'Roos Set to Wrap Up Home Slate
4/16/2015 7:14:00 PM | Softball
Date(s): April 17-18
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Missouri 3&2 Complex
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Live Radio: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @KCRoos_Softball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - UMKC will welcome Seattle U into the friendly confines of Missouri 3&2 Complex on Friday in what will be the team's third and final home series of the 2015 season.
The 'Roos will play a doubleheader against the Redhawks with games tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The weather could cause issues and alternate start times have been arranged for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
On Saturday, UMKC will host Senior Day, during which time the team's seven seniors will be honored before those in attendance.
“We're excited to be in front of our fans one more time this year and, most importantly, we're glad to have an opportunity to honor our seniors,” said head coach Meredith Smith Neal. “Each of them has contributed to the success of our program in their own way and we could not be more appreciative of their effort during their time here."
Kelley enjoying most prolific season in school history
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Stop me if you've heard this before: Katie Kelley set another school record last weekend.
The junior Okie added doubles to her resume of domination, taking over the lead for single-season doubles with her 15th two-bagger of the season at New Mexico State.
Well beyond that, what Kelley is doing is so much more than breaking a record here and there. If the season ended today, the Coweta (Okla.) product would wrap things up with a new record for doubles, single-season homers (13), RBI (51) and slugging (.737). The latter may be the most impressive of all, as Kelley is currently on track to shatter a 23-year-old record. As for home runs and RBI, well, Kelley simply broke her own records, so you'll forgive her if she acts like she's been there before.
She took control of career RBI, as well, and the only question seems to be whether anyone will ever be able to catch her once she's gone.
Parker, Kelley move atop career lists
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Juniors Brooke Parker and Katie Kelley continued what has become one of the prevailing themes of the 2015 season for UMKC, moving to the top of the career leaderboard in two more statistical categories last weekend.
Parker, a Blue Springs, Mo., native, moved atop the all-time steals list with the 64th stolen base of her career and moved into a tie for single-season steals with her 24th of the season. A steal this weekend is virtually assured and will make Parker the program's all-time queen of thievery with a full season still left to play.
Similarly, Kelley has broken her own one-year-old single-season home run mark this season, blasting her 13th of the season last week. She now has 29 career long balls and, like Parker, the Coweta, Okla., native still has another season to wear blue and gold in Kansas City.
Elsewhere, seniors Marlee Maples and Caitlin Christopher have been pacing one another on the school's all-time home run list. The pair is currently in lockstep for second most homers in a career with 18 a piece. Maples, for her part, has blasted a career-high eight home runs this season, which would have matched the single-season record prior to Kelley re-writing the book.
Smith-Neal continues to add to win total
Now in her ninth season as the head coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, head coach Meredith Smith Neal has transformed the UMKC softball program into a formidable contender in the Western Athletic Conference and beyond, becoming one of sport's up-and-comers in the process.
Under Smith Neal, Kansas City clinched its fourth consecutive postseason appearance in 2014, qualifying for the WAC Tournament with a 7-8 conference record. The 'Roos won 20-or-more games for the fourth time in the past five seasons -- a feat UMKC accomplished just once in the six years prior to Smith Neal's arrival.
In 2008, UMKC finished with an 8-31 overall record, doubling its win total from 2007 despite fielding a team with nine freshmen. The .205 winning percentage was the program's best since 2003, and the modest improvement was the start of a four-year run of increased victory totals.
Smith Neal stands as the program's all-time winningest coach with an overall record of 161-243 (.399).
In 2011, Smith Neal guided the 'Roos to school records of 38 overall wins and 18 Summit League wins en route to being named The Summit League Coach of the Year. Under her guidance, five 'Roos were named All-Summit League performers, including Kaelene Curry and Deanna Friese, who were named The Summit League Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. The duo also garnered national recognition under Smith's watch, as both were named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Central Region Second Team.
Smith moved to Kansas City after serving as the Director of Softball Operations at Tennessee during the 2005-'06 season, helping to guide the Vols to the WCWS.
