2016 NPF Draft Preview

The NPF Draft takes place tonight. As a preview of the action to come, let's take a look at each team's biggest needs and positions of depth, as well as some of the top players available.

AKRON RACERS
Joey Arrietta's squad has shown themselves competitive over the last couple of seasons, thanks in large part to minimal fluctuation of the roster and some low-profile draft picks and UFA signings that turned out well on the positive side. Following the trade of Jill Barrett, however, and the likely departure of Rachele Fico, the Racers will once again be in the market for some under-the-radar big-time playmakers.

PITCHING: Signed to the Racers' roster already are right-handed pitchers Aimee Creger; Alison Owen; Laura Winter; and Sarah Pauly. Fico received the franchise tag, but has not been officially signed. There are no left-handed pitchers on the roster at this point in time.

CATCHING: Second-year player Griffin Joiner is the only catcher actually on the roster at this point in time; Haley Outon also received a franchise tag, but likewise has yet to be resigned. Jessica Garcia, who split starting backstop duties last season with Outon, was traded to the USSSA Pride this offseason.

INFIELD: Following the afore-mentioned trade of Barrett, the hot-hitting super-utility player, the Racers only roster three true infielders at this point in time - Ashley Thomas, Kelley Montalvo, and Sam Fischer. Fischer has a Team USA commitment for part of the summer, so cannot be counted on for more than 1/2 of the season.

OUTFIELD: The one position the Racers are fully set in the depth department is the outfield. With five solid outfielders - namely A.J. Andrews, Jenny Gilbert, Shellie Robinson, Taylor Schlopy, and Cassie Tysarczyk - any future injury issues can be compensated for and covered sufficiently.

DRAFT PICKS: #3 (first round); #4 (first); #10 (second); #20 (fourth); #23 (fourth); #30 (fifth); #31 (fifth); #37 (sixth)

BIGGEST NEEDS: LHP; 1B; C; IF; IF; C; RHP

CHICAGO BANDITS
The reigning Cowles Cup champions will have to do some retooling this season following the offseason retirements of some key players, including star shortstop Tammy Williams, who made the move official just this week. It may be difficult to grab many of the A-list collegiate stars with their first pick coming at #11 overall, but Aaron Moore has a good eye for talent outside of the 'A-list'.

PITCHING: On the right-handed side of the circle, the Bandits have 2014 NCAA Player of the Year Lacey Waldrop; Sarah Moulton; and Tatum Edwards. Michelle Gascoigne is the lone southpaw that has resigned thus-far. Monica Abbott received the franchise tag, and is likely to re-sign for 2016, but that is not a 100% surety.

CATCHING: Slugger Taylor Edwards is the only catcher on the roster, so there is a serious need once-again for depth behind the plate. It seems like forever ago that Bandits fans had the luxury of a three-catcher system, any one of whom could be an all-pro star.

INFIELD: The recipients of Jill Barrett in the trade with Akron, the Bandits do have several more infielders to work with, including Brittany Cervantes; Danielle Zymkowitz; Natalie Hernandez; Sammy Marshall; Megan Blank; and Barrett. The retirement of Williams, as well as starting third baseman Amber Patton, leaves two gaping holes in the starting lineup. With such late-round and a minimal number of picks, I expect the future starters at those positions to come from those already signed or from the Bandits' always-well-attended open tryouts.

OUTFIELD: Speedsters Emily Allard and Brenna Moss are the only outfielders signed to this point; both are capable and worthy of starting, but there's obviously a need for a third starter (they're fast, but not THAT fast) and depth.

DRAFT PICKS: #11 (second); #17 (third); #22 (fourth); #24 (fourth)

BIGGEST NEEDS: OF; C; OF; P

DALLAS CHARGE
No longer the league's newest franchise, the Charge are coming off a playoff appearance in their first season of existence and look to build on that, especially with new homegrown competition in the Scrap Yard Dawgs. GM Kevin Shelton is famous for building his roster in true building-block fashion, with several unheralded-but-capable players and giving them the chance to prove themselves, often to solid success.

