ST. PAUL, Minn.---The 2020 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) softball season was going to be one of the most competitive seasons in a long time with a number of teams poised to take the title. That was, of course, until everything was halted abruptly due to COVID-19 and the season ended before it even got started.
However, better days appear to be on the horizon in 2021 with the hopes that the same expected competitiveness and conference parity will take shape this spring. Heading into the year, the College of St. Scholastica was picked to reclaim the conference regular season title for the first time 2018 in the UMAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Wednesday.
The Saints topped the poll with 61 points and six first-place votes, while back-to-back UMAC tournament champion University of Northwestern was picked second by the coaches with 54 points and three first-place nods. The University of Wisconsin-Superior was just behind in third with 50 points and was trailed by 2019 regular season champion Bethany Lutheran College in fourth with 49 points.
St. Scholastica will look to end its time in the UMAC in a state of its former glory and will rely on experienced veterans in three former All-UMAC Honorable Mention selections Olivia Howe, Nicole Anders and Toni Bishop. In a shortened sophomore season, Howe ended her time at the plate 19-of-27 with eight RBI in eight games. The junior will also help anchor the pitching staff with 2017 Rookie of the Year Bishop leading behind the plate.
The Eagles will look to finish the season strong and make another push for the NCAA tournament after rising up to represent the UMAC in 2018 and 2019 after being the third and fourth seeds, respectively, in the UMAC tournament. Senior and 2019 All-UMAC First Team pick Ellie Ronning will lead the Eagles coming in with 120 career hits in 101 games played. Courtney Schmidt will also help lead from an experienced senior class.
Wisconsin-Superior is under new leadership in first-year head coach Melissa Fracker who will hope to keep the Yellowjackets near the top of the conference after they placed second in 2019. Sophomore duo Kaela Kraemer and Davriana Horvath led the Yellowjackets in an abbreviated season last year, both hitting over .400 with OPS above .900.
Bethany Lutheran is positioned to push for a repeat title after winning the program’s first in 2019. The Vikings will rely heavily on junior Zoe Kinakin who earned All-UMAC First Team and Rookie of the Year honors in that championship season. Senior Eden Ambrose will also contribute to the Vikings’ offense and leadership.
The next three teams in the poll should be poised to fight for the final postseason spot this year with just five points separating them. The University of Minnesota Morris placed fifth with 31 points followed behind by Crown College in sixth with 30 points. Martin Luther College was seventh with 26 points.
The Cougars hope to make back-to-back tournament appearances following a successful 2019 campaign. Senior Lydia Mann leads the Cougar returners after hitting .571 in just four games in 2020. Grace Penke and Haley Wollschlager will anchor the Cougar pitching staff.
Crown hopes to make its first postseason appearance since 2018 and should be poised for that fight returning 2018 Honorable Mention pick Liz Kemp who hit .500 in 2020. Zoe Roberts and Larissa Vik also return after posting .900 or more OPS last spring.
Martin Luther could make a push for the UMAC tournament for the first time since 2013. Honorable Mention Elena Hoffman will lead the Knights after recording a .500 average and six home runs in just 10 games last spring. Sam Schoch and Kylie Wolf also return.
Northland College and North Central University round out the poll in eighth (14 points) and ninth (9 points), respectively. The LumberJills will be led by sophomore pitcher Kayla Preisler who threw nine complete games last spring. Rachel Loukinen and Megan Paulson will captain the Rams this spring.
Several UMAC teams kick off action in just over a week in dome play. Conference games are slated to begin the week of March 29 with the conference tournament set for early May.
2021 UMAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Pl. | School | Pts. |
| 1. | St. Scholastica | 61 (6) |
| 2. | Northwestern | 54 (3) |
| 3. | Wisconsin-Superior | 50 |
| 4. | Bethany Lutheran | 49 |
| 5. | Minnesota Morris | 31 |
| 6. | Crown | 30 |
| 7. | Martin Luther | 26 |
| 8. | Northland | 14 |
| 9. | North Central | 9 |