The Ohio Dominican softball team is coming off a 2014 season which saw them capture their first GLIAC regular season championship, as well as, seeing the team make its first NCAA tournament appearance. Last season the Panthers finished with a 30-29 record overall, but a 21-5 mark inside the GLIAC vaulted them to the number one seed in the conference tournament.

ODU brings back a bevy of experienced players this season, including 2014 GLIAC Player of the Year, Taylor Thomas, and Freshman of the Year, Allie Hinton. Thomas, also a Capital One Academic All-American selection, finished the 2014 season with a .386 batting average, including 10 home runs, as well as, a conference leading 17 doubles. Hinton was a three time GLIAC Player of the Week honoree last season as she batted .367, with 12 doubles, eight home runs, as she drove in 47 runs. Other key contributors from last season's team that are returning this season are Montana Fishel, Kelsey Albanese, Kelsey Seeds, Lizzy Weber, Brier Sanner, and Alex Cribari. Each played in at least 40 games in 2014 for the Panthers.

The Black and Gold will be led by a familiar face in 2015 as head coach Marcella Vanlandingham returns for her 20th season at ODU. Vanlandingham was named GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2014 and is just 31 wins away from 600 with the Panthers. Her teams at ODU have been above .500 in 11 seasons, with 8-of-the-11 seasons resulting in winning percentage over .600. 

Grand Valley State is coming off of a 30-14 record last year, which includes a 16-6 GLIAC tally, while advancing to the NCAA Midwest Region Tournament for the fourth straight season. The Lakers and head coach Dana Callihan bring back five starters and 11 letterwinners from last season's team. Callihan has been GVSU's assistant coach for the past 13 seasons, replacing 24-year veteran Doug 'Doc' Woods, who retired at the end of the 2014 campaign. 

2013 GLIAC Freshman of the Year Sara Andrasik returns for her junior season in Allendale. Andrasik went 12-7 in the circle last year and logged 124.1 innings after going 20-4 with a 1.59 ERA and 161 strikeouts during her rookie campaign. A pair of Laker freshmen - second baseman Jenna Lenza and outfielder Kelsey Dominguez - returns for GVSU. Last year, Lenza started in all 44 games, totaling a .348 batting average, 15 extra base hits (nine doubles, two triples, four homers), and 26 RBI. She was named to the Daktronics All-Midwest Region Second Team.

Dominguez started in 33 of 37 contests, hit .318 and scored 27 runs to go with 14 ribbies. The freshmen were strong defensively, committing just four errors in 133 total chances. Junior infielder/outfielder McKenze Supernaw (42 starts, 34 hits, nine doubles) and sophomore Marianne Deppe (started all 44 games at catcher, .985 fielding percentage), and junior outfielder Chelsea Horvath (24 starts, 20 runs scored) also return to the starting lineup. 

The Saginaw Valley State University softball team looks to improve upon a 2014 season that was a very successful one, but was a year the did not end as planned for the Cardinals on the diamond.  The 2014 squad entered the GLIAC Tournament as the #3 seed, bowing out after two games and missing-out on the NCAA Division II Playoffs.  The team that posted an overall record of 26-11 and an 18-6 mark in the GLIAC only graduated two seniors and returns a wealth of experience with nine seniors, mixed with some great young talent that should make for an exciting year. 

A main returner from last year's team that led the league with a .329 batting average in Shelby Weeks.  The All-GLIAC Second Teamer from last season enters her junior season after hitting .410 overall with seven home runs, 35 RBIs and 44 runs scored.  Of her 50 hits, seven were doubles and four triples.  Senior catcher Amanda Best and senior center-fielder Mackenzie Rousse return as well after earning All-GLIAC First Team honors a year ago.  Best hit .324 with five homers and eight doubles, knocking-in 26 and scoring 25 runs.  Rousse posted a .350 batting average with nine doubles, 26 runs, 17 RBIs and 17 walks.    On the mound, juniors Sarah Appold and Sarah Vrabel return to give the Cardinals a one-two punch in the circle.  Appold had a 9-3 record with a save, striking-out 121 batters and recording a 2.78 ERA.  Vrabel was 10-5, tossing 7 complete games with a 3.38 ERA.

Todd Buckingham begins his third season at the helm on Saturday, February 14^th at Bellarmine University against Bellarmine and Kentucky Wesleyan. 

Ashland University head softball coach Sheilah Gulas is 18-for-18 in winning seasons with the Eagles, and the collection of talent for the 2015 edition looks like Gulas will make it 19-for-19.

The Eagles' offense will be led by 2014 All-GLIAC First-Team outfielder Taylor Menhart, a senior who led the team with a .419 batting average, which also ranked third in the GLIAC, and tied for the conference lead in doubles with 17. Menhart is one of 50 players on the watch list for the inaugural Schutt Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II National Player of the Year award.

