Cyclones' centerfielder, is the only returning outfielder, flanked on either side by freshmen this year. The Solon native has found that constant communication is the key to successfully transitioning left fielder Kelsey Enslin and right fielder Anna Cole from high school standouts to Big 12 competitors.

"Anna and Kelsey give me feedback so we're always telling each other the different things we can do," Kidwell said. "On certain plays we're all yelling to each other."

Known for stealing bases, Kidwell is 15-of-18 this year, and doing whatever it takes to get on base, head coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler leans on Kidwell to set the table on offense as the team's lead-off hitter and take control of the outfield on defense.

"I expect her to get on base and be our sparkplug," said Gemeinhardt-Cesler. "As a center fielder she anchors the outfield."

From Pomona, Calif., Miller is the only returning starter, moving to the infield after serving most of her freshman season as the team's designated player, and has worked with the incoming starters this year as they adjust to their everyday roles. In her second season with the Cyclones, Miller is aware of the new opportunities that lie ahead but also feels apprehension toward her leadership role.

"Last year as a freshman I ended up doing pretty well," Miller said. "It's a different feeling because as a freshman you have nothing to lose, but as a sophomore I need to get more serious and set goals for myself."

Gemeinhardt-Cesler knows that Miller, a heavy hitter focused on the mechanics of softball, is a passionate athlete and calls her a student of the game who consistently adjusts to each opponent.

"She sets a great example at practice; she works hard every day and she's excited about the game," Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. "It's obvious that she likes to play the game; it's the way she is that rubs off on other people."

Miller attributes her work ethic, which has led to a team-high nine home runs so far this season including two in a game against Northern Iowa, to her dad who taught her to believe that working with the tee and on her swing during practice would pay off in games.

"My dad has always told me that if you work hard every day, at the end of the night you can put your head on the pillow and know you did all you could do," Miller said. "That's what I try to do, go all out every day and good things will come."

The face of Cyclone pitching over the course of her career, Zabriskie was named to the All-Big 12 second team in 2009 and ranks 10th all-time in the Big 12 with 769 career strikeouts.

As the only senior on the team, many would assume Zabriskie, from Austin, Texas, feels pressure to add to her cache of awards and records; she holds Iowa State records in wins (64), saves (seven), complete games (82) and strikeouts. However, Zabriskie says she wants to enjoy the rest of the season and is focused on teaching the younger players about Division I softball.

"I keep trying to stress how big of a difference there is between tournament play and Big 12 play," Zabriskie said. "You can play good teams in tournaments and you can play not so great of teams, but the difference when you get to Big 12 play, it counts and every little detail is so important."

She knows her younger teammates have adjusted to the Big 12 and emphasizes that things are moving in the right direction.

"We've had different lineups every year but this year it's completely new and only one person is in the same place [in the batting order] as last year," Zabriskie said. "We don't have as much speed as we did in years before so we rely on heavy hitters."

Zabriskie does more than talk to her young teammates about Big 12 play. According to pitching coach Gary Hines, she leads by example and he hopes the Cyclones can give her the kind of send off Zabriskie would want.

"I wish she were a freshman," Hines said. "I think it's tremendous what she's done in three-plus years here and I hope we can reach more of our team goals because that's what Rachel is really interested in."

The Cyclone softball team is young but with its returning core of Kidwell, Miller and Zabriskie leading the way, Gemeinhardt-Cesler sees a team that is well-rounded and has the potential to make an impact in the Big 12.

"They're all great players," Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. "If they keep working hard they can be all-conference, all-region and they have potential to be All-Americans."

Players Mentioned

Anna Cole

Heidi Kidwell

Heidi Kidwell

Erica Miller

Erica Miller

Rachel Zabriskie

Rachel Zabriskie

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics