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Alexie Levin of Western Washington was tthe GNAC Most Valuable Player last year. Related Links
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 PORTLAND - If the coaches’ preseason poll is any indication this spring’s GNAC softball race figures to be a photo finish. Just one point separates the top four teams in the poll. Defending champion Western Oregon and Central Washington tied for first in the balloting with 28 points. Western Washington and 2013 champion Saint Martin’s were just one point back of the co-favorites. All four teams received first place votes led by WOU with three. WWU earned two first-place votes in the balloting and CWU and SMU received one each. Of the remaining three teams, Simon Fraser, which welcomes back all-league pitcher Kelsie Hawkins who missed last season with an injury, figures to have the best chance to break into the Top 4 and earn a berth in the conference tournament.
The top four teams in the regular-season qualify for the tournament, which will be played Apr. 30-May 2 at Yakima. Montana State Billings and Northwest Nazarene compete the poll, earning No. 6 and No. 7 pre-season rankings. Following is a team-by-team review of the GNAC’s seven teams: WESTERN OREGON WOLVES Team Preview Western Oregon coach Lonny Sargent (61-49, 2 years; Overall, 92-116, 4 years) will have to rely on a rebuilt pitching staff if the Wolves are to repeat. WOU lost its top two hurlers – Kelli Demianew and Eryka Brill – who made 45 starts and combined for 24 wins – but they do have three players who saw time in the circle including Jourdan Williams (5-8, Sr., McMinnville, OR) who made 17 starts two years ago. Last spring Williams played mostly at third base, but did make 11 appearances in the circle, including six as starter. She pitched 45 innings and finished with a 7-1 record and a 4.67 ERA. Two other returning pitchers – Stephanie Morgan (5-4, Jr., Pleasant Hill, OR) and Sammi Cadwallader (5-8, So., Toledo, OR) – each made nine appearances and combined to throw 38 innings. Two newcomers are also available for the circle - Clackamas CC transfer Alyson Boytz (5-9, Jr., Noti, OR – Elmira) and freshman Lizzet Dominguez (5-8, Fr., Kent, WA – Kentridge). Boytz posted a 31-9 record in two seasons at Clackamas twice earning NWAACC Southern Region all-region honors. She posted a 1.89 ERA last spring. Western Oregon returns the fewest number of starters of any one in the league, but the quality is good. Outfielder Amanda Evola (5-7, Sr., Beaverton, OR – Westview) ranked third in the GNAC in batting last season (.403) and was the conference leader in doubles (16) and RBIs (55). She also finished second in runs scored with 53 in earning second team NFCA and Daktronics West Region honors. Williams and second baseman Kelsie Gardner (5-8, So., Salem, OR – South Salem) were also starters. Williams batted .246 and drove in 30 runs. Gardner, who earned second team all-conference honors and was selected GNAC Freshman of the Year, batted .384 and drove in 25 runs. Only two other returning players had at least 30 at bats – first baseman Destiny Kuehl (5-8, So., Portland, OR – David Douglas, .184, 7-for-38) and catcher-first baseman Elaine Sperry (5-8, Jr., Boise, ID – Timberline, .104, 5-for-48). In addition to Boytz, two transfers are available. Outfielder Brandy Knowles (5-6, Jr., Redmond, OR) was a first team NWAACC Eastern Region all-star two years ago at Walla Walla, batting .423. Knowles, who redshirted last season at WOU, also had six home runs and drove in 49 runs for WWCC. Catcher Ku’ulei Siolo (5-8, So., Aberdeen, WA) batted .340 and had six home runs and 32 RBI at Lower Columbia. CENTRAL WASHINGTON WILDCATS Team Preview The Wildcats finished with a 16-8 conference record last year, their best mark since winning their only conference titles in 2010 and 2011. Head coach Mallory Holtman-Fletcher (105-85, 4 years) returns a league-best 15 letter winners, but the Wildcats are one of two teams that doesn’t return a first-team all-league player. Central does have three players who were second