Vikings selected to repeat as UMAC softball champions in 2020
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Last season, Bethany Lutheran College won its first-ever regular season Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) softball championship after going 15-1 showcasing a significant program turnaround in recent years. This year, the Vikings are expected to repeat as the conference coaches tabbed them in the top spot of the UMAC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Wednesday.
The Vikings earned 58 points and four first place votes to top the poll in Dan Nessler's fourth season with the program. However, the coaches were not unanimous in their predictions as three other programs finished within nine points of the Vikings each earning at least one first place vote. Last year's runner up University of Wisconsin-Superior was slated in the same position with 54 points and one first-place nod, while back-to-back tournament champion University of Northwestern was picked third with 53 points and three first-place votes. The College of St. Scholastica comes in fourth with 49 points and one first-place selection.
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Poll |
Team Previews |
2020 Schedule |
In 2019, the Vikings set a program record for wins going 27-12 overall and jumped from fifth to first in the conference standings. However, the Vikings' effort to make their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2013 came up just short as they fell to Northwestern in the championship round. In Nessler's fourth season leading Bethany Lutheran, though, the squad returns a ton of talent and is positioned to make a run at both the regular season and tournament championships.
Leading the way offensively is the duo of Zoe Kinakin and Haylee Sobrero who both hit over .400 and were selected All-UMAC First Team last season in their first year with the Vikings. Kinakin was tabbed the Rookie of the Year and already ranks in the top 10 for three Vikings' career program records after just one season. Sobrero was in the top five in multiple hitting categories and finished with 35 RBI. Junior Sarah Presler also returns after being the 2017 Rookie of the Year and ranking third in career stolen bases for the Vikings.
Runner up Wisconsin-Superior will look for another solid season relying heavily on their pitching. Senior Ashley Taipale returns after earning All-UMAC First Team honors following an eight-win season on the mound. In conference play, she recorded a 1.84 earned run average (ERA) as the team's primary starter, while Amanda Kishish was an Honorable Mention selection and finished second in UMAC games (1.66 ERA). All-UMAC First Team infielder Alayna Tulip is back after another solid season at the plate and in the field.
Northwestern ran through the UMAC tournament for the second-straight season without a loss and returns a solid core of key players who will lead 11 first-year incoming squad members. Ellie Ronning earned All-UMAC Dirst Team recognition after finishing in the top five in the UMAC for several overall hitting categories including hits (50). Honorable Mention catcher Faith Forcier and Honorable Mention pitcher Lexi Kopacek will lead the Eagles in field.
St. Scholastica saw its reign as regular season champion end last year after 10-straight titles with a third-place finish of 12-4. The Saints reload with talent that could propel them back to the top with Josie Fourre at the top of the list. The junior was All-UMAC First Team in 2019 and a Third Team All-Region selection. Hannah Thul was also First Team All-UMAC and finished with 22 stolen bases and 41 runs scored.
The University of Minnesota Morris returned to the postseason a year ago finishing tied for fifth in the standings. The Cougars are expected to do the same this year taking fifth with 31 points. However, Crown College and Martin Luther College tied for sixth with 28 points and should make a push for the postseason as well.
The Cougars bring back the team's 2019 leading hitter Marissa Allen who hit .440 and tallied 46 hits and 37 RBI. Becca Holland and Lydia Mann also return after tallying nearly 30 hits each. The Storm are suited for success with the return of All_UMAC sophomore Telma Roesla who set single-season school records for runs and doubles as a rookie. Brittany Denn will lead the Knights after earning All-UMAC First Team as a sophomore with a UMAC-best .536 average in conference play.
Northland College and North Central University rounded out the standings in eighth (13) and ninth (10), respectively. The LumberJills will lean on Kylie Wickiser who ranked in the top 10 in average last season in the UMAC, while the Rams have three juniors back, including reliable pitcher Emma Bushey, who bring experience to the squad.
