Kansas Softball Position Breakdown: Infielders/Catchers

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas softball returns three starters from the 2018 roster, but will be forced to replace the efforts of Jessie Roane and Harli Ridling, who each started 52 games last season and were two of the top-three hitters by batting average. Shelby Gayre, Sam Dellinger and Becki Monaghan each started 38 or more games for the Jayhawks last season and will serve as a strong building block during the 2019 season.
 
PLAYER BREAKDOWN
Sam Dellinger | JR | Papillion, Nebraska | Bats/Throws: R/R
Dellinger started 36 games at second base for Kansas in 2018 and added another 12 starts as the designated player. The Nebraska native finished her lone season with the Jayhawks with 39 hits, 10 doubles and 18 RBI, while recording a .283 batting average. Dellinger, a 2017 All-Big East First Team selection at Creighton, started 50 games for the Blue Jays which included two starts at third base. 

Shelby Gayre | SO | D’Hanis, Texas | Bats/Throws: R/R
Gayre played in 48 games with 42 starts at shortstop last season, while also registering a start as the designated player. She finished her freshman campaign with a .273 batting average, 35 hits, 31 RBI, seven home runs, six doubles and a triple. Forty percent of Gayre’s hits (14 of 35) were extra-base hits.

Cheyenne Hornbuckle | FR | Bakersfield, California | Bats/Throws: L/R
Hornbuckle attended Stockdale High School in Bakersfield, California and was a two-time All-Area first-team selection. In her senior season at Stockdale, she registered a .476 batting average with 31 runs scored and 10 doubles.
 
Shelby Hughston | JR | Bastrop, Texas | Bats/Throws: R/R
Hughston spent her first two years on the collegiate diamond at Lamar University, appearing in 116 games with 103 starts. In 2017, she logged 23 starts at third base before adding another 35 starts at shortstop. Hughston started 55 games in 2018 and is a career .220 hitter.
 
Becki Monaghan | JR | Stony Plain, Alberta | Bats/Throws: L/L
Monaghan started 38 games at first base in 2018 and recorded a .214 batting average. In Monaghan’s freshman campaign, the Alberta native was named KU’s Rookie of the Year and made 47 starts with a .261 batting average.
 
Sydnee Ramsey | R-FR | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Bats/Throws: R/R
Ramsey started the first 10 games last season, including seven at shortstop. Due to a knee injury in the 10th game, her season was cut short. Ramsey finished with a .280 batting average and totaled seven hits, two RBI and one home run.

Miranda Rodriguez | JR | Elk Grove, California | Bats/Throws: L/R
Rodriguez played in nine games with three starts at shortstop in 2018 and played her freshman campaign at Consumnes River College in Sacramento, California. At Consumnes River College, she led the Hawks with 67 hits and three triples, while also adding 37 RBI and .424 batting average.

Madison Sykes | JR | Blue Springs, Mo. | Bats/Throws: L/R
Sykes registered nine starts at second base and five starts at third base last season, registering a .211 batting average in her 37 games played. During her freshman campaign, she appeared in 40 games and made 36 starts, while hitting .221 and registering a .976 fielding percentage.
 
Morgyn Wynne | FR | Pittsburg, California | Bats/Throws: R/R
Wynne attended Concord High School in California and helped lead the Minutemen to the North Coast Section title in 2017. She was an all-North Coast Section performer three-times and played multiple position for Concord HS.

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