For Immediate Release
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release

Winona State University selected as preseason favorite in NSIC Softball Coaches’ Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Winona State University was the pick in the 2018 NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches’ Poll. This marks the third time in the past four seasons that the Warriors have been selected by the coaches to win the league.  The Warriors amassed 221 points and 11 first place votes after going 52-13 last season, including a 27-3 mark in the NSIC while making an appearance in the NCAA Central Region Tournament.  Augustana, another regional participant from last season, was second with 206 points and two first place votes.  The defending NSIC regular season, tournament and NCAA National Champions of Minnesota State were third in the poll, receiving three first place votes. 

The preseason coaches’ poll is based off each coach ranking each team from 15 to 1 with the top team receiving 15 points, second 14, third 13, etc.

The 2018 NSIC Softball season gets underway on February 1 while the 30-game NSIC schedule is set to begin on Tuesday, March 27.

The 2018 NSIC Softball Tournament will consist of the top ten teams in the NSIC final standings competing in a double elimination format on May 3-5 at Sherman Park and Bowden Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The University of Sioux Falls and Augustana University will serve as co-hosts for the championship. 
 

2018 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll		Points
1.	Winona State (11)	221
2.	Augustana (2)	206
3.	Minnesota State (3)	202
4.	Minnesota Duluth	183
5.	Sioux Falls	157
6.	St. Cloud State	146
7.	Northern State	119
8.	Southwest Minnesota State	108
9.	Concordia-St. Paul	102
	University of Mary	102
11.	Minot State	99
12.	Upper Iowa	91
13.	Bemidji State	84
14.	Wayne State	51
15.	MSU Moorhead	29
16.	Minnesota Crookston	20
	First place votes in ( )

#20 Jessica Meidl
(OF, Sr., L/R, Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North HS)
Minnesota State University, Mankato
- Has started all 192 games of her career with 220 hits, 141 runs, 116 RBI, 34 doubles, 16 home runs, and 89 stolen bases
- Scored a team-leading 71 runs last season which is the second most in program history
- Her 71 runs scored were the second most in NCAA Division II last season
- Tallied 10 home runs and drove in 56 runs last season with a career-best .694 slugging percentage
- Recorded at least two hits in 31 games last season including a season-high four hits against Wayne State and Upper Iowa
- Batted .375 at the NCAA Championships last season
- Named to the NFCA All-American Second Team, NFCA All-Central Region First Team, All-NSIC First Team, NSIC All-Tournament Team, and NCAA All-Tournament Team last season
- Has been tabbed NSIC Player of the Week twice in her career



# 14 McKenna Larsen
(LHP, Sr., L/L, Oconto Falls, Wis. / Oconto Falls HS)
Winona State University
- Led the Warriors with 26 wins in the circle in 2017
- Earned 12 shutout victories with two saves and 24 complete games
- Boasted a 1.12 ERA in 199.2 innings of work while holding opponents to .214 hitting percentage
- Threw an eight inning no-hitter at Northern State
- Hit .290 on the year with 60 hits while driving in 34 runs and scored 35 times
- 2017 NSIC First Team, NFCA All-American Honorable Mention, D2CCA Division II All-American Honorable Mention
- 2015 NSIC Freshman of the Year
 
 

Augustana University Vikings

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
40-16, 21-5 NSIC	9 / 2	11	3rd
Team Preview
Augustana looks to build on its 40-16 record from 2017, when the Vikings earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships and advanced to the Central Region 2 Tournament Championship as a No. 7 seed. The Vikings lose 2017 D2CCA Player of the Year and multiple All-American selection Sarah Kennedy and her bat, but the Vikings also return nine starters from last year’s squad, which does not include 2017 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year Maggie Kadrlik, who also returns to the lineup after missing all but nine games of the 2017 season due to injury. A D2CCA All-American honorable mention in 2016 Kadrlik brings with her a .399 career batting average, with 15 doubles,18 home runs and 76 RBI in 96 career games. In the circle, the Vikings return 2017 NSIC Newcomer of the Year and second team all-conference pick, Lexy Pederson. The senior righty posted a 20-6 record last year in 34 appearances with 30 starts. She posted a trio of shutouts and a save as well, striking out 105 batters in 164 innings of work.
Players to Watch
#42 Maggie Kadrlik (C, 5-6, Jr., R/R, Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley HS) #12 Lexy Pederson (RHP, 5-10, Sr., Mason City, Iowa / Mason City HS / North Iowa Area CC)
First game(s) - West Texas A&M Invitational
Thursday, Feb. 1 at West Texas A&M - 2/4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Regis, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. Regis, 1/3 p.m.

