GREENWOOD, Ind. – Similar to its spring counterpart of baseball, the new softball campaign is on the horizon for eight institutions around the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
The 2015 G-MAC Preseason Coaches Poll revealed no big surprises, ultimately following the script that resulted in the final standings for the spring of 2014. On paper, Trevecca Nazarene was an overwhelming favorite in its pursuit for a third consecutive conference crown, but the remaining league teams are hungry and on a quest to narrow the gap.
Some schools start the spring in warmer weather this week while others won’t debut until later in February and even past that timeframe into early March.
Trevecca Nazarene (2014 record: 36-10, 14-4 G-MAC)
Two-time defending G-MAC champion Trevecca Nazarene has aspirations to three-peat after it was tabbed the preseason favorite once again in the conference. The Trojans are returning a host of key contributors from a year ago, including third baseman Lindsey Stephens and a lockdown pitcher in Haley Fagan. In 2014, Stephens was named to the G-MAC First Team while leading the Trojans in batting average (.409) and RBI (37) and topping the conference leaderboard in doubles (15) and tying for first in hits (61). Stephens was named G-MAC co-Offensive Player of the Year. Fagan, posting a 1.55 ERA and striking out 155 batters, was named G-MAC Pitcher of the Year. She was also named to the NCCAA All-American team.
Also returning is dual threat first-team all-conference performer Kelsey Kemp, who is coming off a campaign in which the outfielder/pitcher finished second on the team in on-base percentage, stolen bases, batting average and hits. She also was second on the team in wins/innings pitched and finished with a 2.58 ERA. Alex Richardson, the 2014 G-MAC Freshman of the Year, will be returning for her sophomore season after slugging seven home runs to go with a .304 average as a rookie.
TNU will be without the services of some notable letterwinners including outfielder Megan Chesney (.340/.398/.489), who was a Second Team All-G-MAC selection while fellow outfielder Heather Shuler was an honorable mention selection. Seventh-year head coach Ben Tyree is continuing his successful run directing the program and is coming off back-to-back G-MAC Coach of the Year awards.
TNU begins its season on Friday, February 6, against Wayne State in Huntsville, Ala.
Kentucky Wesleyan (2014 record: 26-19, 14-6 G-MAC)
Replacing G-MAC co-Offensive Player of the Year Kelsey Miller (.392/.444/.507), who provided a spark at the top of Kentucky Wesleyan offense, will be a prioritized objective. Tenth-year head coach Miles Mallette and the Panthers are still loaded with talent and return a total of four all-conference performers.
Junior catcher Kaci Ovelgoenner is returning after a 2014 campaign that saw her lead the team in OBP (.462), slugging percentage (.620), walks (23), runs scored (36), doubles (13), home runs (7), and total bases (80). Ovelgoenner finished in the top three in the conference in runs scored, slugging percentage and OBP. Also spotted on the G-MAC Second Team was third baseman Ashley Crooke and pitcher Josalyn Ress. Crooke (12 doubles, 38 hits, 29 runs scored) also ranked in the top five in plate appearances. Ress led the team in innings pitched (136.1), wins (13), and strikeouts (89). She finished in the G-MAC’s top four in wins.
Shortstop Mackenzie Weedman returns from an honorable mention campaign in which she tallied 47 hits and belted four home runs.
KWC also begins its season on Friday, February 6, against Montevallo in Huntsville, Ala.
Cedarville (2014 record: 35-19, 13-7 G-MAC)
Coming off a 35-win season and a trip to the NCCAA regional and national tournaments, Cedarville should be returning all players with the exception of G-MAC First Team catcher Kelsey Chapman. Chapman led the team in RBI (55) and tied for the lead in home runs (5).
Head coach Wes Rowe returns seven all-conference members from the 2014 squad, including four first team picks and three players from the honorable mention list. Infielder Nicole Davis enters her senior season after leading the team in runs scored (55), hits (72), doubles (16), triples (6) and home runs (tied with 5). Outfielder Carlyn Hanzel (67 hits, 11 doubles), second baseman Christina Kirkpatrick (64 hits, 20 stolen bases) and outfielder Rachel Bull (37 stolen bases, 46 runs scored), also return.
Also returning is pitcher Courtnie Spain, who led the team in appearances (32), complete games (14), and tied for the conference lead in shutouts (5). Spain finished third in the G-MAC with 132 strikeouts. Cecilia DeBartolo also contributed 134.1 innings from the circle, including 93 strikeouts.
Cedarville begins its season on Friday, February 27, against Felician College in Clermont, Fla.
