Grand Valley State dominates top spot in 2020 GLIAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Grand Valley State, which has won the last three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season titles, was the No. 1 pick in the 2020 GLIAC Pre-Season Coaches Poll.
The Lakers, who were 51-10 and reached the NCAA Division II College World Series in 2019, are also ranked third in the 2020 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Pre-Season Poll. They will be looking to offensive firepower and pitching depth to make up for the graduation two-time All-America pitcher Allison Lipovsky.
The heart of last year’s GVSU lineup returns this season after finishing as the top three RBI producers in the GLIAC in 2019. All-America third baseman Nikoma Holmen hit .389 as a sophomore, clubbing 12 home runs and driving in 63 runs. Lydia Goble exploded onto the scene as a freshman, leading the GLIAC with 65 RBI while hitting .361 with 14 homers. Taylor Rieger finished third with 51 RBI while hitting .295 with 10 home runs.
Pitcher Hannah Beatus was off to a great start to her sophomore year, posting an 0.86 earned run average in nine starts before a hand injury ended her season. Two-sport athlete Samantha Gehrls stepped up with a 3.49 ERA and 10-2 record in the circle as a freshman. Sophomore Hannah Dieck and freshman Ashley Platek will also work into the rotation.
Saginaw Valley State, which was 28-24 and placed fifth in the GLIAC in 2019, finished second in the 2020 poll, while Northwood was third, Davenport fourth and Wayne State fifth. The final four spots went to Ashland, Purdue Northwest, Ferris State and Parkside.
Davenport, Ashland and Northwood rounded out the GLIAC top four in the 2019 final standings. GVSU edged Northwood, 2-1, in the championship game of the 2019 GLIAC Tournament.
All-GLIAC first teamer and sophomore outfielder Jackie Popko of SVSU returns to help anchor the outfield after a freshman campaign where she hit .341 with eight home runs, nine doubles, knocking-in 37 runs and stealing 18 bases. A pair of All-GLIAC Second Team selections return as well. Junior Shelby Misiak hit .315 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI and had a .568 slugging percentage. Junior Blasia Moyler led the Cardinals and the GLIAC with 15 home runs, hitting .320 with 10 doubles, a team-high 44 RBI and 14 walks. Juniors Julia Salisbury, Meagan VerVaecke and sophomore Sarah Gersch return as well after hitting over .300 in 2019.
Northwood brings back eight of nine starters from last year’s impressive GLIAC Tournament finals showing. Pitcher Taylor Wright went 7-5 last season with a 1.93 ERA in 16 starts. Shayna Frank got better as the season went along and finished 13-9 overall with a 3.65 ERA. April Bennett made 29 appearances last season and posted eight victories. Newcomer Riley Shagena also has a chance to be a key performer in the circle for the Timberwolves.
Three of Davenport’s top five hitters return in Gabby Palazzolo (.343), Rachel Griffin (.338) and Alexa Flores (.314) and are expected to lead new coach Amber Bowman’s squad. Pitching wise, two of the Panthers’ top three ERAs are back, including Taylor Simon (3.09 ERA) and Ellie Muilenburg (4.04 ERA).
Wayne State (34-25) qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in the last eight seasons in 2019, despite having a sub .500 record (15-17) in league play. The Warriors had compiled a 17-4 mark prior to the start of GLIAC play. Head coach Gary Bryce enters his 39th season at the helm with 1,307 victories, which places him just 20 wins behind retired DePaul coach Eugene Lenti for sixth place all-time (all three NCAA Divisions combined).
Ferris State junior outfielder Paige Kortz was an All-GLIAC First Team honoree a year ago as one of the conference's top outfielders. In addition to Kortz and Popko, GVSU’s Holmen, Goble and junior outfielder Bailey Thatcher, and Davenport junior catcher Alexis Koza are returning from the 2019 All-GLIAC First Team.
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