Read on for a full recap of the end-of-regular-season as we celebrate the huge successes of our Aussies over in the US college system.
NCAA Division I
#10 WASHINGTON – At the end of the regular season, Washington sits at #10 on the National Power Ranking with a 35 win- 15 loss record for the year. They hold the 3rd position in the highly competitive PAC-12 region, with a 14-10 conference record. With their regular season coming to a close, they will be looking ahead to Regionals from May 20-22 which they will host at home in Seattle. A successful campaign at regionals will see them progress to super regionals and hopefully the NCAA National Championships.
Gabbie Plain – Gabbie has had an outstanding senior season, appearing in 32 games, starting 25. She has pitched 16 complete games and 9 shutouts. Her 2.02ERA and 189 strikeouts in 160 innings of pitching attests to her consistent dominance from the circle. Gabbie also celebrated some very high achievements this year. She became only the second Husky in program history and only the 3rd active player in NCAA Div I softball to have 1,000 career strikeouts. She also joined Husky elites winning her 100th game. Both achievements came in the same series vs Oregon. The achievements also won her the NCAA Player of the Week Award, topping off a spectacular week where she went 3-0 in with a perfect 0.00 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. Gabbie was named All-Pac-12 First Team for the fourth time in her career, off the back of 14 career Pac-12 weekly awards. Gabbie’s excellence extends beyond the diamond and into the classroom, where she has been named on the CoSIDA Academic All-Region Team. And in huge news, Gabbie has also been drafted to play in the Athletes Unlimited professional league which is currently the highest echelon of softball in the USA- Amazing Gabbie!!!
#25 LOUISIANA – After some weeks outside the Top 25, Louisiana have clawed their way back into national contention, posting a 45-11 record by dominating the opposition within the Sun Belt Conference. Their 23-4 conference record saw them capture the Sun Belt Crown. Their 12 game winning streak put the world on notice- they are peaking at the right time and need to be taken seriously. They will compete in the NCAA Clemson Regional on May 20-21 followed by Super Regionals if successful. The Rajin’ Cajuns are hungry for their first National Championship, and will be all in.
Kandra Lamb – Kandra Lamb has continued to dominate and impress all season. She started 17 of 33 appearances, posting a 1.97 ERA for the year with 5 starts. She was outstanding in the circle, pitching 100 innings with 146 strikeouts! She has held opposing batters to a meagre .161 batting average. Kandra has seen a lot of action, often appearing in relief over the past few weeks preparing her for a strong Regional championships starting this weekend. Good Luck Kandra!
SAN DIEGO STATE – San Diego State have had a hugely successful ’22 campaign, posting a 37-13 season. They took home the Mountain West Conference crown, posting a conference 20-3 record with 1 game left to play, earning them a Regional birth against LSU in Arizona. They have won ten of their last eleven games and will be keen to make the most of this opportunity.
Shaylan Whatman – Shaylan Whatman has stepped into D1 competition with confidence and success, capitalising on her previous junior college experience at Pensacola State. During her maiden season in D-I competition she appeared in 18 games for San Diego. Her hard work and diligence earned her 7 starts. Shaylan’s defence this year is something to watch, accounting for 22 putouts and 14 assists for a .973 fielding percentage. Whatman committed only 1 error on the year, which is very impressive for a rookie! With 40% of her hits being doubles, Shaylan has also contributed offensively to the Aztecs and has shown that she is a consistently solid all-around performer. Cheering you on for regionals Shaylan!
OREGON STATE – Oregon State has had a rollercoaster season. After a slow start, the Beavers caught fire, winning 16 straight. They pushed their way into the top twenty-five on the national power rankings. However, a plague of injuries coupled with the ever-difficult task of playing in the super competitive PAC-12 conference alongside nationally ranked UCLA, Arizona State, Washington and Oregon Ducks gave them a host of challenges to overcome. In conference play they experienced heartbreak, losing 10 straight with seven of those games only losing by one point and one in extra innings- leaving them with a 9-14 conference record, finishing in 6th position in the PAC-12. They did turn things around, defeating Utah 8-7 in 10 innings on May 12 before beating them again 3-1 on May 13. They will play regionals in Knoxville Tennessee from 20-22 May.