Another senior, Sarah Alley, was a first-team conference utility choice following a 2014 season in which she went 11-9 with three saves and a 2.26 ERA in the circle and hit .369 with 13 doubles and 38 RBI.

Heading into her ninth season as the head coach of the Northwood University softball team, head coach Meaggan Pettipiece will be facing a season of transition for the 2015 campaign. Northwood had a solid season a year ago, going 26-16 overall (17-7 GLIAC). The challenge for the team this season will be replacing six seniors, three of which were key infielders.

The Timberwolves will look to their veteran pitchers for help on the defensive side of the ball.  Senior pitcher Maddison Sebald will be the leading returner on the mound for the Timberwolves coming off a 12-6 record last season and finished seventh in the GLIAC with a 2.22 ERA. Also returning in the circle are Casey Brown and Vanessa Ewing, who combined to win 13 games a year ago.

Despite the losses in the field, Northwood does return a talented group of players. Junior Jessica Tostrud earned All-Region honors a year ago after batting .390. Sophomore second baseman Ashley Lynn hit .321 while ranking fourth in the GLIAC with 35 runs. Sophomore outfielder Hayley D'Avilar showed power and speed in a strong freshman season, finishing with a .338 batting average. Senior catcher Lindsay Obremski will be counted on for leadership as well as a high level of play after batting .336 with five home runs last season. Other returners who will be counted on include Andria Gietl, Riley Ostapowicz, Lauren Look and Lyndsey Look.

Former Walsh Wall of Fame pitcher Jaime Porter is extremely optimistic as Walsh prepares for the 2015 season. Porter, in her fifth year, had plenty of things to be happy about in 2014. Her Cavs finished 29-19 overall and 15-9 in the GLIAC, reaching the conference tournament. On a personal note, Porter also recorded 100^thcareer win.

The Cavs return key letter winners for the 2015. All-GLIAC performers Casi Rohr (RHP, Sr.), Marissa Bondoni (Jr. 1B, RHP), and Sam Troxell (Sr. SS) lead the contingent of veterans. Rohr was 17-12 with 197 strikeouts and a 1.74 ERA. Bondoni hit .326, with four homeruns, ten doubles and 15 RBI, and in the circle she was 8-3. Troxell hit .292 with a team-leading 23 RBI and 12 sacrifices.

The Cavs will have veterans at practically every position. Abby Reusser (So.) returns at second base and Anna Fach (Sr.) at third base to complete the infield. The outfield returns veteran Anna Anderson (Jr.), who will move from fight-field to centerfield. The other spots are unsettled with Kendra Moore (So.), Reagan Rito (So.) and Nikki Newman (So.) battling for playing time. Look for freshman Annie Woolf to handle a majority of the catching duties.

Jeff Nickerson enters his seventh season at the helm of the Tiffin University softball program. Last year his team finished up 23-22 overall and 10-16 in GLIAC play. One of Nickerson's main goals for the 2015 season was to add depth. The team now has 24 players competing for a starting spot, which Nickerson says is one of the reasons he believes his team is much improved over last year. 

The Dragons return three All-GLIAC performers from last season. Kristin Prokopakis earned a 2^nd team All-GLIAC selection, hitting .330, collecting 33 hits, 8 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Jenna King returns after being named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention team a year ago. King led the Dragons in hitting with a .379 average, tallying 47 hits, 13 extra base hits, 23 RBIs, and 11 steals. Pitcher Taylor Spang did a little bit of everything for her squad last year. She earned an All-GLIAC Honorable Mention citation. Spang finished with a 10-9 record with 15 complete games, 117 innings pitched, 78 strikeouts, and a 2.15 ERA. Some other top performers returning include Madison Yanek (.339 average, 42 hits, 5 home runs, and 28 RBIs) and Kelsey Yaratch (5-3 record, 2.33 ERA, 4 complete games, and 2 shutouts). 

Coach Nickerson hit the recruiting trail and brought back some excellent talent. Kailee Flowers is a Norwalk, Ohio native that performed for Norwalk High School. Kailee was a 3-time 1^st team All-NOL selection. The Rock sisters, Amanda and Allyson, are twins that bring added depth to Nickerson's squad. Allyson Rock earned numerous conference accolades and was named All-District. Amanda Rock was an All-Area Honorable Mention selection during her time at Crown Point High School. Delaney Mixer is a freshman utility player that brings more pop to the Dragon lineup. Mixer hit .441 as a senior at Grove City High and smacked 4 home runs. Samantha Ringwalt will see time on the infield or behind the plate for the Dragons. Ringwalt is a decorated player that attended River View High. She was named 1^st team All-Ohio her senior year and 2^nd team All-Ohio her junior season. Kimmy Reynolds joins the Dragons after a very successful campaign at Bath High School. Reynolds won an Ohio High School State Championship at Bath, and was named 1^stteam All-Ohio, All-Conference, and 2-time WBL Player of the Year. Michelle Poe joins the Dragons after transferring from Purdue University. Poe is a native of Gilbert, Arizona, and earned many athletic accolades at her high school. Poe played in five games for Purdue.

