With preseason practice in its final full week, the 2018 edition of FIU Softball is rounding into form. Over the next 10 days, we will preview the team by position grouping. A companion video piece with Head Coach Gator Rebhan accompanies each written segment, which focuses on the numbers of each portion of the team.
 
INFIELD
This will be the past of the team that sees the most change. Three of the four regular starters of the infield will be new in 2018, and this will be the youngest portion of the lineup for the Panthers, who finished fifth in the NCAA in fielding percentage (.977), tops in Conference USA.
 
Jessica Rivera (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep) was one of three players to start and play in all 61 games a season ago. She was an anchor of the infield, committing just two errors in 197 total chances, for a .959 fielding percentage, an amazing success rate for a fielder who handles the ball more than most on the diamond. She contributed eight home runs in her freshman campaign, second-most on the squad, also tying for second on the team with 40 RBI. Her 26 walks drawn were second-most on the squad, as she reached base more than 40 percent of the time. Rivera will see familiar and new faces around the infield this season. She batted mostly in the sixth spot in the lineup, with the heavy hitters in the lineup on base frequently in front of her during the season. One of the team's more clutch hitters in the latter stages of the game, Rivera batted .305 in the fifth and .455 in the seventh inning for FIU. Her five seventh-inning hits were second-most on the team, which included three doubles and two home runs, both tops for the Panthers in 2017.
 
One infield option will be sophomore Tori Jones (Raymond, Mississippi), who is the most experienced returning second baseman. Jones filled in for senior Ashley Leon last year, playing five games at second. She also batted .429 as the Panthers' second baseman, and would be an experienced player to plug in on the right side of the infield.
 
If she doesn't continue as the designated player, senior Kasandra Castle (Lake Worth, Florida / Palm Beach Central HS) could be an option at first. In addition to serving as the DP, Castle spent some time behind the plate last season.
 
The remaining potential infielders are newcomers.
 
Kayla Whitehead (Perris, California) has been spending a lot of practice time in the spring at first base. She has the size and quickness to help lock down the right side, but has moved around in the field to help the squad build depth.
 
Natane Castaneda (Vista, California) has played a lot of third base, one of the toughest positions to play on the diamond. She is the frontrunner to earn that spot.
 
Venessa Gallegos (Rio Rancho, New Mexico) has looked comfortable at multiple infield positions. Her defensive prowess will make it hard to keep her off the field this season. Time and reps will tell where she settles, but she figures to find her name in the batting order on a consistent basis.
 
The Panthers will have a hard time playing as well defensively as the on-field production a season ago, but the coaching staff feels that the speed of the student-athletes on the infield could yield high defensive numbers again in 2018, helping the pitchers control the scoring output of opponents this season. Defense was the unsung hero of the team's league-leading 1.77 earned-run average, 14^th-best in the nation a year ago.

Stay tuned for more softball position previews at FIUSports.com. Next up, the outfield…
 
The Panthers open at home, hosting the Felsberg Invitational, February 9-11. The season-opening game for FIU is against St. John's at 1:30 p.m. on February 9, the first of six games that weekend.
 
For softball ticket information, contact the FIU Ticket Office at 305-FIU-GAME or log onto www.FIUSports.com.
 
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