Tarni Stepto – Tarni Stepto rose to the challenge in her sophomore year, stepping up when the team needed her most to appear in 13 games, starting 10. In 70 innings she collected 94 strikeouts while only allowing 26 earned runs and 18 walks, ranking 37th in the nation at 5.22 strikeouts per walk. A force to be reckoned with, Tarni still has her junior and senior seasons ahead of her which will be incredibly exciting to see her with more opportunities to showcase her prowess.
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY – LMU’s season has come down to the wire. LMU have been solid all year with a 36-15 record and narrowly grabbed the West Coast Conference (WCC) crown from rivals BSU. They will have a tough run at regionals, facing off against Ole Miss and UCLA in Los Angeles to gain entry into the National Championships. C’mon Lions! You can do it!
Georgia Blair – Georgia Blair, who transferred from the University of Central Florida at the beginning of this year to play for the Lions has solidified herself as a core member of the team, both offensively and defensively. Georgia has played in 46 games this season, starting every one of them. In that span, she collected 47 hits in 123 at bats with 12 doubles, 6 homeruns, and 29 RBI’s, which was good enough for a .626 slugging percentage and an incredible .382 batting average! At this level, it is an outstanding achievement. She has also been a very reliable middle infielder, contributing 59 putouts and 50 assists for a .940 fielding percentage. Way to go Georgia, you are amazing!
JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY – Jacksonville University finished a difficult season with a 15-31 record. They finished last in the ASUN Conference with a 9-15 record. The Dolphins had a young team with five freshman and five sophomores to play alongside six juniors and four seniors. This season was about rebuilding and this team will only continue to strengthen as the younger players continue to develop experience in this tough competition. Congratulations on a hard fought season filled with mateship and resilience. We look forward to following you through the next season!
Ashlee Harwood – Ashlee appeared in 16 games as a freshman, earning her first start against Georgia Southern on March 3 – a game where she faced 29 batters, striking out two and allowing only three earned runs. She was awarded her first career NCAA Div I win on March 19, where she came in relief against Bellermine where she had two strikeouts in three innings while keeping the Knights from scoring. Ashlee continued to develop as the season progressed, accumulating 22 strikeouts in 38.1 innings of pitching. This is an outstanding feat for a freshman in the NCAA Division 1 competition and we are so proud of you Ash! Looking forward to following your 2023 season!
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY – Quinnipiac had a tough season ending with a 12-29 record. They finished at the bottom of the MAAC Conference ladder with 5 wins and 15 losses in conference play. The Bobcats struggled through injury and adversity throughout the season. All nineteen members of their roster took the field, including all five first year members on their roster. They are certainly building for the future, giving their young members valuable experience throughout the season.
Zali Adams – While many first-year freshmen redshirt their first season, Zali got the call-up from the coach, appearing in 7 games and earning her first start on Feb 20 where she pitched 2 innings against Iowa State. She continued to get opportunities as the season progressed, entering the circle in relief to record 3 strikeouts in 12.1 innings. She was awarded her first NCAA win against Central Connecticut State on March 30 where she pitched 2 innings and allowed only 1 run. Her experience in this first season will undoubtedly be invaluable in coming seasons and is a testament to her strength and confidence to be contributing so much in her freshman season at this level. Great job Zali, congrats on an excellent first year!
BALL STATE – Ball State’s year was a tale of two seasons. They got off to a slow start, losing five of their first six games leading to an unfortunate 7-17 non-conference record. However, once it came time to play conference games, the Cardinals came alive- coming fifth in the MAC Conference with a 15-14 conference record. They posted two 5-game winning streaks; one at the end of March, and one in mid-April. During the second steak they mercied Kent State in 5 innings and mercied Northern Illinois twice (13-3 and 11-0) in five innings each. They finished their season winning two games to one in a three game series against Akron, passing them on the conference ladder in the process.
Aislinn Morris – With limited opportunities to take the diamond this season, freshman Aislinn Morris gained invaluable development and training in preparation for next year. Her hustle, work ethic and the technical support she has received from an experienced coaching staff at a quality Div. I program will prove crucial in coming seasons. Watching some of the training clips has been amazing- not just the facilities but the drive and atmosphere. Sometimes it’s hard to see the work that is put in when nobody is watching, but we see you and are proud of you Aislinn!