Findlay Oilers

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Few teams finished the 2014 season as hot as the Hillsdale College softball team. Now that the calendar has turned to 2015, the Chargers hope to keep the momentum going.

Hillsdale won nine of its last 10 games of last season, and with eight returning starters in the field back, along with all three starting pitchers, optimism is high around the team that more success is in its immediate future.

Starting pitchers Kate Ardrey, Sarah Grunert and Sarah Klopfer are all back, and each have a minimum of two years' worth of starting experience. They will be reinforced by freshman pitcher Danielle Steine, who has made a strong impression in the team's early workouts.

All three starting outfielders from last year return, led by junior Ainsley Ellison, who set a school record for stolen bases in 2014. Sophomore Bekah Kastning led the team in all power hitting categories in her rookie season and seems primed for a big leap in 2015. Outfielder Jessica Day, one of three seniors on the team, also returns. Fellow seniors Ardrey and Melissa Felkey fill in the right side of the infield, while Julia Kosco can play both short and third base. Danielle Garceau and Cassie Asselta form a formidable catching duo. Look for the team's talented freshman class to make its presence known throughout the season as well. 

The Ferris State University softball team will start its second campaign under head coach Sarah Rotta with one of the biggest schedules in school history along with one of the program's earliest starts ever.

The Bulldogs are slated to play a 56-game regular season schedule in 2015 that begins the first week of February with 10 games in the states of Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky over a five-day span. FSU will also travel to Florida with 18 more games scheduled from March 6-15 at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla.

Eleven letterwinners return this spring as Rotta embarks on her second campaign at the FSU helm. FSU also added six newcomers in the offseason, including a pair of junior college transfers.

Ferris State returns its outfield virtually intact from a year ago with junior Alyssa Smith the Bulldogs' top returning hitter from a year ago after batting .304 with a squad-best 31 hits and 20 runs scored a year ago. She also had a team-high 15 stolen bases. 

Other key returnees back include sophomore catcher Casey Bias, junior utility player Taylor Verbic, sophomore infielder Sarah Johnson and junior outfielder Rachael Gabrielson. In the pitching circle, the Bulldogs welcome back a trio that received significant action last season in senior Cara DeLange, sophomore Megan Hiler and sophomore Stacy Thompson.

Ferris State has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances in school history, including five trips since 2005. The Bulldogs have also won at least 24 games in a campaign 10 of the last 11 years to date.

Lake Superior State Lakers

SEASON PREVIEW: 

 

Lake Erie Storm

SEASON PREVIEW: 

The Storm softball team returns several players from last season for their second year under Head Coach Stephanie Smith.  Lindsay Valvoda returns for her sophomore season after leading the Storm in batting average last season (.325).  Classmate Elizabeth Karako also returns after finishing second on the team in average last season (.320).  Darrien Yanek led the Storm with five homeruns and 10 doubles last season.  Nine new players join the Storm this year.

The Storm opens the season in Clearwater, Fla. in March.

 

 

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Malone Pioneers

Head Coach:  Tenequa Martin - 2nd Season
2015 Preseason Pick: 14th (23 points)

SEASON PREVIEW: 

After a disappointing 10-30-1 overall mark last year, including a 2-24 record in the GLIAC, the Pioneers, under the direction of third-year head coach Tenequa Martin, hope that the 2015 campaign will provide the turnaround they were expecting, but did not occur, last year.  And while roster size alone won't insure success, the leap from 18 on the active roster last season to 23 available in '15 will be a nice start.

With only two players from last year, one of whom graduated, not returning for this season, the current squad is a much more veteran unit, loaded with plenty of sophomores and juniors and several seniors.  Five excellent incoming freshmen and two transfers round out the 2015 squad. 

Last year's two-person pitching staff has swelled to six this year but will still be anchored by senior right-handed returnees Jillian Coyle and Stephanie Byrne.  Coyle, who posted a 7-13 mark last season, hopes to lower her '14 5.00 ERA after pitching 134.1 innings last season.  Julie Ward, a redshirt freshman, newcomer Shealynn Zimnick, Kari Hall, a transfer from Paradise Valley Community College, and sophomore Hannah Ramirez, who appeared in just one game last year, round out the pitching squad.

A .400 hitter and a pair of .300 swatters are back to lead the squad on offense as junior catcher Emily Isla returns after a .422 campaign.  Junior second baseman Desi Hengoed, who along with Isla was a '14 All-GLIAC Honorable Mention selection, returns after posting a .379 average and leading the squad in home runs (4), RBI's (35) and slugging percentage (.621).  Junior shortstop Alexa Holztrager, who tallied a .333 average with a pair of home runs, also looks to keep the 2015 offense attack on track.

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