THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball catcher Emma Kauf has been ranked as the No. 8 catcher in the country by D1Softball within its national top-10 catcher rankings, the publication announced on Wednesday.
On top of recently representing the backstops on the 2023 Preseason All-ACC Softball Team, the honor follows multiple rankings among the nation’s best ahead of the 2023 season. D1Softball previously named Kauf the No. 85 players in the NCAA for the upcoming year. The Lincoln, Neb., native has also been recognized as the No. 10 catcher in the country and No. 81 overall player in the country by Extra Inning Softball.
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.
The Yellow Jackets’ full schedule can be viewed here.
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