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY – The UMBC Retrievers started their season slowly, opening with a 1-3 record, but quickly found their bite on the way to a 31-10 season record. Their 21-6 conference record was good enough to capture the America East Conference title for the third time straight. The highlight of their season was certainly their 13 game winning streak which spanned from Feb 27 until April 2. In that span they held five teams scoreless and mercied two opponents. They finished their season with a 3 game winning streak. As conference champions, they earn an automatic berth in regionals and will face off against #12 seed Duke in North Carolina this weekend. Good luck Retrievers!
Erin Behel – As a redshirt freshman Erin trained with the team and benefited from the knowledge and direction of an excellent coaching staff without using up a year of playing eligibility. The confidence she will have attained from this experience will no doubt pay dividends in future seasons as she is called upon to play a more significant role in the future. Way to go, Erin!
NCAA Division II
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY – Simon Fraser University has the unique distinction of being the only member of the NCAA family outside of the United States. Located in Burnaby, British Columbia, they play against other Div II colleges along the West Coast. This season they posted a 18-22 season record, going 9-15 in conference play. This was good enough to finish 6th in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). Their season highlight was a four game series sweep against conference rivals Western Oregon, winning two of the contests in extra innings. On April 29th they defeated the eventual GNAC Champions, Northwest Nazarene 10-7. The Clan fielded a very young team this year, with 12 of the 21 members of the roster being freshmen. This bodes well for this team who should only get better as they continue to develop.
Grace Peters – Welcome to the newest member of the Softball ShoutOut family, and our only Victorian, Grace Peters! Originally from Melbourne, Grace is part of the SFU Freshmen class and competed in 15 games, often entering as a pinch runner. She successfully stole bases against Western Oregon and St. Martins, scoring runs against Central Washington and St. Martins toward the tail end of the season. Grace went 2 from 4, batting in three games and was faultless in the field with 3 catches, 2 put-outs, and an assist in her limited opportunities. Welcome to our family, Grace, and congratulations on an exciting freshmen season!
NAIA Division I
SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY – Southeastern University has experienced a storybook season and has rapidly become one of our favourite teams to watch. Starting the season unranked, the Fire stormed onto the NAIA centre-stage, posting an extraordinary 46-10 record. The team paired explosive bats with an ultra-effective field, dominating the opposition with an electric playing style. During their season they held 16 teams scoreless. They mercied 7 teams, and scored 9 runs or more in 19 games. They were almost unstoppable at home, winning 28 of 31 games. Their 23-4 conference secured The SUN Conference title. They finished the season ranked 11th in the nation in the Final NAIA poll. They play the University of Michigan-Dearborn in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round on May 16th. GO FIRE!!
Jamie Mead – Jamie started in 56 games for the Fire, where she racked up 74 hits in 166 at bats. She hit 15 doubles, 2 triples, and 3 homeruns while batting in 45 RBI’s! After transferring from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to Southeastern, Jamie quickly solidified herself as one of the leaders on the team. She led the team in batting average (.446), OPS (1.156), hits (74), slugging percentage (.614), walks (30), and total bases (102). She was also a huge asset in the field, finishing the season third in catches (192) and assists (70), and fourth in put-outs (116). She helped lead 5 double plays, and fielded an impressive .940 on the year. What an exceptional performance you’ve put on this year, Jamie - we love watching you play! The whole country is behind you as you work towards winning the NAIA National Championship!
ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY – Roosevelt University was one of the last universities to start their season, but they did not disappoint. They posted a 20-22 overall record and went 13-9 in conference play. The highlight in their season was a six game winning streak from April 23-27. In that span they swept three conference rivals – St. Ambrose, Lincoln, and Trinity International. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to get them into the postseason, finishing third in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Roosevelt fielded a very young team, with 22 freshmen on the roster, so have a lot of experience moving into next season. We look forward to cheering the Lakers on next year!
Alyssa Ribarovski – Although Alyssa had limited playing opportunities in her freshman year, she benefited from intensive training from an experienced NAIA coaching staff and travel experience with the team. This will prove invaluable moving forward- keep working Alyssa! We can’t wait to watch you show off all you’ve been learning!
NJCAA Division I
FLORIDA
PENSACOLA STATE finished their regular season with 39 wins and 11 losses. They consistently ranked 11th in the national NJCAA Division I Softball Poll in the back half of the season, being unranked in the pre-season poll and working hard to earn every rank along the way. They provided a host of highlights and exciting moments throughout the season on their way to securing the Panhandle Conference Championship.