team selections – outfielder Sammy Morris (5-3, So., Bothell, WA), catcher Austin Wilkerson (5-5, Jr., Ferndale, WA – Sehome) and third baseman Andrea Hamada (5-4, Jr., Walla Walla, WA). Morris batted .352 and drove in 21 runs a year ago, while Wilkerson batted .343 and drove in 19 runs. Hamada batted .305 and had six home runs and 27 RBI. First baseman/designated player Kaitlyn Campbell (6-0, So., Duvall, WA – Cedarcrest) was an honorable mention selection. She batted .351 and drove in 41 runs. Both figures ranked second on the team. She also led the Wildcats with 10 doubles. Two other position players and one pitcher were starters. Shortstop Taylor Ferleman (5-5, So., Bellevue, WA – Lake Washington) batted .301, while outfielder Michaela Hazlett (5-4, Jr., Purcell, OK) hit .252. Both players drove in nine runs. The lone returning pitcher is Kiana Wood (5-6, So., Aloha, OR), who ranked third in the GNAC with a 2.80 ERA and posted a 9-3 record. Strengthening the pitching will be Brielle (Bray) Copodonna (5-6, Jr., Issaquah, WA), who was a two-time NWAACC Northern Region Pitcher of the Year at Bellevue CC where in two seasons she posted a 34-13 record and fanned 273 batters. Copodonna is one of three transfers from the Wildcats. Utility player Jordan Sandrini (5-7, Jr., Adna, WA) batted .215 in 54 games in two seasons at Division I Siena. Outfielder Alexis Sanderlin (5-9, Jr., Olympia) previously played at Columbia Basin. Holtman-Fletcher also has three other players who had 30 or more at bats last season. Third baseman-catcher Alexa Olague (5-6, Jr., Tacoma, WA – Wilson) batted .317 (20-of-63) and drove in 11 runs in 25 games. Outfielder Remy Bradley (5-2, Jr., Richland, WA – Hanford) hit .242 (15-of-62) in 36 games and outfielder Katie Focher (5-8, Sr., Missoula, MT – Sentinel) hit .241 (19-of-79) in 37 games. Between them, the three combined to start 66 games. WESTERN WASHINGTON VIKINGS Team Preview The Vikings finished just one game back of Western Oregon last year and with 2014 GNAC MVP Alexie Levin (5-7, Jr., Everett, WA) among six returning starters WWU should be a legitimate title contender again this spring under head coach Amy Suiter (106-89, 4 years; Overall, 121-131, 5 years). Levin just missed the GNAC Triple Crown finishing second in batting average (.424), home runs (10) and RBI (47). She was a first team NFCA all-region selection. Levin is one of three returning Vikings who ranked in the Top 10 in hitting a year ago. GNAC Newcomer of the Year Autumn Isaacson (5-5, Sr., Lake Stevens, WA – Bellevue CC) finished fourth with a .400 average. The outfielder also set a GNAC record stealing 31 bases and was a first team all-GNAC selection. Second baseman Kali Patterson (5-7, So., Bonney Lake, WA) ranked 10th with a .350 average and had seven doubles. Other returning starters include third baseman Emma Blauser (5-6, Jr., Federal Way, WA – Todd Beamer), who batted .289 and had six home runs and 30 RBI, first baseman Jordan Walley (6-2, Jr., Maple Valley, WA – Tahoma).who hit .379 and drove in 26 runs and pitcher Aspen Ison (5-4, So., Gig Harbor, WA – Peninsula), who had a 7-3 record and 3.40 ERA. Walley’s average was the eighth best in the conference, however, she did not have enough plate appearances to qualify. Several other contributors also return from last year’s club, including pitcher Shayna Adelstein (5-6, So., Tucson, AZ – Marana Mountain View), who made 22 appearances, 14 in relief. She posted a 5-6 record and had a 3.00 ERA. Outfielders Lauren Bennett (5-3, Jr., Tustin, CA – Beckman), Allie Crowe (5-7, Sr., Auburn, WA – Thomas Jefferson) and Arrianna Barrio (5-4, Jr., Stanwood, WA – Lakewood) were all part-time starters. Bennett batted .355 (22-of-62) and drove in 18 runs. Crowe hit .310 (13-of-42) and Barrio batted .289 (13-for-45). Catchers Lynsey Amundson (5-5, So., Arlington, WA) and Mackenzie Hughes (6-0, So., Ellensburg, WA) hit .275 (14-for-51) and .220 (9-of-41), respectively. Two key transfers are among the newcomers for the Vikings. Shortstop Alicia Fine (5-6, Sr., Mt. Vernon, WA) was an honorable all-Big Sky selection at