THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball catcher Emma Kauf has been ranked as the No. 85 players in the nation by D1Softball within its Preseason D100 Player Rankings, the publication announced on Tuesday. In ranking the top 100 players heading into the 2023 season, D1Softball identified the best and most valuable college softball players for the 2023 season.
Approaching her senior year, Kauf receives the ranking on the heels of another appearance among the best according to D1Softball. The esteemed Yellow Jacket was also ranked No. 104 in the D1 Softball D150 at the conclusion of the 2022 season.
A team captain since her arrival on The Flats, Kauf has excelled on the field as the top catcher in the conference over the past two seasons. The standout behind the dish has been named First Team All-ACC in each of the last two seasons, also earning NFCA Southeast Second Team All-Region honors a season ago while landing on the ACC All-Freshman Team in 2021.
A two-time ACC Player of the week recipient, Kauf has displayed her proficiency in the backstop and at the plate as she developed a knack for catching runners stealing and set multiple national marks with her bat a season ago. The slim slugger laced 25 doubles in 2022, tying second in program history in single-season doubles while ranking second in the NCAA and leading the ACC with the mark. Leading the nation in doubles per game (0.45), Kauf also topped the conference in hits (71) to tie 11th in Tech history in a single season last year.
Off the field, the team leader was named one of 13 finalists for the 2023 Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup for her service in the community and for the Institute as well as her academic prowess, noted by her pair of ACC Academic Honor Roll and All-ACC Academic Team recognitions.
Georgia Tech opens the 2023 season hosting the annual Buzz Classic, beginning its action with a doubleheader against UConn on Feb. 10 at 4:30 pm at Mewborn Field.
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The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarships, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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