PITCHING: Collegiate standout Lauren Haeger, as well as Aussie Vanessa Stokes and former Georgia Southern star Sarah Purvis suit up from the right side, while NPF veteran Morgan Melloh is the token southpaw on the staff. Jolene Henderson received the franchise tag, though her return remains up in the air.

CATCHING: The Charge are (alphabetically) the first team to have their catching situation under complete control. NPF veteran and Clint Myers product Kaylyn Castillo is joined by second-year player Vicky Galasso and Aussie signee Chelsea Forkin behind the dish.  The trio should all vie for starting time as the season wears on.

INFIELD: Shelton's team is covered at every position around the horn, thanks to the staying power of his draft selections in 2015. Kaitlyn Richardson; Ashley Burkhardt; Kahley Novak; Nadia Taylor; Danielle Henderson; Kylee Lahners; and Renada Davis all return this season, Taylor the only one of the group with more than a year's professional experience under her belt.

OUTFIELD: Similar to their counterparts in Chicago, the Charge return just two outfielders - Mikey Kenney and Brianna Cherry - and, while both are solid contributors, the need for depth and a third starter is obvious.

DRAFT PICKS: #9 (second); #15 (third); #29 (fifth); #38 (sixth)

BIGGEST NEEDS: OF; OF; P

PENNSYLVANIA REBELLION
Despite the change in ownership to solidify what was formerly the league's always-in-limbo franchise, the Rebellion haven't been able to get much out of the league cellar, even missing the playoffs last season in favor of first-year club Dallas. Issues with the coaching staff created rifts among some members of the roster and saw some players released despite talent and a history of production, but the Rebellion really need a steroid shot in the arm (proverbially speaking) to get some new life in them and make them competitive in 2016.

PITCHING: Former #1 overall pick Dallas Escobedo is joined on the right side by Emily Weiman and Emma Johnson; lefty second-year players Miranda Kramer and Haylie Wagner finish out the staff.

CATCHING: The Rebellion are set behind the plate with Kristyn Sandberg, Mandy Ogle, and Taylor Tsistsikronis, the Australian import. All three are signed just through this season, but the trio of them leave no real hole for a backstop that wants to do more than ride the pine.

INFIELD: Australian legend Stacey Porter should be handed a starting job on a silver platter; the Rebellion are well-covered across the infield, with Alisa Goler; Olivia Watkins; Sarah Prezioso; Cheyenne Cordes; Whitney Arion; and Team USA commit Raven Chavanne.

OUTFIELD: Victoria Hayward and Courtney Senas, both second-year players, are the only rostered outfielders as it stands now; the Rebellion will need to pick up at least two before the season begins, unless they intend to again use Ogle as an outfielder on a regular basis.

DRAFT PICKS: #1 (first); #8 (second); #14 (third); #16 (third); #21 (fourth); #28 (fifth); #35 (sixth); #36 (sixth)

BIGGEST NEEDS: OF; OF; corner IF; P

SCRAP YARD DAWGS
Don't tell new general manager Connie May that there are only moderate expectations for her club to win much in their inaugural season in the league; she is ready to build her team and challenge immediately. However likely or unlikely that prospect may be, the Dawgs' strategy thus far has been an interesting one, which makes their draft prospects even more so.

PITCHING: In the continuation of stocking their roster, the Dawgs have many holes. They've added four to their staff so far, though that number includes two Team USA products in Jackie Traina and Sara Nevins. Both are only likely available for 1/2 of a season, maximum. Rachel Fox and Katie Cotta currently make up the rest of the staff in the circle.

CATCHING: Former USSSA Pride catcher Amber Freeman was acquired in the so-called 'expansion draft', while former Texas A&M backstop Meagan May-Whitley and Team USA catcher Amanda Chidester finish out the round behind the plate. Despite Chidester's national team commitments, the Dawgs should be able to make it work without any added depth behind the plate.

