UW-Whitewater Tabbed To Win Softball Championship
MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the defending regular-season and tournament champion, has been tabbed to win the 2018 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) softball championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The first-place finish in the regular-season was the 11th in program history, while the tournament title was the ninth in school archives – and fifth straight. The Warhawks, who are ranked No. 10 nationally in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Poll distributed on March 7, also made their 20th NCAA appearance in 2017 and welcome back seven starting position players and three starting pitchers.
The returnees are led by Bella Matthias, who secured Pitcher of the Year recognition last season after leading the WIAC with 18 wins, 133 strikeouts and 10 shutouts. The 10 shutouts were the third-best total in conference history. Mallory Klotz topped the league with a .470 batting average, .531 on-base percentage, 71 hits and 57 runs scored, while finishing second with nine home runs. Matthias and Klotz are among the 50 players named to the NFCA NCAA Division III National Player of the Year Watch List. Head Coach Brenda Volk is six victories away from 600 in her career. She would become the 33rd coach in NCAA Division III history to reach the 600-win mark.
UW-Whitewater is followed in the conference predictions by: UW-La Crosse; UW-Oshkosh; UW-Eau Claire; UW-Stout; UW-Platteville; UW-River Falls; and UW-Stevens Point.
UW-La Crosse’s 30 wins a season ago marked the third time in program history it had at least 30 victories. The Eagles bring back 12 letterwinners from that squad, which also made the fifth NCAA appearance in school archives. Brittany Baldwin finished second in the conference with a .497 on-base percentage and 35 stolen bases, and third with a .420 batting average. On the mound, Caitlyn Hughes had a team-best 67 strikeouts, while Katie Klein recorded a league-best 10 saves in 2017 – the second-highest single-season total in WIAC history. Hughes was the WIAC Pitcher of the Year in 2016.
UW-Oshkosh, ranked No. 23 by the NFCA, brings back all nine starting position players from the 2017 team that posted the most victories (33) since the 2007 squad (36). The Titans also made the seventh NCAA appearance in program history – advancing to the Super Regionals – for the deepest run in the tournament since the 1988 campaign. A year ago, Abby Menting led the team with a .388 batting average, .643 slugging percentage, .487 on-base percentage, 50 hits, 34 RBI, 15 doubles and six home runs. She was the WIAC Co-Position Player of the Year in 2016. Erika Berry was second on the squad with 47 hits, 13 doubles, five home runs, while ranking third with a .333 batting average.
UW-Eau Claire’s 27 wins a year ago were the most since the 2013 squad compiled 28. Sarah Peka logged 83.0 innings on the mound in 2017 with a 1.94 earned run average, 11 wins and 35 strikeouts. Brooke Varian was second on the team with a .505 slugging percentage, 28 RBI, seven doubles and five home runs.
UW-Stout brings back seven starting position players from the 2017 squad that compiled 18 wins, which marked the most for the program since the 2014 team had 27. Kyncaide Diedrich was the team’s leading hitter and pitcher during the 2017 campaign, registering a .366 batting average, 45 hits, 32 runs scored, three triples and 19 stolen bases. On the mound, she had a 3.82 earned run average and struck out 26 batters in 55.0 innings.
UW-Platteville’s 11 overall wins a year ago represented a seven-game improvement from the 2016 campaign, while its four WIAC victories were the most since the 2014 squad had five. Jessy Tanel posted a team-best .374 batting average, .566 slugging percentage, .466 on-base percentage, 37 hits and three home runs.
UW-River Falls’ Ali Krohn had a team-high .382 batting average, .509 slugging percentage, .409 on-base percentage and 42 hits.
Ryan Konitzer begins his first season at the helm of UW-Stevens Point after serving as the head coach at Alverno College (Wis.) last year. He previously was as an assistant coach at Lawrence University (Wis.). The Pointers bring back Paige Allen, who led the team with 43 hits and six home runs, while batting .358.
