Shelby Turnier Reflects on UCF

In part 2 of the two part interview with Shelby Turnier, Turnier discusses her UCF career which includes the following:

• How Shelby ended up at UCF?
• Playing with Mackenzie Audas and what made “Shake and Bake” Work?
• Being Part of No 1 pitching staff in country in 2015.
• What she learned from Audas?
• What was turning point of her UCF career?
• Pitching 16 innings at Tulsa in one game and throwing 7 more the next day.
• Winning American Conference Championships in 2014 and 2015 including pitching a 1 hit shutout in Tournament championship win against Tulsa in 2015.
• Becoming All-American
• Setting records at UCF
• You can listen to Part 1 where Shelby talks about playing in the NPF with Chicago Bandits winning the NPF title and going into coaching becoming asst coach at UNF.

Interview with Shelby Turnier Part 2

Shelby Turnier finished her Knights career ranking in the top five all-time at UCF in wins (1st – 80), appearances (2nd – 143), games started (2nd – 113), lowest opponent batting average (3rd – .188), shutouts (3rd – 23), innings pitched (3rd – 742.1), strikeouts (3rd – 830), batters faced (3rd – 3075) and lowest earned run average (5th – 1.75).
Turnier set the UCF Softball record for wins in a career on May 12th in American Conference Quarterfinal win over UConn at Tulsa striking out a season-high 13 batters in the win.

Shelby became  UCF Softball’s highest draftee in program history during her senior season on April 14th in the National Pro Fastpitch Draft going 11th overall selected by the Chicago Bandits.

In her junior season, Turnier earned the first All-America honors in UCF Softball history after being named a First Team All-American by the NFCA.
– Turnier  also became the first UCF Player to earn the ESPNw National Player of the Week of February 18th.

Shelby Turnier and Mackenzie Audas with Samantha McCloskey catching most of 2015 season finished 1-2 in NCAA in ERA. (Photo courtesy of Jim Hartsing)

Turnier became the second Knight to earn NFCA National pitcher of the week and also
became the second Knight joining Stephanie Best to earn an NFCA national weekly honor and the first to be named the NFCA Pitcher of the Week on February 17th. Turnier would be honored again on March 31st while also winning USA Softball Pitcher of the week.
Turnier led the NCAA in ERA in the nation and set the UCF single-season record at the same time with an 0.87 ERA in 2015 edging out Audas who finished 2nd in the country with 0.95. Graham Hays wrote about Turnier and Audas in 2015 which was mention in the podcast.

Turnier ended the season as a Top 10  USA Softball Player of the Year Finalist. Also first Knight to reach that list.
Turnier helped UCF get ranked for the first time in program history in February of 2015 after  defeating No. 18 Missouri and No. 13 Minnesota in Clermont where Turnier won 2 high school state championships.

Shelby had a flair for the dramatic and picked up some major  milestones wins for the program and for her Head Coach. Turnier got the win in relief of Audas on March 14,2015  in a 2-1 win over UIC for the program’s 500th win.  Turnier also won UCF Softball Head Coach Renee Luers-Gillispie’s 700th career win on March 12,2014 against Florida Atlantic and 800th career win on April 1st, 2016 at UConn. The win was also Turnier’s 70th career win and 21st  career shutout which moved her into 3rd place all-time.

Turnier would tie Allison Kime for 2nd all-time in wins in a career with 71st win. What made it special was Turnier did it with Kime broadcasting her game for the American Digital Network.

Turnier would pass Kime the following day against Tulsa for her 72nd win. Tulsa was a team Turnier had many memorable moments against. Turnier set a school record Pitching 16 innings with 14 strikeouts at Tulsa on April 3rd to get a 2-1 win. Turnier followed it up with 7 inning shutout of Tulsa on April 4th.

In her final home start at the UCF Softball Complex on May 8th, Turnier reached another milestone on her senior day against East Carolina getting to 800 strikeouts joining Audas and Kime as only UCF pitchers to have over 800 strikeouts in a career.

Below is where Turnier ranks among some of major categories at UCF.

Most wins in career at UCF
1- Shelby Turnier -80
2- Mackenzie Audas- 78
3- Allison Kime -71

Most Strikeouts in a 7 inning game

1- Shelby Turnier 16  vs Bowling Green 3/9/14
2- Shelby Turnier 15 vs FAMU  2/16/14

Shelby Turnier and Allison Kime in Tampa following win over USF. Turnier passed Kime in many UCF records in 2016.