INFIELD: The Dawgs now have even more holes in their infield, their most drastically-bare set of positions, thanks to the retirement of Megan Low after one season. Lexy Bennett, Britt Vonk, and Nerissa Myers make up the entire infield roster pre-draft. Of that group, only Myers has any professional experience and proven NPF staying power.

OUTFIELD: The Dawgs are close to setting pretty in the outfield, with 'expansion draft' additions Emilee Koerner and Brejae Washington, both moving over from USSSA. Renee Erwin, the former Dallas Charge player, and Christi Orgeron, she of Louisiana-Lafayette fame, round out the outfield. The Dawgs could use another outfielder, but it is not a majorly-pressing need.

DRAFT PICKS: #6 (first); #7 (second); #19 (third); #26 (fourth); #27 (fifth); #33 (fifth); #34 (sixth); #40 (sixth)

BIGGEST NEEDS: LHP; RHP; 1B; 3B; P; IF depth

USSSA PRIDE
The premier franchise in the league is having to retool a bit for the first time in a long time, following the retirement of staff ace Cat Osterman, as well as the surprising trade of two of their best infielders earlier this week. With a few holes to fill, the Pride won't be in a "just the best available" selection mode all draft, but after filling their most pressing needs, do not be surprised if that thought process abounds.

PITCHING: Following the loss of Osterman, the Pride are likely to dub Keilani Ricketts the new staff ace. Behind her are closer Jordan Taylor, who has proved solid, and less-proven long-time pros Chelsea Thomas, Andi Williamson, and Hannah Rogers. Ricketts is the only lefty on the staff.

CATCHING: Megan Willis has also retired, leaving Chelsea Goodacre and newly-acquired former Racer Jessica Garcia as the 1-2 punch behind the plate. Both have the look of starter material, though I would not be surprised to see the Pride pick up another catcher if a good one is available.

INFIELD: Even after the trade of Madison Shipman and Brigette Del Ponte, the Pride are still solid 'round the horn. Gionna DiSalvatore, Shelby Pendley, Andrea Duran, and Courtney Ceo are the likely starters as it stands now, with Amanda Kamekona and NCAA home run queen Lauren Chamberlain also in the fold. Despite all of that, I firmly believe we'll see an infielder taken with the Pride's #2-overall selection, likely plugged in to a starting role, however unearned the spot may be.

OUTFIELD: Longtime pro and former Alabama great Kelly Kretschmann and the speedy Megan Wiggins anchor the outfield, where they're also joined by second-year former AZ Wildcat Hallie Wilson. There is a need for depth behind the trio, possibly to compete for playing time and to back up in case of injury.

DRAFT PICKS: #2 (first); #5 (first); #12 (second); #13 (third); #18 (third); #25( fourth); #32 (fifth); #39 (sixth)

BIGGEST NEEDS: OF; C; P; IF

Top 25 National Player of the Year Finalists Announced

The twenty-five players who will vie for the title of National Player of the Year have been announced; the list includes several no-brainer selections and a few that leave you scratching your head.

The list of finalists includes players representing twenty different schools and nine conferences. Twice-defending champions Florida are joined by Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, and James Madison in placing two players on the list.

The state of Florida placed five players on the list, including the pairs of Gators and Seminoles as well as ace pitcher Kylee Hanson of Florida Atlantic. The state of Louisiana placed three on the list, from three different schools, including representatives of McNeese State, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Louisiana-Monroe.

The group of finalists is comprised of nine seniors; eleven juniors; and five sophomores. Seven of the players in their final collegiate seasons were selected in the NPF Draft earlier this month.

Seven players find themselves a finalist for the second season in a row, including UCLA's Allexis ("Chip") Bennett; Louisiana-Lafayette's Lexie Elkins; James Madison's Megan Good; Minnesota's Sara Groenewegen; Alabama's Haylie McCleney; Michigan's Sierra Romero; and Notre Dame's Karley Wester.