2018 Preseason Predictions (Voted on by WIAC head coaches and sports information directors)
|
2017 Record |
| 1. UW-Whitewater |
(37-9 overall, 14-0 WIAC) |
| 2. UW-La Crosse |
(30-16, 10-4) |
| 3. UW-Oshkosh |
(33-13, 9-5) |
| 4. UW-Eau Claire |
(27-11, 8-6) |
| 5. UW-Stout |
(18-24, 5-9) |
| 6. UW-Platteville |
(11-25, 4-10) |
| 7. UW-River Falls |
(11-24, 3-11) |
| 8. UW-Stevens Point |
(12-24, 3-11) |
Team Nuggets (Entering the 2018 season)
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach: Leslie Huntington; 17th season at UWEC; 448-228-1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14/7
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 3/6
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 2/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: Sarah Peka, So., INF (2017-Honorable); Brooke Varian, Jr., INF (2016-Honorable, 2017-Honorable)
Notable Returning Position Players: None
Notable Returning Pitchers: Cheyenne Johnson, So., RHP
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach: Chris Helixon; 17th season (13th at UWL); 354-280-1 (overall) / 302-189 (UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/10
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 5/4
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 1/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 2/0
Returning All-WIAC: Brittany Baldwin, Sr., OF (2015-Honorable, 2016-First, 2017-First); Caitlyn Hughes, Jr., RHP (2016-First/Pitcher of the Year, 2017-First); Katie Klein, Sr., RHP (2015-Honorable); Grace Mindrup, So., 1B (2017-First)
Notable Returning Position Players: Sarah Mueller, Sr., 1B; Sydney Murphy, Jr., 3B; Kathryn Vander Schaaf, Jr., C
Notable Returning Pitchers: None
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach: Scott Beyer; 5th season at UWO; 112-49
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 13/4
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 9/0
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 3/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 1/2
Returning All-WIAC: Erika Berry, Sr., 3B (2015-Honorable, 2016-First, 2017-First); Natalie Dudek, So., SS (2017-Honorable); Kaitlyn Krol, Jr. 1B (2017-Honorable); Abby Menting, Jr., C (2016-First/Co-Position Player of the Year, 2017-First)
Notable Returning Position Players: Natalie Dillon, So., OF; Emma Fionda, Jr., OF; Claire Petrus, So., DP
Notable Returning Pitchers: Kaitlyn Krol, Jr., RHP; Claire Petrus, So., RHP; Bailey Smaney, Jr., RHP
UW-Platteville
Head Coach: Andie Varsho; 2nd season at UWP; 11-25
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 6/2
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 4/5
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 0/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 0/1
Returning All-WIAC: Jessy Tanel, So., 1B (2017-First)
Notable Returning Position Players: Rachel Bonnell, So., OF; Crystal Rote, Sr., OF
Notable Returning Pitchers: None
UW-River Falls
Head Coach: Amber Dohlman; 6th season (3rd at UWRF); 78-103-1 (overall) / 25-46-1 (UWRF)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/6
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 2/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 1/0
Returning All-WIAC: Shannan Borchardt, Sr., OF (2016-First); Amber Galloway, Sr., INF (2017-Honorable); Ali Krohn, Jr., UTIL (2017-First); Aiyana Ledwein, Sr., OF (2016-Honorable, 2017-Honorable)
Notable Returning Position Players: Lexi Dupee, So., 3B; Kaia Dorn, Jr., 1B
Notable Returning Pitchers: Maddie Studnicka, Sr., RHP
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Ryan Konitzer; 2nd season (1st at UWSP); 13-25 (overall) / 0-0 (UWSP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 10/9
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 5/5
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 3/0
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 1/0
Returning All-WIAC: Paige Allen, Sr., OF (2015-Honorable, 2017-First); Alyssa Cooper, Jr., INF (2016-First); Morgan Johnson, Jr., OF (2017-First)
Notable Returning Position Players: Payton Mix, Jr., SS
Notable Returning Pitchers: Ashley Cohen, So., RHP
UW-Stout
Head Coach: Becky Iaccino; 4th season (3rd season at UWST); 53-63 (overall) / 35-45 (UWST)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/6
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 7/1
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 3/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 0/1
Returning All-WIAC: Kyncaide Diedrich, So., OF (2017-Honorable); Kaylee Francois, Jr., OF (2017-First); Rachel Thomas, Sr., C (2016-Honorable, 2017-Honorable); Beth Wood, Sr., 1B/RHP (2016-Honorable, 2017-Honorable)
Notable Returning Position Players: Alicia Meyer, Jr., INF; Jessica Daley, So., INF; Katelyn Schobert, So., OF
Notable Returning Pitchers: Kyncaide Diedrich, So., RHP
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach: Brenda Volk; 20th season at UWW; 594-237-4
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14/8
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 3/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 0/0
Returning All-WIAC: Julia Camardo, Jr., RHP (2016-First); Caitlin Catino, Jr., OF (2016-First, 2017-Honorable); Meg Cohrs, So., 3B (2017-First); Mallory Klotz, Sr., OF (2015-First, 2016-Honorable, 2017-First); Bella Matthias, So., RHP (2017-First/Pitcher of the Year); Nikki Mikosz, So., C (2016-Honorable); Emily Rux, Jr., SS/3B/C (2016-First)
Notable Returning Position Players: Kelly Berglund, Jr., INF; Nicole Neitzel, So., C; Michayla Swanson, Sr., INF
Notable Returning Pitchers: Dani Biesiada, So., RHP; Molly Ethington, Jr., LHP
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