 

Bemidji State University Beavers

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
28-19, 14-12 NSIC	6/3	13	6th
Team Preview
The Beavers return six starters from a team that finished sixth in the NSIC regular season standings and the program’s highest finish in the NSIC Softball Tournament, third. The Beavers’ players to watch are junior Jessica Burlingame who led the team in hits, runs and triples and batted .342 at the plate and freshman Stephi Dullum who was named North Dakota’s Gatorade Softball Player of the Year.
Players to Watch
#6 Jessica Burlingame (OF, 5-5, Jr., L/L, Andover, Minn. / Andover HS) #20 Stephi Dullum (P, 5-6, Fr., Harwood, N.D. / West Fargo HS)
First game(s)
Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. St. Cloud State – 12/2 p.m.

 

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
16-35, 8-22 NSIC	6 / 3	10	13th Overall
Team Preview
The Golden Bears finished 13th in the NSIC last season with a conference record of 8-22 and are projected to take a step forward this year, as they were picked to tie U-Mary for ninth place in the conference. The Bears return six starters, four of which hit over .300 last season, while also adding three transfer students and four freshman to their roster. Among the returning impact players is infielder Nicole Thompson who hit .418 last season and compiled 33 hits in only 23 games before being sidelined due to an injury. Juniors Carlie Hart and Justine Schattner also look to be an offensive threat for CSP, as Hart hit .333 and had a team-leading 55 hits and Schattner hit .331 and had a .401 on base percentage in the 2017 season. The Bears play their first games in mid-February when they will travel to the Arkansas-Monticello Softball Classic.
Players to Watch
#13 Nicole Thompson (IF, 5-4, Sr., L/R, Oakdale, Minn. / Hill-Murray HS) #25 Aryka Knoche (RHP, 5-11, So., Little Canada, Minn. / Roseville HS)
First game(s)
Friday, Feb. 16 vs. Central Missouri – 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16 vs. Nebraska-Kearney – 5 p.m.

 

University of Mary Marauders

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
20-35, 14-16 NSIC	5 / 5	9	11th Overall
Team Preview
The Marauders return two All-Northern Sun performers from last year’s squad that closed fast and missed the conference tournament by half a game. Three-time All-NSIC selection Taylor Mendez and Amber Gamboa, a two-time All-NSIC choice, are big losses for the Marauders but head coach Kerry Shaw returns a solid group. Senior Colleen Crutchfield, who moved from catcher to third full-time last season due to team injuries, hit a career-high .340 with nine doubles, a homerun and 22 RBI to earn all-NSIC honors for the first time. Sophomore Rebekkah Keller led UMary last season in hitting (.356) and steals (22 in 23 attempts), was second in runs scored (34) and third in on base percentage (.409). Kylie Alto, second in home runs (4), returns at second base. Madison McGonigal hit .282 last year and returns after injuries knocked her out of the last few weeks of the season. The Marauders look strong in the circle with All-NSIC selection Brieann Backes and Madison Jahner. A junior, Backes has a 2.63 ERA with 12 complete games and ten wins in 27 starts. Jahner, a sophomore, pitched three complete games with a 4.28 ERA and five wins in her rookie season.
Players to Watch
#24 Colleen Crutchfield (3B/C, 5-4, Sr., R/R, Oregon City, Ore. / Cabby HS) #11 Brieann Backes (P, 5-9, Jr., R/R, Minot, N.D. / Bishop Ryan HS)
First game(s) - Desert Stinger Classic in Las Vegas, Nev.
Friday, Feb. 2 vs. MSU Billings 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 vs. San Francisco State  4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 vs Nebraska Kearney - 9 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
12-35-1, 2-23-1 NSIC	7/2	16	16th Overall
Team Preview
The Golden Eagles are looking to continue to improve, something they have done each season under Head Coach Don Stopa. Minnesota Crookston is coming off a season in which they tied the program record for 12 wins. The Golden Eagles look to Player to Watch Gabriel Antolak, a senior catcher/third baseman. Antolak led the team with five home runs and 28 RBI last season. She had 13 runs scored and eight doubles. In the circle, Minnesota Crookston looks to Pitcher to Watch Paige Pitlick, who appeared in 32.0 innings as a freshman for the Golden Eagles. She had 13 strikeouts in her debut season.
Players to Watch
#6 Gabriel Antolak (C/3B, Sr., Zimmerman, Minn. / Zimmerman HS) #11 Paige Pitlick (RHP/1B, 5-7, So., Jordan, Minn. / Jordan HS)
First game(s)
Sat., Feb. 10 vs. Jamestown - 12 p.m. Sat., Feb 10 at Presentation - 4 p.m.