Portland State batting .303 and driving in 13 runs. First baseman-third baseman Holly Hawkins (5-6, Jr., Sedro-Woolley) earned second team NWAACC North Region honors at Skagit Valley after hitting .341, slamming five home runs and driving in 38 runs. SAINT MARTIN’S SAINTS Team Preview Two years ago the Saints won their first GNAC title and reached the championship game of the NCAA West sub-regional under head coach Rick Noren (110-86-1, 4 years; Overall, 512-23-1, 18 years). SMU slipped to fourth last season but still has five starters remaining from its 2013 championship team including three-time GNAC first team all-conference player Sam Munger. Munger (5-6, Sr., Everett, WA – Cascade) won the GNAC batting title (.426) and also led the conference in wins (24-9) in 2013 before slipping to .349 and a 20-16 record last year. She is one of five returning all-stars for the Saints, the most in the league. Also back from the 2013 and 2014 teams are outfielder Taviah Jenkins (5-8, Sr., Castle Rock, WA), third baseman Megan Miller (5-3, Jr., Everett, WA – Cascade), shortstop Dani Wall (5-9, Sr., Bucoda, WA – Tenino) and designated player Christina DeMar (5-6, Jr., Elma, WA). Jenkins batted .352 and had seven home runs and 42 RBI last year in earning first team GNAC honors. Miller, who batted .294 and drove in 18 runs, joined Munger and Jenkins on the first team all-conference team. Two Saint players were honorable mention selections – Wall and outfielder Mary Dettling (5-0, So., Reno, NV). Wall batted .295 and had five home runs and 25 RBI. Dettling, in her first season with the Saints, batted .346 and drove in seven runs. DeMar batted .263 and drove in seven runs last year. Two other returning starters include catcher Jackie Schmaeling (5-4, So., El Dorado Hills, CA – Oak Ridge) and outfielder Alyssa Slate (5-4, So., Antoich, CA – Deer Valley) also return. Schmaeling batted .265 with four home runs and 20 RBI and Slate batted .224 and drove in six runs. Also back is catcher-first baseman Corrie Wilson (5-4, So., Ferndale, WA), who hit .224 (13-for-58), They’ll be joined by transfer Janice Knutz (5-5, Jr., Centralia, WA – Centralia CC) who earned first team NWAACC West Region honors at Centralia CC in 2013 when she batted .402 and had 14 home runs and 41 RBI. SIMON FRASER CLAN Team Preview With an extremely young team and missing its pitching ace because of an injury, Simon Fraser struggled to an uncharacteristic-like 4-35 record a year ago under coach Mike Renney (561-259, 20 years). This year the Clan will return its team virtually intact as everyone who started 50 percent or more of SFU’s games a year ago is back. Also back is Kelsie Hawkins (5-8, Sr., Victoria, BC – Oak Bay), who sat out the 2014 season after compiling a 17-8 record and a 2.77 ERA in earning first team all-league honors in 2013. Three players who earned all-league honors last season are among 12 letter winners led by outfielder Rachel Proctor (5-9, Jr., Surrey, BC – Clayton Heights), who hit .333 and had two home runs and 15 RBI. She was a second team selection. Shortstop Danielle Raison (5-7, Sr., Langley, BC - Garibaldi) and outfielder Robyn Mogavero (5-7, So., Whitby, ON – All Saints Catholic) were honorable mention picks. Raison started 22 games, but didn’t play after March 30. She was hitting .354 and drove in 11 runs before sitting out SFU’s final 17 games. Mogavero started all but one game for SFU and finished the season with a solid .298 average and led the team in runs scored (24) and hits (36). Other returning starters include catcher Kaitlyn Cameron (5-9, Sr., Langley, BC – Walnut Grove), catcher-designated player Nicole Ratel (6-0, Jr., Langley, BC – Walnut Grove), first baseman Alex Baylak (5-7, Jr., Regina, SK – Campbell Collegiate), middle infielder Stephanie Caron (5-5, Jr., Delta, BC – Seaquam), third baseman Stefanie Sheard (5-4, So., Winnipeg, MB – Rivers Collegiate), outfielder Kendra Goodman (5-4, So., Surrey, BC – Walnut Grove) and pitcher Jessica Goulet (5-9, Jr., Cambridge, ON – Pere-Rene-de-Galinee). Cameron batted .284 and led the team in runs batted in with 17 and