Several teams kick off the season beginning Saturday with UMAC play slated to begin Saturday, March 28. Regular season play wraps up Saturday, April 25 and the UMAC postseason tournament will take place April 30-May 2 at the site of the No. 1 seed.
2020 UMAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Bethany Lutheran- 58 points (4 First Place Votes)
2. Wisconsin-Superior - 54 points (1 First Place Vote)
3. Northwestern - 53 points (3 First Place Votes)
4. St. Scholastica - 49 points (1 First Place Vote)
5. Minnesota Morris - 31 points
T6. Crown - 28 points
T6. Martin Luther - 28 points
8. Northland - 13 points
9. North Central - 10 points
Team Previews
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BLC |
CC |
CSS |
MLC |
NC |
NCU |
UMM |
UNW |
UWS |
Bethany Lutheran College
Dan Nessler | 4th season |
2019 Season
15-1 UMAC, 27-12 | 1st |
Postseason: Lost 5-0 to Northwestern in UMAC Tournament Championship
Top Returners
- Zoe Kinakin, So., IF | 2019 UMAC Rookie of the Year | .413 batting average, .991 fielding percentage, ranks in top 10 of three career categories after just one season |
- Haylee Sobrero, Sr., IF | All-Conference in first year with program last season | .408 batting average, 35 RBIs, 3 home runs |
- Sarah Presler, Jr., IF| 2017 UMAC Rookie of the Year | .387 batting average, six stolen bases, ranks third in career stolen bases |
Need to Know
The Vikings have increased their season win total for the last three-straight years under Nessler. BLC set record for wins, ERA, saves, and shutouts last season.
The College of St. Scholastica
Rilee Dawson | 5th Season |
2019 Season
12-4 UMAC, 23-16 | 3rd |
Postseason: Went 1-2 at the UMAC Tournament
Top Returners
- Josie Fourre, Jr., 3B/1B | 2019 First Team All-UMAC; 2019 UMAC All-Defensive Team | 2019 Third Team NFCA All-Midwest Region | 7 HR, 28 RBIs, .737 slugging pct. |
- Olivia Howe, So., P/1B | 2019 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | 2019 NFCA Third Team All-Midwest Region | 39 Hits, 13 2B, Struck out 65 |
- Hannah Thul, Jr., 2B | 2019 First Team All-UMAC | 22 SB, 41 runs scored, 5 3B |
Need to Know
Fourre became the first player in program history last season to be named NFCA Division III National Player of the Week.
Crown College
Jamie Ross | 9th Season |
2019 Season
5-11 UMAC, 11-22 | 7th |
Top Returners
- Telma Roesler, So., OF/IF | 2019 UMAC All-Conference First Team | Set single season school records for runs and doubles | 37 Runs, 12 Doubles, .913 OPS |
- Liz Kemp, So., 1B/P | 2019 UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention | .393 batting average, 42 hits, 24 RBIs |
- Olivia Christopherson, Jr., P | 2018 UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention | 6 wins, 89.2 innings, 89 strikeouts |
Need to Know
Crown Softball looks to get back to the UMAC Playoffs after not making the UMAC tournament for the first time in five seasons.
Martin Luther College
Matt Pearson | 6th Season |
2019 Season
6-10 UMAC, 10-18 | T-5th |
Top Returners
- Brittany Denn, Jr., IF | 2019 1st TM All-UMAC | 2019 Stats: .479 BA, 18 doubles, .781 SLG |
- Elena Hoffman, So., IF | 2019 HM All-UMAC | 2019 Stats: .357 BA, 8 HR, 29 RBI |
- Sam Schoch, Jr., IF | 2019 2nd TM All-Region (NFCA) | 2019 Stats: .403 BA, .500 OBP, 6 doubles |
Need to Know
Infielders Brittany Denn and Elena Hoffman return after record-breaking debut seasons. Denn set the MLC single-season record with 18 doubles, while Hoffman tied for the program’s single-season mark with eight home runs.