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
35-20, 18-10 NSIC	9 + 1 SP/0 + 1 SP	13	4th Overall
Team Preview
Armed with all but one starting pitcher from a season ago, the University of Minnesota Duluth looks to improve upon its 35-20 record and fourth-place finish in the conference as it hopes to secure its second NCAA berth in three years. Jen Walter is in her third season as head coach and holds a 70-37 record at UMD. The Bulldogs return 13 letterwinners led by the three seniors, whom all earned 2017 all-conference honors -- 2B Natalie Wright, SS Becky Smith, and OF Hannah Schmoll. Wright and Schmoll each earned a spot on the Gold Glove Team as UMD closed out the year with a .974 fielding percentage -- the best mark in program history. Wright, who is a two-time all-conference first team selection, is the consistent catalyst finishing tops in batting average (.360), hits (67), doubles (18), triples (5) and slugging pct. (.559) from 2017. The Bulldogs also have sophomore 3B Lauren Oberle and OF Sammi Sadler return with their promising bats. Sadler hit above .300 and led the team in fewest strikeouts per at-bat while Oberle used her power to smash 10 homeruns as a freshman. UMD will have a new sheriff taking over the mound as Valarie Hohol assumes the ace position. Hohol finished last year 13-5 with a 2.57 ERA, 61 punch outs and a pair of shutouts in 111 innings. The Bulldogs bring in four newcomers that include a pair of local prep standouts in Jordyn Thomas (Hermantown H.S) and Brandie Goldberg (Superior H.S.). UMD will play SMSU to start the season in a non-conference double header in West St. Paul before continuing south to the UAM 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark.
Players to Watch
#3 Natalie Wright (IF, 5-2, Sr., R/R, Wyoming, Minn. / Forest Lake HS) #20 Val Hohol (RHP, 6-0, Jr., Woodbury, Minn. / New Life Academy)
First game(s)
Monday, Feb. 5 vs. Southwest Minnesota State – (DH) in West St. Paul, Minn. - 11 a.m. / 1 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
64-7, 28-2 NSIC	5 / 6	10/6	1st
Team Preview
Minnesota State claimed its first National Championship in program history last season with a program best 64-7 record. The Mavericks also won their second straight and fifth overall NSIC title with a 28-2 record. MSU returns 10 letterwinners and five starters from last year’s team. Jessica Meidl started all 192 games of her career with 220 hits and 116 RBI. She has scored a team-leading 71 runs last season which is the second most in program history and tallied 10 home runs and drove in 56 runs last season with a career-best .694 slugging percentage. She was named to the NFCA All-American Second Team, NFCA All-Central Region First Team, and All-NSIC First Team. Mackenzie Ward will be making her Maverick debut this season.  The Clive Iowa native was a four-time letterwinner for the Valley High School softball team.
Players to Watch
#20 Jessica Meidl (OF, Sr., L/R, Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North HS) #17 Mackenzie Ward (P, Fr., R/R, Clive, Iowa / Valley HS)
First game(s) - Arkansas-Monticello Softball Classic
Friday, Feb. 16 vs. Arkansas Tech – 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16 vs. UW-Parkside – 3 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
12-37, 5-25 NSIC	5/4	8	15th Overall
Team Preview
MSUM is young with more than half of its roster being sophomores and freshmen, returns five starters from last year’s squad. The Dragons will rely heavily on sophomore Madison Paige, who hit a team-best .328 and set a single-season school record with 16 doubles. Junior Taylor Roddie returns after hitting .314 with a team-best four home runs and 25 RBI. Senior Megan Asham returns after starting 14 games last season and hitting .308. Also returning as starters are sophomore Emma Dummer, sophomore Payton Gaber and senior Aunica Novacek. On the mound sophomore Tori White returns after going 4-12 with a team-best 4.03 ERA last season. She had 33 strikeouts.
Players to Watch
#5 Taylor Roddie (SS, 5-10, Jr., R/R, Prior Lake, Minn. / Prior Lake HS) #11 Tori White (P, 5-10, So., Yorba Linda, Calif. / El Dorado HS)
First game(s)
Feb. 17-18 at Minot State Dome Tournament