2-Allison Kime 15 vs Vermont 3/1/08
2- Allison Kime 15 at Utep 3/31/08
2- Allison Kime 15 at Bethune Cookman 4/20/08
3- Mackenzie Audas 14 vs Kent State 3/21/12

Lowest ERA in Single Season

1- Shelby Turnier 0.87  (2015)
1- Allison Kime 0.87 (2007)
3-Mackenzie Audas 0.95 (2015)

Most Strikeouts in a game regardless of innings.

1- Allison Kime 18 at Florida State 3/28/07   12 Innings)
2- Mackenzie Audas 17 vs Utep 4/7/2013 ( 11 Innings)
3- Shelby Turnier 16 vs Bowling Green 3/9/14 (7 Innings)

Most  Conference Pitcher/Player of the Week Awards. List of Multiple time winners only.

1- Shelby Turnier – 12 times (13-16, CUSA, AAC)
2- Mackenzie Audas – 11 times( 12-15 CUSA, AAC)
3- Allison Kime – 8 times (06-08 CUSA)
4- Stephanie Best- 7 times(02-05 A-Sun)
5- Lindsay Enders -4 times (04-05, A-Sun)
6- Jessica Ujvari – 3 times (14-16, AAC)
6- Jania Shinhoster – 3 times(02-05, A-Sun)
6- Dottie Cupp- 3-times (03-04, A-Sun)
9- Courtney Rotton- 2-times (15-present, AAC)
9- Crystal Kraft – 2-Times (02-05, A-Sun)
9- Kahley Novak – 2 times (12-15 , CUSA, AAC)
9- Asheligh Cole- 2 times  (07-10, CUSA)

Most wins vs Top 25 Opponents

1- Shelby Turnier – 7
2- Ashleigh Cole – 4
3- Allison Kime- 3
4-Mackenzie Audas -2
5- Lindsay Enders -2
6- Kelly McIntyre -1

Most wins in NCAA Tournament Games

1- Allison Kime – 3  (2008)
1- Shelby Turnier- 3 (2014-2016)
3- Mackenzie Audas – 2 (2012,2014-2015)
4- Asheligh Cole -1 (2010)
4- Lindsay Enders – 1 (2005)
4- Jamie Ujvari – 1 (2016)

Most Strikeouts in Career
1- Mackenzie Audas -975
2- Allison Kime – 847
3- Shelby Turnier- 830

Most Games Appearance Career
1- Mackenzie Audas – 150
2- Shelby Turnier- 143
3- Allison Kime – 129
Most Games Started Career
1- Mackenzie Audas- 125
2- Shelby Turnier – 113
3- Allison Kime – 107
No Hitters
1- Mackenzie Audas – 5
2- Allison Kime- 4
3- Shelby Turnier- 3

Batting Avg Against career

1-Allison Kime .183
2- Mackenzie Audas .185
3- Shelby Turnier .188

Batting Avg Against in Season
1- Mackenzie Audas .141 (2015
2- Shelby Turnier .148 (2015)
3- Allison Kime .159 (2007)

Most Shutouts

1- Allison Kime 34
2- Mackenzie Audas 29
3- Shelby Turnier 23

Highest K/7 in season
1- Mackenzie Audas 9.74 (2015)
2- Shelby Turnier 9.18 (2014)
3- Shelby Turnier 9.00 (2015)

UCF Videos courtesy of UCF Athletics. For more information on UCF Softball check out UCFKnights.com.  Videos of Tulsa-UCF game in 2016 and American Conference Tournament are courtesy of the American Conference.

You can listen to part 1 of Interview with Shelby Turnier right here where she talked about her rookie season in the NPF with the Chicago Bandits, winning the NPF Championship and going into coaching getting the asst coach job at North Florida.

You can also listen to Interview with Mackenzie Audas who talked about her UCF Career and playing with Shelby right here. 

You can listen to Interview with Allison Kime from April 2016 talking about Shelby Turnier and her chances in the NPF.

 

Shelby Turnier Talks Coaching at UNF and winning NPF Championship

In Part 1 of the special two-part interview. Shelby Turnier discusses her NPF rookie season in helping leading the Chicago Bandits and then taking asst coaching job at University of North Florida.

Turnier is in her first season as an asst coach with the Osprey getting the job a month after completing her first season with the Bandits in the NPF winning the NPF Championship in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on August 23rd defeating the USSSA Pride.

On September 20th, Turnier was officially announced as the new pitching coach with the Osprey.

Shelby Turnier begins her 1st season as an asst coach at UNF. Photo Courtesy of UNF Athletics.

