6 Rachael Shepherd
Third base/catcher
So., Bats: R - Throws: R
West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West H.S.
Cincinnati Elite (2000-03), Miami Valley Express (2004-07)
Management & Industry Exploration
Kalafatis on Shepherd: “Rachael saw increased time behind the plate this fall and did a good job. We are looking to get her in the catcher spot more often this season, but she proved to be an excellent third baseman. Shep’s got great hands and a rocket arm so we’re counting on her to continue to grow and make god adjustments offensively. No one wants to succeed more than her.”
At a glance: Will split some time with Sam Marder behind the plate this season ... could step into the lineup at either position or pinch-hit whenever needed ... was high school and club teammates (Miami Valley Xpress) with OSU juniors Leah Ledford and Lindsay Bodeker.
2008 (Freshman Season): Started in all 56 games ... hit first career home run vs. Ohio April 30 (game 2) ... second on team with hit by pitch (6), assists (106) and sac bunts (6) ... had seven assists at UNLV March 7 ... went 3-5 (2 RBI, 2R) during final Big Ten weekend at Wisconsin and Minnesota ... scored 13 runs and had 28 total hits ... fifth on team with 151 at bats ... had three fielding double plays ... scored a career high three runs in 11-10 win over Illinois March 30 ... went 2-4 April 13 in win at Purdue (2B, 2RBI) ... went 2-2 vs. Marshall April 2 (game 1) ... had a three-game hitting streak March 14-16 in Sacramento ... hit .169 in Big Ten games ... played 25-consecutive games without committing an error.
Prior to Ohio State: Was a first-team All-Greater Miami Conference selection all four years of high school and was named the GMC’s Player of the Year as a senior ... second-team All-Ohio as a junior and first-team All-Ohio as a senior ... Cincinnati Player of the Year as a senior ... helped lead Firebirds to state ‘Final Four’ twice ... elected captain as a senior ... owned a career .380 batting average in high school with 37 doubles, 11 home runs, 86 runs batted in and 93 runs scored ... set Lakota West single season records for slugging percentage (.729), on base percentage (.534), doubles (11), home runs (6), extra base hits (18), RBI (32) and walks (22).
Personal: Daughter of Gary and Chris Shepherd ... has a younger sister, Jenny (17) ... would like to start her own business after graduation ... would also like to coach ... one of her favorite pastimes is working on her grandmother’s farm (she shows cattle at the county, state and national fairs) ... an uncle, Bob, played baseball for Dayton ... lists her greatest sports thrill as hitting the game-tying home run in a regional final at Buckeye Field in a game that Lakota West would eventually win to advance to the ‘Final Four.’