 

Minot State University Beavers

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
25-22, 15-15 NSIC	5 / 4	8	9th
Team Preview
Minot State returns five starters and eight letterwinners from the 2017 team that finished 25-22 overall and 15-15 in the NSIC. The Beavers posted a 2-2 record in the NSIC Tournament with victories over Southwest Minnesota State and St. Cloud State. Junior Lauren Cowden is the leading returning batter for Minot State after hitting .359 last season. She also had eight doubles, five triples, two homers and drove in 31 runs. Tori Zimmerman belted four home runs in 2017 and drove in 30 runs from her catching position. Skyla Neubauer also returns for the beavers after hitting .286 with two home runs. Junior outfielder Isis Cabral hit .278 and drove in 12 runs last season. Minot State will have to replace its entire pitching rotation from last season. Heading the list of newcomers on the mound is junior Laura Mendez. The Beavers open the season at the Desert Stinger Tournament on Feb. 2 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Players to Watch
#20 Tori Zimmerman (C, 5-6, Sr., R/R, Bakersfield, Calif. / Liberty HS) #12 Laura Mendez (RHP, 5-10, Jr., Rialto, Calif.  / Wilmer Amina Carter HS)
First game(s) - Desert Stinger Tournament - Las Vegas, Nev.
Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Concordia (Ore.) – 1:30 p.m.   Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Humboldt State – 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. Cal State Dominquez Hills – 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. Notre Dame de Namur – 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 vs. Stanislaus State – 1:30 p.m.

 

Northern State University Wolves

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
29-26-1, 14-15-1  NSIC	6 / 3	13	10th
Team Preview
NSU enters the 2018 season under the direction of new head coach Jenny Fuller, who joined the program over the summer. The Wolves are coming off a 29-26-1 season and a tenth place finish in the league, marking their third straight trip to the NSIC Tournament. NSU returns 13 from a season ago, and welcomes five new faces including one junior college transfer. NSIC Gold Glove winner, Kennady Thompson returns for the Wolves in 2018 after a breakout freshman campaign. Thompson hit .319 on the year and notched a .955 fielding percentage. Jamie Fisher and Jenna Helgeson will be back in action this season, after being named the NSIC Players to Watch for the Wolves. Fisher returns to the mound in her third season as the team’s ace. She appeared in 54 games a season ago, notching 12 wins with a 3.18 ERA. Fisher was also an asset offensively hitting .302 with eight doubles, 22 RBI, and 13 walks. Helgeson jumped into a starting role in 2017 and led the team hitting .364 with 63 hits, 15 doubles, eight homeruns, two triples, and 36 RBI. She tallied a .960 fielding percentage as the anchor in the Wolves outfield. NSU opens 2018 at the PC Dome Classic just across town, before making the trek to Florida with a 12-game schedule from the FPX/NTC Games.
Players to Watch
#3 Jamie Fisher (P/IF, Jr., L/L, Omaha, Neb. / Millard North HS) #25 Jenna Helgeson (UTL, Jr., L/R, Sioux Falls, S.D. / O'Gorman HS)
First game(s) - Presentation Dome Classic – Aberdeen, S.D.
Saturday, Feb. 10 vs. Dakota Wesleyan – 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 vs. Valley City State – 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 vs. Minnesota Crookston – 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 vs. Dakota State – 6 p.m.