Alderson Broaddus (2014 record: 22-27, 13-7 G-MAC)
New head coach Chad Kerr will gradually infuse his philosophy and strategies while returning talented first team all-conference shortstop Kylee Gaspar, who led the Battlers in hits (48), home runs (13), RBI (36) and total bases (97), a year ago. AB will have to supplement the missing production of departed G-MAC First Team corner infielder Regan Drake and honorable mention selection Hannah Copenhaver.
With two seniors this season (Gaspar, Alyssa Bastin), the Battlers will count on a balance of experience and emergent talent from the underclassmen. Returning for her sophomore season is Shaquila Demps, who led the team in stolen bases a year ago.
Joining the Battlers will be a strong contingent of freshmen with 10 of the 21 players on the roster entering their first collegiate season.
AB begins its season on Friday, February 20m against Concord University in Raleigh, N.C.
Davis & Elkins (2014 record: 19-30, 9-11 G-MAC)
Picked to finish 2015 right where its 2014 season ended, the Davis & Elkins softball team will be holding a double-edged sword to begin its season by returning six offensive starters and the need to replace nearly 300 combined innings pitched by Alanna Jones and Amber LaBille. Head coach Kimberly Stiles will be entering her fifth season leading the program.
The Senators bring back sisters Danielle and Katelyn Norton, who thrived in the offense last season. Combining for 95 hits, 20 doubles, and 10 home runs in 2014, the sibling infield duo is entering their sophomore and junior seasons as their promising careers progress.
Returning to the circle will be hurlers Autumn Appleby and Samantha Smith. Joining the pitching staff is freshman Victoria Krystynak and junior transfer Taylor Norton (third Norton sister on the roster).
D&E begins its season on Saturday, February 21, against North Georgia in Salisbury, N.C.
Salem International (2014 record: 17-28, 8-12 G-MAC)
Returning four starters from a year ago, Salem International and established seventh-year head coach Steve Potts will also look to a few newcomers to improve on the 17-win season in 2014. One of last year’s starters who will not be returning is Katie Mangold, who made the All-G-MAC Second Team after her impressive performance last season. The third baseman led the Tigers in hitting with at a .407 clip while blasting three home runs.
Utility player Bre’Ana Felix will be returning from a 2014 campaign that saw her play in 44 of the team’s 45 games and lead the team in hits (40) and runs scored (29). Summer Clark led the team in stolen bases (12) and at-bats (135). The only player returning to the circle is sophomore Jordan Williams, who saw action in nine games a year ago with a collective total of 18.1 innings pitched.
Two freshmen will be joining Williams to add to the rotation’s depth: Kayla Lynch and Katelyn Holstin. The Tigers’ newcomers will complement the returning upperclassmen in making a strong run through the regular season.
SIU begins its season on Friday, February 13, against Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C.
Ohio Valley (2014 record: 14-32, 5-15 G-MAC)
Coming off a seventh-place finish in the G-MAC a season ago, Ohio Valley will look to returning outfielder Madison Wallace, second baseman Kaleigh Schroeder and outfielder Leigh Murphy, to gain more traction and make a strong regular-season run this spring.
Wallace, the junior lefty, led the team in hits and stolen bases last season. In a 2014 campaign that saw 13 players get 20 or more starts, Wallace started 38 of the team’s 46 contests. The Canadian also contributed inside the circle and second on the team in starts.
Schroeder was at the top in team statistical categories last season with batting average (.341) and OBP (.379). Murphy (.298/.337/.383) tied for second in runs scored and was one of three Fighting Scots to blast a home run. The outfielder also swiped five bases, placing her second on the team.
Head coach Rob Graham is returning for his fifth season at the helm. He will look to build on the foundation of a 14-win season when OVU begins its season at home on Monday, March 2, against Fairmont State.
Ursuline (2014 record: 10-25, 2-16 G-MAC)
Ursuline is returning several contributors from a year ago under ninth-year head coach Sue Woodford. Among those are Sam Roberts, who found herself on the All-G-MAC Second Team at the end of the season. The outfielder led the team in at-bats (109), hits (39), runs scored (18) and total bases (48). Roberts also hit .358/.417/.440. Joining her in returning to the diamond is second baseman Alison Porter. An honorable mention pick in 2014, Porter returns to defend her team batting title after hitting .364, while driving in 20 runs.
Second on the team in innings pitched in 2014, Brittany Humbel was named to the honorable mention all-conference team. The righty logged 74 innings pitched and added to the offense while leading the team with seven doubles. The Arrows are losing two of the top three pitchers who totaled a combined 126.2 innings a year ago. Possibly transitioning to an elevated role will be Rachel Jaloweic. In limited work last season, the junior sported an ERA of 1.91 and held hitters to a .191 average.
Ursuline begins its season on Sunday, March 8, against Penn State-Altoona in Myrtle Beach, S.C.