Jenna Trim continued a brilliantly consistent performance racking up another 24 hits in the last few weeks to take her batting average to .384 for the season with an impressive 48 RBI’s. Ranking 18th in the nation for Sac flies, and top 80 in the nation (and 9th in Region 8) for doubles hitting, Jenna has made a significant impact to the Pirates offense this season as well as defensively, fielding .950 for the season and contributing to over 200 outs for her team. Jenna was named on the FCSAA Second-team All-State/NJCAA All-Region 8 Team and First-team All Panhandle Conference. Huge Congratulations Jenna!
Georgia Hood had an insane freshman season, with 27 hits in the last few weeks, batting .391 and taking her total batting average to a dynamite .440! Across the season she netted 65 RBI’s, helping to propel Pensacola State to a #2 regional ranking. She was in the top 80 in the nation for doubles hitting, and top 40 for RBI’s. Defensively, Georgia made only a single error the entire season, contributing to 179 outs and finishing with a .994 fielding average. Georgia was awarded very special accolades this season, being named the 2022 FCSAA Player of the Year, 2022 Panhandle Conference Player of the Year, FCSAA First-Team All-State/NJCAA All-Region 8, First-team All Panhandle Conference and was twice awarded Region 8 Player of the Week this season. Amazing work Georgia!
Mya Geros had another 22 hits over the last few weeks, batting .344 and taking her season to an outstanding .426 batting average with 3 homeruns, 36 RBI’s and an incredible fielding average of .976! Mya was named on the FCSAA Second-team All-State/NJCAA All-Region 8 Team and First-team All Panhandle Conference. Great job Mya!
Bella Hanna’s persistence and consistency paid off for the Pirates as she went on a hitting spree in the last half of the season batting an impressive .407 with 24 hits in the last few weeks to take her season average to .368. Bella only made 2 errors the entire season, maintaining an outstanding .947 fielding average. Bella was named on the Second-team All Panhandle Conference. Way to go Bella!
INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE, home to Jessie Keech, came first in their Southern Conference. With 32 wins and 19 losses, Indian River had a tough end to their regular season with 3 losses against Miami Dade to head into postseason play. With a sophomore-heavy roster in 2022, freshman Jessie Keech had limited playing opportunities this season, playing in 6 games with 5 wins. After a season of amazing training opportunities it will be exciting to see what 2023 holds for Jessie and the River.
TEXAS
ODESSA COLLEGE, home to Madi Scott, has had 27 wins and 2 losses since our last recap. This takes Odessa to 49 wins and 5 losses for the season, earning them a consistent top 5 ranking in the national NJCAA Division 1 Softball Poll and first in their WJCAC Conference. Madi Scott has gone from strength to strength, adding 38 hits to the backend of the season, taking her overall batting average to an impressive .437, with 43 RBI’s. Madi had an overall fielding average of .974 and ranked 28th in the nation for triples hitting and 10th in the nation for double plays – making her a huge offensive and defensive weapon for Odessa moving into the postseason.
HOWARD COLLEGE has been home to Jorja Barrett, Sasha Willems and Olivia Kuzminski this season. With 39 wins and 9 losses, Howard are a force to be reckoned with and although dipping in and out of the national standings they are looking strong for postseason play coming second in the WJCAC Conference.
Sasha Willems has blitzed the last half of the season, clocking up another 33 hits to take her overall batting average to an insane .442! She has hit 15 homeruns with 64 RBI’s and is 21st in the nation for on base percentage. Defensively, Sasha has been incredibly consistent with a fielding average of .909 for the season making a huge contribution to the Hawks across the board.
Olivia Kuzminski has also had an exceptional freshman season for the Hawks. Over the last few weeks she’s added 34 hits to her name, taking her season batting average to an impressive .370. She has consistently maintained her leadoff position in the lineup, with 15 homeruns and 43 RBI’s for the season. Defensively she has fielded .895, making her a huge asset to the Hawks in her debut year.
Over the last few weeks Jorja Barrett has pitched 8 more wins for the Hawks, taking her season total to 10 wins and 3 losses, with 75 strikeouts this season. Ranking nationally in the top 50 for strikeouts per game, Jorja has been a consistently excellent performer at Howard with an exceptional .985 fielding average.