 

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
30-28, 16-14 NSIC	7/2	11	7th
Team Preview
University of Sioux Falls softball enters the 2018 season after their fourth consecutive 30-win season and they have seven starters back from their seventh-place finish in the NSIC. Headlining the 2018 Cougars are seniors Breanna Black, Megan Peterson and Jasmine Ragusi. Black hit .288 in 47 games and made 41 appearances in the circle while Peterson played in 52 games and has appeared in 161 in her career. Ragusi hit .330 with 21 extra-base hits in her first year at USF. Junior Kerrigan Hoshaw was the Cougars’ offensive leader, earning first team All-NSIC honors after a .367 batting average with a .698 slugging percentage. And she led the Cougars with 14 wins in the circle to warrant USF’s pitcher to watch honors this year. Fellow junior Emily Hove stood out at third base for USF, registering a team-high 106 assists while holding a .264 batting average. Redshirt sophomore and USF’s player to watch, Sydney Nieveen posted a team-high on-base percentage at .454 with 54 hits and a league-high 19 hit by pitches. Sophomores Francesca Mickelson, Ashley Meyer and Lindsey Mossman add depth to the Cougars’ lineup and sophomore pitcher Courtney Mathews returns as the Cougars’ leader a year ago with 2.95 ERA with 10 wins.
Players to Watch
#13 Sydney Nieveen (1B, 6-0, R-So., Lincoln, Neb. / North Star HS) #32 Kerrigan Hoshaw (P/UT, 6-0, Jr., Apple Valley, Minn. / Eastview HS)
First game(s)
Feb. 23-24 at Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament – St. Cloud, Minn.

 

Southwest Minnesota State University

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
23-23, 14-14 NSIC	5 / 4	11	8th Overall
Team Preview
SMSU went 23-23 overall last season with a 14-14 record in the Northern Sun, finishing eighth in the final standings and qualifying for the conference tournament. Head coach, Jamie Dunn's 2018 roster features 14 total players that includes just one senior, five juniors, five sophomores and three freshmen. The Mustangs' lone senior is catcher, Mackenzie Clouse, who started 34 games for SMSU behind home plate in 2017.  Clouse led the Mustangs with 21 RBI and had four homers and a .458 slugging percentage on the year. Also returning to the lineup in 2018 will be sophomore infielder, Kali Tomlinson, who had an injury -shortened season last year.  Prior to exiting the lineup, Tomlinson was leading the Mustangs with a .340 batting average, .472 slugging percentage and a .364 on base percentage.  Returning pitchers this season include junior, Athena Golling, who went 6-3 in her starts last year and finished with a 3.43 ERA in 18 total appearances. Golling held opponents to a .274 average in the batter's box. Junior, Shelby Crank, also returns to the circle this season after going 4-7 in 2017 with a 3.88 ERA in 16 appearances. Crank struck out 37 batters in 57 and 2/3 innings last season.
Players to Watch
#24 Bailey Johnson (3B, 5-5, Fr., L/R, Mount Pleasant, Iowa / Mount Pleasant HS) #11 Athena Golling (P/ IF, 5-7, Jr.,R/R, Antioch, Calif. / Berean Christian)
First game(s)
Monday, Feb. 5 vs. Minnesota Duluth– 11 a.m. /1 p.m. at West St. Paul Dome

 

St. Cloud State University Huskies

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
32-23, 15-11 NSIC	4 / 6	7	t-5th
Team Preview
St. Cloud State is coming off a 2017 season in which it finished fifth in the NSIC during the regular season and picked up the team’s most wins since the 2008 season with 32. The team made the NSIC Softball Tournament for the third time since 2009 and even picked up a victory. The program will look to build on that success and will turn to many of the program’s younger players this season. The team returns 3/4 of the starting infield (Maya Keating – 2B, Libby Bingham – SS and Morgan Emmans – 3B) plus the team’s designated player (Anna Roth) from a season ago. Keating was named as an NSIC Player to Watch this season after hitting .341 with 30 runs, 56 hits, 19 walks and 18 stolen bases as a freshman. Emmans is the team’s leading returning home run (5) and RBI hitter (31) from 2017. The team also will turn to junior pitcher Kate Kopeck, an NSIC Pitcher to Watch, to anchor the staff this season. Kopeck ended her sophomore season with 14 wins, a 3.63 ERA and a team-leading 113 strikeouts in 162 innings. The program also brings in 10 newcomers this season including transfer outfielder Bradi Yost
Players to Watch
#10 Maya Keating (2B, 5-5, Fr., L/R, Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton-Warrenville South HS) #22 Kate Kopeck (RHP, 5-7, Jr., Lumsden, Sask. / Lumsden HS)
First game(s)
Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Black Hills State – 2 p.m. / 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. Wisconsin Parkside – 11 a.m. / 1 p.m.