“We are excited for Shelby to join our coaching staff,” said UNF Head Coach Marcie Hickey in UNF Press Release. “She had valuable postseason playing experience at UCF as well as the experience of winning a championship in the NPF with the Chicago Bandits. She has a competitive mentality and wealth of knowledge that will greatly benefit our pitching staff. We are very fortunate to add someone with her credentials to our staff.”

Turnier will be reunited with Jeff Conrad who enters his 2nd season as UNF Asst Coach. Conrad and Turnier have UCF Connections as Conrad was Volunteer coach for the Knights in 2015 when UCF went 50-9 winning American Conference Regular season and Tournament title.

Turnier that year was first player in UCF Softball history to be All-American first team pitcher. Turnier led the NCAA in ERA with an 0.87 ERA.

In the Interview, Turnier discusses many topics including:

• When did she think about getting into coaching?
•  What led her to UNF?
• What her coaching philosophy?
•  What was her rookie season in Chicago like?
•  How did she fit in with the team?
• When was the turning point of the season for Bandits?
•  What was it like going pitch for pitch against Monica Abbott?
•  What was the feeling getting the last out to win NPF Title?
•  Difference playing in Pro League vs College?

Part 1 Interview with Shelby Turnier

https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/8293084?autoplay=false

Turnier played a big role in helping the Bandits winning the championship in her rookie season after getting selected 11th overall in the 2016 NPF Draft.

“Shelby was a huge addition to our staff in 2016, especially since we had more of a staff approach” said Chicago Bandits General Manager Aaron Moore. “She got better and better as the year went on, and you started to see a very confident pitcher”.

Turnier was used as a starter early in the season but as well as a reliever which would be the role she would have going into the NPF Championship series.

“By the time the playoffs started, we knew she would be a huge piece to our success”. Moore said about Turnier. “The way she can pitch with the bases empty, people on base, early or late in the game made her a very big weapon”.

Shelby Turnier pitching for the Bandits v Dallas on June 10 2016.(Photo Courtesy of  Chicago Bandits)

In Game three of the NPF Championship Series Semi-Finals  between the Bandits and Scrapyard Dawgs, Turnier came in relief early in the game and was involved in a pitching duel with Monica Abbott. Turnier and the Bandits would win 2-1 to advance to the NPF Championship Series against the USSSA Pride.

The Pride and Bandits split the first two games of the series. In Game three with the Bandits leading 2-1. Turnier came in relief  the bottom of the seventh and retired the Pride in order on three fly balls to the outfield to win the championship. Turnier had two saves to go along with a win during the NPF Championship.

“I’ve seen a lot of pitchers in the league, and I can easily say she pitched with the same demeanor as the great ones like Cat and Jennie.” Moore said about Shelby. “She was unfazed at the biggest times, when it mattered most”.

Shelby Turnier help the Chicago Bandits win NPF Championship in 2016 ( Photo Courtesy of NPF)

Turnier became the third player coming out of UCF to win the NPF Championship joining Stephanie Best who won with Monica Abbott and the Washington Glory in 2007 and Allison Kime who won with Cat Osterman  and  Rockford Thunder in 2009.

“Shelby mentality reminded me a lot of Allison Kime from my time with the Thunder” said Moore who was the General Manager of the Thunder and signed Kime as a free agent rookie in 2008. “Allison is another pitcher that wasn’t fazed by much, and she always wanted the ball in big situations. Allison was always a pitcher that kept our team in the game and ways wanted the ball”.

Turnier future in the NPF is very bright according to Moore. “If Shelby continues to grow and learn the hitters, she is going to be damn good for many years!”

One of the other highlights of Turnier rookie season was her return trip to Orlando when the Bandits took on the Pride in Disney on Weekend of July 16.

Here below is Interview with Shelby Turnier following Turnier win against the Bandits on July 17th where she won in relief with her former UCF Head Coach Renee Luers-Gillispie as well as friends and relatives.

https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/8293084?autoplay=false

Below are other links and stories from Turnier’s rookie season with Bandits:

June 26,2016-  Shelby Turnier faces her former UCF Teammate Kahley Novak.

June 15,2016 –  Shelby Turnier’s 1st NPF Win.

May 28,2016-  Shelby Turnier signs her contract with Bandits.

Here below is Shelby Turnier interview with Chicago media personality who covers the Bandits from June 20th.

Lindsay Enders Talks about Being Head Coach at Stratford

Lindsay Enders was named Head Coach at Stratford University on November 29th. Photo Courtesy Stratford University.

