The Sun Devils gather to celebrate a home run from then- junior Haley Steele during game two of the NCAA Tempe Regional Championships against the Michigan Wolverines on Sunday, May 18, at Farrington Stadium. ASU lost to Michigan 4-5. (Photo by Becca Smouse)
New faces replacing big names is the theme of the 2015 ASU softball pitching staff.
This Sun Devil squad will have some enormous shoes to fill with the loss of one of the greatest pitchers in ASU history, Dallas Escobedo, as well as fellow All-Pac-12 pitcher Mackenzie Popescue.
However, freshman pitchers Breanna Macha and Dale Ryndak have accomplished enough big feats in high school to be able to partially fill those shoes.
Both Macha and Ryndak were the Gatorade Players of the Year in their respective states (Arizona and Illinois), which marks the first time ASU has ever had two Gatorade Players of the Year on the same roster in the history of its program.
Macha and Ryndak hope to thrive under the pressure that has been placed upon them this season.
"We've been in the spotlight for a long time, especially at both of our high schools," Ryndak said. "You kind of just go game by game –– it's not like any game is more important than the other."
Macha sees an opportunity for her and Ryndak to prove themselves given the unique circumstances.
"We use the underdog mentality. You're going in there like 'I've got to prove myself (in order) to do this', so I think that's huge," Macha said. "(We're) just trying to prove to the team and prove to the country that we're freshmen, but we're here to put in the work just like everybody else."
While the path to success at the collegiate level is much more treacherous than that of high school softball, each pitcher has paved her own unique path to Tempe.
Macha grew up 20 minutes away in Mesa, and even had an experience as a batgirl with the Sun Devils when she was 9 years old. "It's been my dream (to play for ASU) since I was such a little girl," Macha said.
While Ryndak's journey to Tempe was roughly 1,700 miles longer than Macha's, her story is just as compelling and includes some serious hardship. After tearing her ACL, she lost the opportunity to attend the school she was previously committed to.
Ryndak described that period as a "super scary time" for her, but all that changed when she came down to ASU for a visit during her senior year and fell in love with the weather and the team.
"I felt like I was part of their family right away," Ryndak said.
That family includes senior catcher Amber Freeman, who comes into this season as more than just the catcher for the freshman pitching tandem.
"I've been playing the role of mom this semester, picking them up and teaching them the ASU way," Freeman said. "I wouldn't have it any other way. I love them."
While their contributions will be key, the Sun Devil pitching staff is not limited to the two talented freshman. Four more right handed pitchers fill the bullpen for ASU: Kansas junior transfer Kelsey Kessler, redshirt junior Jenna Makis, junior Alexis Cooper and 6'4" freshman Shea Koepnick.
Makis and Cooper will immediately be vying for key roles on the staff, while Koepnick and Kessler will begin the season addressing their individual health and eligibility, respectively.
The Sun Devils start the season with a doubleheader in the Kajikawa Classic against Creighton and Western Michigan on Thursday, Feb. 5, in Tempe.
Reach the reporter at rclarke6@asu.edu or on Twitter @RClarkeASU.
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