Some big names and perennial award winners are notably absent from the list of finalists, including Oregon's Cheridan Hawkins; Georgia's Alex Hugo; Missouri's Sami Fagan; UCF's Shelby Turnier; and Florida's Kelsey Stewart.

The full list of finalists can be found below:

Ali Aguilar	Infield	Washington
Allexis Bennett	Outfield	UCLA
Jessica Burroughs	Pitcher	Florida State
Kasey Cooper	Third Base	Auburn
Koral Costa	Outfield	Oregon
Lexie Elkins	Catcher	Louisiana-Lafayette
Cortni Emanuel	Infield	Georgia
Jailyn Ford	Pitcher	James Madison
Megan Good	Pitcher	James Madison
Delanie Gourley	Pitcher	Florida
Sara Groenewegen	Pitcher	Minnesota
Kylee Hanson	Pitcher	Florida Atlantic
Sierra Lawrence	Outfield	Michigan
Sydney Littlejohn	Pitcher	Alabama
Haylie McCleney	Outfield	Alabama
Kelsey Nunley	Pitcher	Kentucky
Aleshia Ocasio	Pitcher	Florida
Paige Parker	Pitcher	Oklahoma
Erika Piancastelli	Catcher	McNeese State
Alex Powers	Infield	Florida State
Rochelle Roberts	Outfield	Louisiana-Monroe
Sierra Romero	Infield	Michigan
Lindsey Stephens	Outfield	Texas
Karley Wester	Outfield	Notre Dame
Morgan Zerkle	Outfield	Marshall

Shipman, Del Ponte Traded to SYD

In a bit of somewhat-baffling news, the USSSA Pride traded all-pro shortstop Madison Shipman and fellow infielder Brigette Del Ponte to the Scrap Yard Dawgs in exchange for the 13th overall pick in this year's draft, as well as a 2nd and 3rd round pick in the 2017 draft.

Shipman, the 2nd overall pick in the 2014 draft and the league's Rookie of the Year that season, hitting .344 with twenty-eight RBI; last year, she hit .198 and her RBI numbers were cut in half.

Del Ponte, the former Akron Racer, hit .244 during the 2015 season, with four home runs and fifteen RBI. She began her career with the Racers and spent one year in Akron before being traded to the Pride.

The trio of draft picks received by the Pride in the trade give them eight total in this year's draft, including five in the first three rounds (#s 2, 5, 12, 13, and 18 overall).

The 2017 picks were specifically noted as Scrap Yard's first picks in the second and third round, 
leaving open the possibility the team may yet end 
up still selecting in those rounds in a year's time.

Historically, the Pride tend to hold onto players of Shipman's skill set and high marketability, so the trade surprised many, especially considering what was acquired in return. In a press release, Pride GM Don DeDonatis noted an offseason coaching change and that the move 'was the best thing for these players and their careers as every day players'.

It's rather obviously a table-setting maneuver, looking forward to certain acquisitions in the draft, but it's still quite a coup on the Scrap Yard Dawgs' part and a somewhat-puzzling transaction for the league's premier franchise. 

Weekend Roundup

 NEWS:

• UAB head coach Marla Townsend earned her 500th career win.
• Coastal Carolina senior catcher Morgan Noad set the Big South conference home run record with her 68th career long ball.
• Florida State head coach Lonnie Alameda earned her 500th career win.
• USC-Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins earned his 800th career win.
• Auburn senior pitcher Lexi Davis set the school career record for pitching wins with her 61st.
• South Florida head coach Ken Eriksen earned his 850th career win.
• Army head coach Michelle DePolo earned her 200th career win.
• Marshall junior pitcher Jordan Dixon set the school career record for strikeouts with #732 of her career.
• Central Arkansas senior Jessie Taylor set the school career home run record with her 33rd career roundtripper.
• Western Kentucky head coach Amy Tudor earned her 300th career win.
• Fairleigh Dickinson catcher Wynne McCann set the program's career RBI record, driving in #111 of her career.
• Maryland senior Lindsey Schmeiser set the school's career record for runs scored.
• Towson sophomore Shelby Stracher tied the program's single-season home run record with her 13th of the season.
• Long Beach State senior Darian Tautalafua set the program and conference career home run records simultaneously, with the 48th of her career. She later added to it with her 49th.
• Congratulations to this week's member of the No-No Express - 
• Shelby Hursh, Ohio State - (7.0 IP, 10 SO, vs. Penn State)

