Former Kentucky Softball Star Pitcher Joins Coaching Staff

Kentucky softball just added a third full-time assistant coach to the staff heading into next season who is very familiar with the program.

Grace Baalman, the Wildcats’ pitcher from 2018-2021, was added to the staff full-time on Saturday after being a volunteer assistant for the 2022 season. The Illinois native aided Kentucky to three NCAA Super Regional appearances during her tenure as a ‘Cat.

“I want to start by thanking Coach (Rachel) Lawson and the Kentucky Softball staff for giving me this opportunity,” Baalman said in UK’s press release. “They pour their heart and soul into this program and I’m grateful that I get to stay with them. It feels incredibly rewarding for me to be able to stay and develop a program that I was a small part of growing as a player. The past six years of being a part of the Big Blue Nation has been incredible and I’m excited to get to continue my time in Lexington.”

.@UKCoachLawson has announced that Grace Baalman has been hired as Kentucky's third full-time assistant coach! 🥎🧠

Her tenure begins today. 💙

Full story: https://t.co/StcdC1SsL3@gbaalman25 x #WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/ifziRrbD8o

— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) July 1, 2023

The NCAA recently passed legislation that allows softball teams to have three full-time coaches instead of the previous two that had been allowed. Since Baalman has a bit of experience from the mound, she will work primarily with the pitchers during her day-to-day schedule.

Baalman came to the Kentucky squad from Illinois’ Calhoun High School in 2018. She finished her freshman season with 14 wins out of 31 appearances and maintained a 2.72 ERA to round out the season. But Baalman wasn’t done there.

An impressive resume

Baalman ranks top 10 all-time at Kentucky in total appearances, innings pitched, strikeouts, and wins. At the end of her tenure at UK, Baalman was voted an All-SEC pitcher every year that she was on the team.

Kentucky had its fair share of pitching struggles throughout the 2022-2023 season. Junior Stephanie Schoonover started the season strong on the mound for the ‘Cats but a forearm injury put her on the IR for over a month which sent the bullpen into a frenzy.

Schoonover was the star as she started the season off with a shutout, but after her injury, she could not find a rhythm which caused major problems in the postseason. Going into her senior season, Schoonover will have Baalman to hopefully help her find that rhythm and find the consistency that the ‘Cats need going into next season.

Baalman, along with the help of Lawson and her fellow assistant coaches, will look to get the team started on the right foot in the fall. Kentucky softball will release its 2023-2024 schedule later in the summer.