tied Proctor for the team lead in doubles with 10. Ratel hit .253 and drove in 12 runs, while Baylak hit .221 and had 19 RBIs. Caron hit .164, Sheard hit .255 and Goodman batted .206. Goulet pitched the majority of the innings in Hawkins’ absence, starting 19 games and throwing 121 2/3 innings. She finished with a 3-17 record and a 4.95 ERA. The only other returning player is first baseman Shelby McCannel (5-10, So., Lake Stevens, WA – Holy Names), who batted .212 (7-for-33). The eight other players on the squad all are freshmen, including six first-year players and two redshirts from last season. MONTANA STATE BILLINGS YELLOWJACKETS Team Preview The Yellowjackets return six of their top seven hitters and four of their five pitchers from a year ago so there is hope in Billings for MSUB to earn one of the GNAC’s four post-season berths. MSUB’s 13 returning letter winners matches Western Washington for the second most in the GNAC. Four of the 12 earned all-GNAC recognition, a number only bettered by Saint Martin’s (5) and matched by Central Washington and Simon Fraser. The top returnee is catcher Brittney Sanders (5-6, Sr., Kelso, WA), who batted .353, hit seven home runs and drove in 36. She was a first team GNAC selection. Earning second team honors was second baseman Aubrey Conceicao (5-3, Sr., Temecula, CA – Great Oaks). She batted .387 – the fifth highest average in the conference – and drove in 24 runs. Honorable mention selections a year ago were first baseman Emily Osborn (5-8, Sr., Las Vegas, NV - Bonanza) and shortstop Taylor Hoke (5-2, Sr., Chehalis, WA - Adna). Osborn batted .286, hit six home runs and plated 29. Hoke batted .328 and drove in 23 runs. Outfielders Cori Gammon (5-4, Jr., Sparks, NV - Reed) and Bella Rovens (5-7, So., Sparks, NV – Spanish Springs) were also starters. Gammon batted .299 and drove in 11 runs. Rovens hit .288 and had 10 RBI and a team-best 10 stolen bases. Five pitchers shared the time in the circle last year. All but one is back led by Jesskya MacDonald (5-8, Sr., Billings, MT – West), who led the team in wins (7-5), innings pitched (83) and strikeouts (82) and ranked second in ERA (4.30). Mary Grace Bywater (5-8, Sr., Tualatin, OR) won 5-of-7 decisions and had a 4.81 ERA, while Jessica Campbell (5-7, Sr., Hardin, MT, 1-2, 7.29) and Amanda Roark (5-8, Jr., Las Vegas, NV – Southeast Career Tech, 1-4, 8.77), each made nine appearances, six as starters. MSUB head coach Lisa Allen (86-76, 4 years) has 10 freshmen on her roster, including two redshirts, and one transfer catcher Haley Rowe (5-4, Jr., Billings, MT), who hit .486 and had five home runs and 60 RBI at junior college Williston State. NORTHWEST NAZARENE CRUSADERS Team Preview Among eight returning letter winners for third-year coach Rich Wagner (18-73, 2 years) is catcher Gatalina Schuster, who hit .237 and had four home runs and 15 RBI to earn honorable mention honors last season. Schuster (5-6, Sr., Lacey, WA – Timberline & LCC) is one of six 2014 starters on the roster along with first baseman-designated player Brianna Kinghorn (5-6, Sr., Meridian, ID – Mountain View), outfielders Alyssa Nitschelm (5-5, So., Redmond, OR) and Ali Schauer (5-7, Jr.), first base-outfielder Whitney Carlton (5-5, Sr., Kimberly, ID), second baseman Kendra Day (5-5, Sr., Portland, OR - Westview) and pitcher Ashley Pesek (5-9, So., Redmond, OR). Kinghorn ranked second on the team last year in batting (.288) and RBI (24), while Nitschelm hit .277 and had 20 RBI. Schauer batted .231 and plated nine runs. Carlton batted .269 and had 19 RBI, Day batted .193 with 10 RBI and Pesek had a 4-12 record and a 7.93 ERA in 80 1/3 innings. Aubree Shepherd (4-11, Kr., Baker City, OR) is the only other returning squad member on the 2015 roster. She played in 25 games and had 11 official at bats. Seven high school players and two junior college all-stars are among the newcomers. Both JC players – infielders Taylor Crabb (5-4, Jr., Wheatland, CA) and Morgan Thome (5-6, Jr., Marysville, CA) earned second-team all-conference honors at Yuba CC.
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