KELSEY STEWART HIT TRACKER

The Florida Gators' second baseman comes into this season 113 hits away from the career NCAA record. We will track her progress weekly.

UPSET ALERT - Ranked teams that suffered losses this week.

- #1 Michigan - Lost to NR Nebraska 1-0

- #6 James Madison - Lost to NR Virginia Tech 2-1

- #9 LSU - Lost to #T-15 Kentucky 1-0, 3-0

- #10 Texas A&M - SWEPT by #19 Tennessee 8-7, 11-0, 11-8

- #14 Missouri - SWEPT by #11 Georgia 12-4, 10-0, 6-3

- #18 Baylor - SWEPT by #T-12 Oklahoma 5-0, 4-0 (8), 7-4

- #21 Arizona State - SWEPT by #T-12 Washington 7-2, 6-1, 12-9

WORTH WATCHING

Our Cards can do more than just play ball! Catcher Morgan Buie honoring our military with the anthem. @NFCAorg pic.twitter.com/FSw6fdLR3w

— Lamar Softball (@LamarSoftball) April 10, 2016

PERFORMANCES OF THE WEEK

• Kendall McKinney, UNC-Greensboro - The Spartans' junior outfielder gathered three hits this weekend, and every one of them saw her round the bases and a fan grab a souvenir. The trio of roundtrippers saw her season's total double 100% in size. 
• Darian Tautalafua, Long Beach State - En route to the record-breaking performance noted above, Tautalafua had herself quite a day on Sunday. The senior infielder took the UC Davis pitching to school, reaching base safely in five out of seven at-bats. Every hit she gathered in the doubleheader went for extra bases; four of them went over the outfield wall. She ended the full weekend with a stat line of .556/4/7, bringing in an extra one on a sac fly on Saturday's series-opener.

Jordan Strickland Steps Into Justin's World

Texas is known for a lot of things: Big cowboy hats. The 'cowboy way'. Great food. And the marvelous sports, both collegiate and pro.

Jordan Strickland / Photo: (c) Baylor
Softball Shots

Softball also falls into that category - though there's been no professional presence until the last two years, college ball in Texas sports some fine teams and even better players. Among the finest to suit up for the Baylor Bears is former shortstop Jordan Strickland.

Twice an all-conference honoree and a member of the 2014 Women's College World Series' all-tournament team, Strickland lit up opposing pitching all throughout her career, making a habit of getting on base and doing her job of making the other team's life difficult.

2014 was by far her finest season; traditionally, up to that point, not a power hitter, with just four home runs to her name, she ended her junior season with fourteen roundtrippers that season alone, adding forty-nine RBI and a .291 batting average. She led her squad in home runs and tied for the team lead in RBIs.

Strickland ended her career as the program's all-time leader in postseason hits, finishing up with twenty-seven base knocks to her name. In the 2014 postseason, during which time the Bears made it all the way to Oklahoma City and the Women's College World Series, she hit .413 with three home runs and nine RBI. She owns a share of a World Series record thanks to a two-home run performance against Florida State in the WCWS that same season.

Justin’s World: How did you get your start playing softball?

Jordan Strickland: I started out playing co-ed tee ball at age 4. From there it was pretty much history… I started playing travel ball around age 8 and was a life-long Texas Glory girl, playing mostly under my dad’s coaching! I loved softball and loved the people it brought into my life so it just became a part of who I am and gave me a platform to do so many incredible things!