On this edition of In the Circle, Eric Lopez and Victor Anderson talk to Lindsay Enders about starting a new softball program as Enders recently was named the Head Coach at Stratford University.

Enders is building the program from scratch as the Lady Blue Cardinals  will begin play in the Spring of 2018 and will be members of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.

Enders also hit as well pitched during her 2 seasons at UCF (04-05)

Enders talks about what made her decide to go into coaching and what drew her to Stratford program.

Enders also discussed other topics including:

• Influence UCF Head Coach Renee Luers Gillispie had on Enders.
• What is Enders coaching philosophy in recruiting and coaching.
•  How Enders ended up playing at UCF?
•  Enders reflected on her UCF Career
•  Playing with UCF Softball Hall of Famer Stephanie Best.
• On winning A-Sun Tournament MVP in 2005
• Who influenced Enders into playing Softball?

 Interview with Lindsay Enders 

In her two years at UCF, Enders ranks in the top five in many pitching categories including innings pitched (484.0 innings), Games started (68 starts),  Appearances (83), opponents batting average of .203,  career ERA ( 1.74), career wins (46) , 15 shutouts (15), and career strikeouts (320).

Enders help lead UCF to A-Sun Tournament  championship in Boca Raton in 2005 pitching both games in defeating the  Troy Trojans in two games 2-1 and 3-1 to win the 2005 Atlantic Sun Tournament earning UCF’s 1st ever NCAA Tournament bid.

https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/8283952?autoplay=false

Look Back at 2016. Look Ahead to 2017

On this edition of In The Circle podcast, Eric Lopez and Victor Anderson talk to Justin McLeod of Justin’s World to recap the year in softball and look ahead to the potential storylines in 2017 in both College and NPF softball.

• Is Oklahoma the team to beat in 2017?
• Who is the best college softball player going into 2017?
• Who were some of the best coaching moves in the off-season?
• The year that was in the NPF and what in store for the league in 2017?
• Impact of Softball returning into the Olympics.
• Early look at some of the storylines in the SEC, Big 12, Pac 12, Big 10, American Conference and more.

In The Circle Podcast episode 58 with Justin McLeod.

Check out Justin’s work at Justin’s World.

Also in case you missed the most recent episodes of In The Circle check out below.

Mackenzie Audas on her UCF Career and new career in Photography.

Stephanie Best on her Hall of Fame career at UCF. Her career in the NPF and ProSwings.com company.

Tiffany Lane on participating in The World Championships this summer.

2016 NPF Championship Series recap 

You can follow In The Circle on Twitter @InTheCircleSB & on facebook.

 

Mackenzie Audas reflects on UCF, Talks Photography

Photo Courtesy of UCFKnights.com

Mackenzie Audas has had many changes in her life since she threw her last pitch of her softball career at UCF back on May 17,2015 in Tallahassee regional final. For starters, Mackenzie  got married to Preston Packrall who was a former pitcher at Univerity of Tampa. Mackenzie Packrall opened new company into photography called Kenzie Packrall Photography as Mackenzie takes photos of Weddings , Portraits and more. Mackenzie also teaches first grade as well in Tampa area.

Photography is a passion Mackenzie has had for a long time. In our interview she discusses on how she got into photography and how it compares to pitching which has more in common then one may think.

Audas and Turnier were known as “Shake & Bake” played together from 2013-2015. (Photo Courtesy Jim Hartsing)

Mackenzie reflected on her career at UCF which included being the first ever  Academic- All-American in program history as well as being part of Two American Conference Regular season championships (2014-2015) as well as 2015 American Conference Tournament Title (2015) and 3 NCAA Tournament Appearances (2012,2014,2015). Mackenzie holds many records at UCF including Career strikeouts, and No Hitters. Among the topics Mackenzie talked about included.

• How Mackenzie ended up at UCF?
• What drove Mackenzie to starting her own photography company?
• What USF Pitcher did Mackenzie take photos of recently?
• What legendary UCF pitcher was Mackenzie compared to while in High School?
• Win against Florida as a freshman in 2012
• Playing with Shelby Turnier
• Being part of senior class with Kahley Novak, Farrah Sullivan, Madeline Schroeder, Blaire Kelly.
• 1st ever start at UCF against Ohio State
• Breaking Wins and No Hitter record against Houston.

