College Position Preview: 6 Catchers to Watch in 2022

Even though we’re still a few months away from the 2022 college season, there’s no time like the present to start looking ahead at the year to come!

On the softball diamond, a catcher is often one of the most important positions on the field.

Here are our picks for some of the best college catchers to watch (and whose names you should know!) entering 2022.

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Kayla Kowalik, Kentucky
Kowalik raised eyebrows and boggled minds with her offensive ability in 2021, ultimately finishing the year with an incredible .495 batting average. A speedy catcher in the mold of Chelsea Bramlett, Kowalik was quite a spark plug for UK and returns in 2022 as one of the nation’s best at the position. You don’t often see catchers at the top of the lineup, but it’s a role that Kowalik can fill with ease. She’s one of the best players in the nation and certainly at the top of the heap from behind the plate.

Haley Lee, Texas A&M
The pop in Lee’s bat raised some eyebrows of its own last season; already known as a power hitter, Lee dropped 25 home runs for the Aggies and only missed out on All-SEC honors because of a logjam at the position. You can expect to see Lee get pitched around a bit in some games this spring, but she can make noise with her bat even when she’s not dropping longballs. It’s a fair bet to expect Lee to finish near the top of the nation’s power charts and to be a major catalyst to her team’s overall success both offensively and defensively.

Kinzie Hansen, Oklahoma
You might remember Hansen from her mammoth home runs, or her high energy behind the plate, or possibly from her incredible ability to come through under pressure in the postseason. Part of the incredibly-powerful Sooners lineup, Hansen sometimes gets lost in the middle of the nation’s most loaded batting order; she’s worthy of notice, though, both for her abilities in the batter’s box and behind the plate. She’s a budding superstar.

Ally Shipman, Alabama
Shipman’s departure from Tennessee and arrival at Alabama made headlines across the sport this summer, but what occasionally was missed for sake of the surprise factor was the stability that she brings to an Alabama pitching staff that would otherwise have had to wonder in that regard. Shipman is a veteran catcher, a quality hitter, but most impressively, a learned voice in the bullpen. It’s not hard to imagine her being the x-factor to step up to yet another high level for an already-excelling Tide pitching staff.

Bailey Vanoy, Charlotte
The reigning Conference USA Player of the Year, Vannoy can no longer sneak under the radar but that’s okay – she’s talented enough to continue her hot hitting even when opposing pitchers have a solid scouting report. Vannoy was mid-major softball’s best-kept secret until 2021, when she truly broke out as part of a stacked Niners batting order. Keep an eye on her a contender to repeat for the Player of the Year trophy.

Makena Smith, Cal
Even though the Golden Bears are still in rebuilding mode, Smith is the team’s slugging standout and leader behind the plate. Oh, and she’s also a two-sport star now, stepping onto the Cal soccer roster as a goalkeeper for the fall season. Smith doesn’t have as much protection in the order as she could, but she remains a quality hitter and a power force.

— Justin McLeod, Extra Inning Correspondent