Justin’s World: Why Baylor – what about the school and softball program drew you in and made Waco the place you wanted to play ball and get your education?

Jordan Strickland: It was very important to me to stay relatively close to home so my family could watch me play as often as they wanted. They helped me chase my dreams since I was a little girl so it was only fair to me that they be able to join me for the full journey. It was also a dream of mine to play in the Big 12 under coaches that would push me to be the best, yet also be a family to me.  Baylor is about 2 hours away from home, was getting better and better as I committed and was coached by an awesome staff that shared the same Christian morals I did and promised to love me like their own. The minute I stepped on campus, I fell in love and felt like that was home. I was more than excited that they wanted to give me a chance to play for them! The great education Baylor offers wasn’t a bad deal either!!

Justin’s World: In your own words, what does it mean to you to be a Baylor Bear?

Jordan Strickland: I take a lot of pride in being a Baylor Bear. I pray that I never took a day for granted in that uniform and that I gave everything I had to that program and university. Being a Baylor Bear means so much more than just being a student-athlete… to know that you’re representing your university on a national stage and that you’re representing Christianity through sports for every person in the country to see is nothing short of an honor. You want to do everything you can to make sure that brand is never diminished and strive to make it even better. Baylor had years and years of being the underdog and even the joke in just about every sport, I think it’s evident the kind of pride that we take in our school by seeing how hard our coaches and athletes have worked over the years to make sure that Baylor is no longer that silly school on the Brazos. Those are a few of the many reasons that make me so proud to be a Baylor Bear.

Justin’s World: Tell me about playing for Coach Moore.

Jordan Strickland: I am almost 99.9% sure there is not another coach in Division I athletics like Coach Moore. He loves softball and will coach you all day long but he loves Jesus more and realizes that this game is nothing more than a game. He is concerned with who are as people and he molds us into better people through softball. That is not to say that I have not had some of the hardest, trying times of my life playing softball for him, but it is to say that he understands the bigger picture and I’ll always be thankful for that. He is really big on trusting his team to do their thing on their own and take care of business, which is great because I do think that coaches can get in the way of a team’s success at times. He will step in at any point, though, make no mistake about that! He made us eat McDonalds for breakfast on my senior day because we played poorly the day before. I’m not sure I’ll be able to forgive him for that for a long time! I’m kind of joking, kind of not…

Justin’s World: Describe to me the experience of the Women’s College World Series and the feeling when you took the field for the first time in Oklahoma City.
Jordan Strickland: The Women’s College World Series was insane (in the best way of course). I still remember so vividly stepping on that field for the first time! It was easily one of the best experiences of my life. It’s an overwhelming nervous excitement, but as soon as the first pitch was thrown it all went away and it was time to play. The atmosphere makes those games so fun. The crowd, the music, the fact that you’re playing for a national title! It gives me chills just thinking about it. I had the time of my life playing in OKC and I think of that experience often. It was just surreal knowing that I created that dream with my dad at 8 years old and that my entire family was there to watch me live that out. I definitely believe that without the exact group of girls I was there with, the experience would not have been as great. That was my absolute all time favorite team and we had a chemistry that is hard to ever replicate. It was such a fun and special year as a whole. It’s not something I’ll be forgetting anytime soon J

Justin’s World: Talk to me about the pressures that come with being a Division 1 athlete and how you handle those same pressures when you’re squarely in the spotlight year-to-year.

Jordan Strickland: The title of Division 1 athlete does come with some pressure but it’s a good pressure! It often reminds you that so many people, little girls in particular, are looking up to and wanting to be just like you one day so it’s important to keep that in mind and represent yourself well through your effort and attitude. We were all that same little girl once, just amazed by college softball players, so it’s humbling to have so many sweet faces greet us after the games! The pressure becomes what you make it, though. It can either make or break you but it’s all up to you; you take it in stride or you let the stress get the best of you. Softball is supposed to be fun and adding too much pressure just takes the fun away, so I always tried to just let the cards fall where they may and play ball!