 

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
19-33, 11-19 NSIC	5 / 4	11	12th
Team Preview
The Peacocks enter their fifth season under the direction of Head Coach Amanda Bradberry, and will look to get back to the NSIC Tournament after missing out on the post-season in 2017 for the first time since 2012. Junior Sami Kay Shafranski, senior Shannon Nix and sophomore Jordyn Brennan headline the returners for the team, while Emily Kisch led the Peacocks with eight wins and a 3.62 earned run average in the circle. Upper Iowa hit .280 a season ago as a team, but slugged just .371 for the year. As a pitching staff, UIU posted a 4.43 earned run average, and will look to improve both numbers next season. The team returns plenty of young talent, including Julia Buffington, Jenny Budds, Michaela Schumacher, and Ali Green.
Players to Watch
#19 Shannon Nix (C, 5-6, Sr., R/R, Plato, Minn. / Holy Trinity HS) #20 Emily Kisch (RHP, 5-3, So., Elgin, Ill. / Burlington Central HS)
First game(s)
Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Wisconsin-Parkside – 2 p.m.

 

Wayne State College Wildcats

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
11-39, 5-21 NSIC	6 / 4	9	14th
Team Preview
Wayne State College looks to rebound from its first losing season since 2006 as the Wildcats suffered through an 11-39 season last year and 14th place finish in the NSIC with a 5-21 league mark.  The Wildcats return six starters and nine letterwinners, but need to fill the voids left by the graduation of two First Team All-NSIC selections – first baseman Melanie Alyea and third baseman Monique Alyea.  The top returner for the Wildcats is senior catcher Katelyn Wobken, who collected Second Team All-NSIC honors last season after leading WSC in most offensive categories.  Wobken hit .331 with 56 hits, 32 runs scored, five homers, five triples and 21 RBI.  Other returning seniors include outfielder Rachel Shumaker, who hit .310 last season with 45 hits, and outfielder Jordyn Breitbarth, who started 48 games and had three homers with 17 RBI. The team’s top returning pitcher is junior Riley Vanderveen, who worked 101 innings last season with four complete games.  Other key returning position players are juniors Emily Chandler and Abbie Hix, who both received First Team All-NSIC honors as freshmen.
Players to Watch
#12 Katelyn Wobken (C, 5-7, Sr., R/R, Scribner, Neb. / Scribner-Snyder HS) #17 Riley Vanderveen (RHP, 5-9, Jr., Sedro-Wooley, Wash. / Burlington-Edison HS)
First game(s) - 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Arkansas
Friday, February 16 vs. Nebraska-Kearney - 9 a.m. Friday, February 16 vs. Missouri Western - 11 a.m.

 

Winona State University Warriors

Last Year	Starters Returning/Lost	Letter winners Returning	2017 Standings
52-13, 27-3 NSIC	8 / 2	14	2nd Overall
Team Preview
Winona State lost just two players from last year’s team that set a program record with 52 wins. Also returning are both the Warriors’ top starting pitchers in McKenna Larsen (26-5, 1.12 ERA) and Jordyn Kleman (19-8, 1.86). WSU advanced to the final of its NCAA Regional Tournament last year, falling one win short of the Central Super Region with a 4-3 loss to Harding University. The Warrior offense ranked second in runs scored (356), and the pitching staff ranked second in team ERA (1.42). With a large group of returning starters, Winona will chase its first regular season NSIC championship since 2007. The Warriors’ last conference tournament championships came in back-to-back years (20014-15).
Players to Watch
#14 McKenna Larsen (LHP, Sr., L/L, Oconto Falls, Wis. / Oconto Falls HS) #17 Lani Van Zyl (SS, Jr., L/R, Fort Dodge, Iowa / Fort Dodge HS)
First game(s)
Friday, Feb. 9 vs. Lewis University – 1/3  p.m.