Interview with Mackenzie Packrall

CAREER ACCOLADES
UCF Softball career leader in strikeouts, games started, appearances, no hitters
2015 Unanimous All-American Athletic Conference First Team
2015 Academic All-American
2015 NFCA All-Mideast Region Second Team
2012 Conference USA Co-Pitcher of the Year
2012 Conference USA Freshman of the Year
2012 All-Conference USA First Team
2014 All-American Athletic Conference Second Team
2014 The American All-Tournament Team
2012 Conference USA All-Freshman Team
2013 C-USA All-Academic Team
2013 NFCA Division-I Scholar Athlete
C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal (2012, 2013)
C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll (2012, 2013)
No-Hitter v. Bethune-Cookman (5/5/12)
No-Hitter v. UTEP (4/6/13)
Combined No-Hitter with Mackenzie Huhn vs. Iona (3/18/14)
No-Hitter v. George Mason (2/6/15)

2015 – SENIOR SEASON
Mackenzie passed Allison Kime as the career strikeouts leader with her second strikeout of the game against Monmouth (3/14).

Mackenzie went 24-1 on the season with 0.95 ERA which was 2nd in the nation behind Turnier’s 0.87.
Tied her career-high twice with 14 strikeouts in a 6-1 win over Arkansas and a 3-0 win over UTEP.
Mackenzie broke school record for most wins and no-hitters in a career in the same game against Houston on 4/11

2014 – JUNIOR SEASON
-All-American Athletic Conference Second Team
-2014 The American All-Tournament Team
-Mackenzie Tossed six innings with 11 strikeouts of a combined no-hitter, , the first in program history, with Mackenzie Huhn against Iona (3/18)
– Won 2 games in Tampa against USF including a 2-1 win in final game of the three game series against the arch rivals Bulls on April 13th as Mackenzie out pitched All-American pitcher Sara Nevins.

-Posted sixth shutout of season to open AAC Tournament, striking out eight and giving up four hits vs. UConn (5/8)
-Recorded first NCAA Regional win against Florida A&M with eight strikeouts in a complete game.

2013- Sophomore Season

Mackenzie was 1st UCF pitcher to throw a No-Hitter at the UCF Softball Complex against Utep on April 6th. Mackenzie  followed it up on April 7th against Utep with 17 strikeouts in 11 innings which is 2nd most strikeouts ever in a game behind UCF pitcher behind only Kime’s 18 in 12 innings in 2007 at Florida State.

2012 – FRESHMAN SEASON
Mackenzie won Conference USA Co-Pitcher of the Year becoming the first Knight to ever win Pitcher of the Year award in school history.
Mackenzie also won Conference USA Freshman of the Year
All Conference USA First Team
Conference USA All-Freshman Team
Earned the C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal
Named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll
Finished the year with a 21-12 record with a 1.28 ERA and 279 strikeouts in 229.2 innings
Finished 8th nationally in ERA and 19th nationally in strikeouts and was first in the nation in both categories among freshmen
Mackenzie turned in the greatest freshman season in UCF softball history, shattering every major freshman pitching record including wins, ERA,  and strikeouts.
Mackenzie threw her first no-hitter of her career at Bethune-Cookman (5/5). Ironically the pitcher was compared to Kime also threw her first career No-Hitter against Bethune Cookman in her first year at UCF back in 2006.

The game that will be remembered not only from Mackenzie’s freshman season but of her career was on April 11th when Audas tossed a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts in a victory over No. 3 Florida in a game that was nationally televised state wide.

PRIOR TO UCF

Videos Courtesy of UCFKnights.com

Was a four-year letterwinner in softball at Plant City High School
Named to the all-county first team as a sophomore
Co-MVP at Plant City HS as a junior
Named to the all-county first team and all-sun coast second team as a junior
Focus Magazine Athlete of the Month in Feb 2011
District 5A-8 Player of the Year as a senior
Tampa Tribune 2011 Softball Player of the Year

Here some notable UCF records Mackenzie holds or near the record
Most Strikeouts in Career
1- Mackenzie Audas -975
2- Allison Kime – 847
3- Shelby Turnier- 830

Most Games Appearance Career
1- Mackenzie Audas – 150
2- Shelby Turnier- 143
3- Allison Kime – 129
Most Games Started Career
1- Mackenzie Audas- 125
2- Shelby Turnier – 113
3- Allison Kime – 107
No Hitters
1- Mackenzie Audas – 5
2- Allison Kime- 4
3- Shelby Turnier- 3
Most wins in career
1- Shelby Turnier -80
2- Mackenzie Audas- 78
3- Allison Kime -71

Check out Mackenzie’s Photography work right here.

https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/8280672?autoplay=false&square=true