Justin’s World: Fill me in about the Bears’ mission trips to Africa and why you feel so strongly about participating in those and the work that is done through them.

Jordan Strickland: Africa was incredible! I am so glad I was able to join the team, even though I was a part of last year’s squad. We were able to introduce softball in the country of Ghana, where baseball and softball is not really a thing. In fact, no one we had interacted with had actually seen or heard of the sport before so it was quite the experience being able to teach them our game while they taught us their culture and shared SO much love with us. I think all of us Baylor people agreed at the end of the trip that we were supposed to go over there and teach them the love that the Bible shows us and they are the ones that taught us and blessed us immensely! 

Justin’s World: Was playing ball past college, either domestically or overseas, something you considered pursuing?

Jordan Strickland: I honestly didn’t think too much about it. If opportunities arose, I definitely would’ve looked into pursuing them, but nothing really came up so it was time to move on!

Justin’s World: What kind of plans do you have to stay involved with the game of softball?

Jordan Strickland: Currently, I give lessons and coach travel ball as well as announce Baylor home games on the radio. For now, that’s about the extent of my involvement. I am hoping in the future to continue to find ways to stay a part of the game!

Justin’s World: When all is said and done, and with your playing career now through, what do you hope people remember as the legacy that you have left on the game?

Jordan Strickland: I would like people to remember me for my character rather than the skills I possessed on the softball field. I hope that every person I interacted with as a Lady Bear was positively impacted and that my effort and attitude in softball showed that there is a bigger picture beyond this game. It was an absolute honor to play at Baylor and I will always cherish it, but I will cherish even more the relationships that I made and how the people surrounding that program changed my life, so I hope that people can find some good in how I interacted with them as well!

Justin’s World: And from a serious question to my favorite, one totally off-the-wall! Say you were stranded on a deserted island for an undetermined period of time, but you can take three things with you. No boats, no phones, but anything else tangible goes. What would you take?

Jordan Strickland: Hmmmm… this is tough! I am very fair-skinned so sunscreen is a MUST; then I would probably take the most comfortable hammock ever and some sort of weapon (machete maybe…?!)

Weekend Roundup

NEWS:

• UMSL (D2) pitcher Hannah Perryman set the new Division II career strikeouts mark with the 1,540th KO of her career on Sunday.
• UCF head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie collected her 800th career win in a 1-0 victory at UConn on Friday.
• Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins won her 1,458th career game against Indiana on Saturday. With the win, she took sole possession of first place all-time on the Division 1 wins list. Find the full story on the milestone victory here.
• Villanova head coach Maria Dibernardi notched her 800th career victory in a walk-off 8-7 win over St. John's on Saturday.
• LSU-Eunice (NJCAA) head coach Andy Lee won his 500th career game on Tuesday.
• Oklahoma State senior infielder Tiffany Mikkelson set the program's new career home run record with her 33rd career roundtripper.
• Marshall's Kaelynn Greene set the Herd's all-time hits record with her 267th base knock; with the hit, she passed softball legend Rachel Folden for sole possession of the program record.
• North Dakota State first baseman Jackie Stifter set her program's new single-season hit-by-pitch record with her 11th plunking of the year on Sunday.
• Congratulations to this week's members of the No-No Express - 
• Michaela Whitney, Creighton (7.0 IP, 11 SO, vs. Seton Hall)
• Whitney Gillespie, Jacksonville State (5.0 IP, 9 SO, vs. Tennessee State)

KELSEY STEWART HIT TRACKER

The Florida Gators' second baseman comes into this season 113 hits away from the career NCAA record. We will track her progress weekly.

Original photo: Tim Casey / Florida Communications

UPSET ALERT - Ranked teams that suffered losses this week.