North Central University
Joseph Waalk | 2nd Season |
2019 Season
1-15 UMAC, 3-31 | 9th |
Top Returners
- Emily Loop, Jr., C | .280 BA, .415 SLG%, .337 OB% |
- Megan Paulson, Jr., SS | .358 OB%, |
- Emma Bushey, Jr., P | 87 Strikeouts (5th in UMAC), 23 Batters SO Looking (3rd in UMAC), 117 innings pitched (4th in UMAC) |
Northland College
Tiffany Hudack | 2nd Season|
2020 Season
2-14 UMAC, 6-28 | 8th |
Top Returners
- Kylie Wickiser, Sr., OF| Top 8 UMAC Batting Average .400, 38 Hits, 31 Runs |
- Saylor Donnelly, So., 1B | Top 22 UMAC Batting Average .358, .531 SLG%, .430 OB% |
- Alivia Heller, So., OF | Top 25 UMAC Batting Average .354 (.383 UMAC), .606 SLG%, .418 OB% |
University of Minnesota-Morris
Heather Pennie-Roy | 22nd Season |
2019 Season
6-10, 16-22 | T-5th |
Postseason: UMAC Tournament
Top Returners
- Marissa Allen, So., C/3B | UMAC Player of the Week (3/26/19) | Hit .440, tallied 46 hits, recorded 37 RBI
- Becca Holland, Sr., OF/2B | 2018 & 2019 Academic All-Conference, 2018 All-Conference Honorable Mention | Hit .368, recorded 28 hits, tallied 13 RBI
- Lydia Mann, Jr., P/U | Hit .315, recorded 29 hits, tallied 25 RBI
University of Northwestern
Alicia Du’Monceaux | 12th Season |
2019 Season
11-5 UMAC, 27-17 | 4th |
Won UMAC tournament (5-0 over Bethany Lutheran), NCAA Regional Appearance (lost to St. Thomas, 9-0, lost to Wartburg College, 6-4)
Top Returners
- Ellie Ronning, Jr., IF | 2019 UMAC First-Team All-Conference, UMAC Player of the Week| Third in UMAC in RBIs (39), Third in UMAC in doubles (16), Fourth in UMAC in hits (50), batted .371 on the year
- Lexi Kopacek, Jr., P | 2019 UMAC Honorable Mention | Third most wins in the UMAC (12), third best ERA in the UMAC (3.27), Posted two shutouts in 2019 and went 3-0 at the UMAC tournament.
- Faith Forcier, Sr., C | 2019 UMAC Honorable Mention| tied for fourth in UMAC in sacrifice flies (2) and sixth in UMAC in stolen bases (9) Forcier started all 44 games behind the plate and caught 6 runners stealing|
Need to Know
The Eagles will welcome 11 freshmen to the 2020 squad.
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Nick Bursik | 2nd Season |
2019 Season
14-2 UMAC, 18-19 | 2nd |
Postseason: As No. 2-seed, went 1-2. Lost to St. Scholastica, 11-0, beat Minnesota Morris, 9-3, and lost to Bethany Lutheran, 5-0.
Returners
- Ashley Taipale, Sr., RHP/DP | All-UMAC First Team in 2019 | UMAC Pitcher of the Week (April 8) | 8-8, .388 ERA, 4 SHO, 86 K, 1 no-hitter, .362, 4 HR, 23 RBI |
- Alayna Tulip, Jr., INF | All-UMAC First Team in 2019 | Finlandia Dome Classic All-Tournament Team | .336, 10 XBH, 15 RBIs |
- Amanda Kishish, RHP | All-UMAC Honorable Mention in 2019 | UMAC Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 25), Finlandia Dome Classic All-Tournament Team | 5-5, 3.50 ERA, 37 K |
Need to Know
The Yellowjackets, who won their first 12 UMAC games in 2019, return 11 letterwinners and welcome eight newcomers for 2020.