- #1 Florida - Lost to #7 Alabama 2-1; Lost to #7 Alabama 3-0

- #4 Louisiana-Lafayette - Lost to #19 Baylor 2-0

- #5 Oregon - Lost to #18 UCLA 16-6 (5)

- #7 Alabama - Lost to #1 Florida 3-2

- #8 Florida State - Lost to #20 Notre Dame 5-4

- #9 Georgia - Lost to #10 LSU 5-4; Lost to #10 LSU 5-1

- #10 LSU - Lost to #9 Georgia 3-1

- #12 Kentucky - SWEPT by #3 Auburn 9-0, 6-5, 3-1

- #13 Washington - Lost to #17 Arizona 8-4

- #14 Oklahoma - Lost to NR Kansas 5-2

- #15 Missouri - Lost to #7 Alabama 16-2 (5); Lost to #16 Tennessee 7-3

- #16 Tennessee - Lost to #15 Missouri 5-4; Lost to #15 Missouri 7-3

- #17 Arizona - Lost to #13 Washington 6-2

- #18 UCLA - Lost to #5 Oregon 6-5

- #20 Notre Dame - Lost to #8 Florida State 14-5

- #21 Arizona State - Lost to NR California 7-6

- #22 Minnesota - Lost to NR Northwestern 10-2 (5)

- #23 South Florida - Lost to NR Houston 5-2

- #24 Ohio State - Lost to NR Wisconsin 6-5

- #25 Louisville - Lost to NR North Carolina 6-5; Lost to NR North Carolina 8-6

PERFORMANCES OF THE WEEK

• Tiffany Mikkelson, Oklahoma State - En route to the program's new career home run record, Mikkelson and her squad were part of a rare occurence; an offensive onslaught that still came up just short at every turn. Despite the team's 0-4 record on the week, Mikkelson impressed at the plate, hitting .500 with a pair of home runs and eight RBI. She earned five weeks and scored a quartet of times.
• Sydney O'Hara, Syracuse - A weather-shortened weekend series didn't seem to bother O'Hara. In two games (both in sub-45 degree temperatures) against Georgia Tech, the junior hit .556 and was responsible for 2/3 of her team's runs. She knocked the ball over the fence three times, 1/3 of her official at-bats on the weekend, and walked twice. 
• Morgan Noad, Coastal Carolina - The Chanticleers' senior slugger is now within one home run of holding her own record, namely the Big South's career home run mark. She hit .583 on the weekend, reaching base seven times on a hit and six times via the base-on-balls. She drove in ten runs and scored six of her own, including three of her own roundtrippers.

Carol Hutchins Tallies Win #1,458

Michigan head softball coach Carol Hutchins led her team to an 8-0 run-rule victory on Saturday against Indiana. It gave the Wolverines the series win and marked the 1,458th victory of her career.

With the win, she moved into sole possession of first-place on the all-time coaching list, moving out of a tie with former Fresno State head coach Margie Wright.

Photo: Kevin Gregory

In a statement to Justin's World, Wright said, "I want to congratulate Carol on having the most wins in NCAA Division 1 softball. I know how difficult that is and I congratulate her and her teams on this accomplishment. It was an honor being in that position for a long time and I can honestly say the honor was more about the female athletes I got to coach. With every victory, they got to either be the hero of the win, become a more confident person with the win and they get to take pride in the hard work and sacrifices they made to get that victory. I'm sure Hutch shares those sentiments and I congratulate her and Michigan softball."

"Hutch" tied Wright's record on Friday in the series-opener against the Hoosiers, that an 11-5 victory, before claiming the record in the mercy-rule-shortened "W" today.

A record thirty-four years in the making, those same years have seen the Maize & Blue in the Women's College World Series eleven times, including last season and 2005, when they were crowned National Champions. The legendary coach and 2006 NFCA Hall of Fame inductee holds a career .754 winning percentage and eighteen Big Ten conference titles, including the last eight in a row.

The Wolverines moved to 26-3 on the season with the win and currently hold the #2 spot in both the ASA/USA and NFCA Top 25 polls, and the top spot in the latest RPI.