ANGELINA COLLEGE in Texas added two Aussies to their roster this season, Madi Baker and Mia Gilmore. Angelina finished their regular season with 37 wins and 15 losses and will have a tough road in their postseason games among a very competitive region. Angelina has a roster full of freshman so regardless of their May games, they are looking very strong for next year.
Over the last few weeks Madi Baker had 37 hits, batting an impressive .417 to take her season batting average to .396! Madi hit 9 homeruns and 33 RBI’s across the regular season. Not only was Madi an offensive weapon, she was a beast defensively, with an outstanding fielding average of .973, contributing to 254 outs, ranking in the top 30 in the nation for putouts.
Mia Gilmore finished the regular season with 17 wins and 6 losses in the circle with 59 strikeouts for the season. She maintained an impressive .955 fielding average and will no doubt be a defensive asset for the Roadrunners in the coming postseason games.
Also in Texas, we have Teoni Lamb at WEATHERFORD COLLEGE. Weatherford came 5th in their NTJCAC Conference with 27 wins and 23 losses for the season. Teoni was credited with 5 wins and 4 losses, and 65 strikeouts across the season!
UTAH
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, home to Alyssa Mighell and Karah Schultz, had 37 wins and 17 losses across their season as they headed into postseason play.
Alyssa Mighell’s freshman year was outstanding in both her offensive and defensive contributions. The last few weeks she clocked up 18 hits for a .409 batting average, taking her to an even .400 for the season with 22 runs and 20 RBI’s! Alyssa was also named a SWAC All-Region Honorable Mention.
Karah Schultz was also an offensive and defensive weapon for the Bruins, finishing an excellent freshman season with a .273 batting average and 11 RBI’s.
COLORADO
In Region 9, OTERO COLLEGE finished the regular season with 30 wins and 26 losses. Alyssa Charter-Smith was a ‘hitting pitcher’, who claimed 7 wins and 8 losses for the season with an impressive 94 strikeouts, 3 shutouts and a fielding average of .947. With the bat, Alyssa had an outstanding season batting average of .412, making her a dual asset to the Rattlers this year.
NEBRASKA
McCOOK COMMUNITY COLLEGE, also in Region 9, was home to Paige Smith this year. McCook had 42 wins and 21 losses with Paige Smith earning 5 wins, 4 losses and 3 saves in the circle as well as batting .345 with 7 homeruns for the season.
IOWA
Jessica Alvaro and the SOUTHEASTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE Blackhawks have 28 wins and 23 losses under their belt this season taking them to third in the Region 11 Conference. Jess has completed her freshman season with an excellent batting average of .300 and a fielding average of 1.000, having not committed a single error all season!
ILLINOIS
LAKE LAND COLLEGE – has 51 wins and 10 losses, going 40-2 in their conference for the regular season and are currently on a 12 game winning streak.
Mackayla Denney has been on fire with the stick, adding 35 hits in the last few weeks to take her season batting average to .384. With 7 homeruns and 41 RBI’s this season, Mackayla has given Lake Land an excellent offensive advantage.
Sophie Lawrence has also contributed to Lake Land’s impressive record, with the freshman recording 4 hits in 12 at bats and contributing to 20 outs, maintaining a fielding average of 1.000 across the season. Lake Land is in a great position for their postseason double elimination tournament this weekend- best wishes to the Lakers!
NJCAA Division II
LABETTE COMMUNITY COLLEGE – The Labette Cardinals finished their season with 25 wins and 23 losses. They fared much better in conference play, going 21-11, gaining them third place within their conference. One of the highlights for their season was a seven game winning streak spanning April 5-12. In this period they mercied Allen County twice and defeated Indy twice by one run in each game. They also finished the season with 3 wins against Allen County and Fort Scott. This qualified them to join the Region VI D-II Plains District A&B Tournament. They upset #2 seed Cowley 15-6 before losing to Murray State, OK 13-1. They get a second chance in the double elimination tournament, facing Neosho County on May 15th, where the mighty Cardinals hope to take another step towards qualifying for Nationals. Good luck Labette!
Hayley Bonython – Hayley played in 23 games this season. In those games she batted .250 in 48 at bats, recording 12 hits, with a double, triple, and two homeruns. Defensively she was brilliant with 71 putouts, 5 assists and only 2 errors the entire season. Our favourite recent moment of Hayley’s was the May 8 9-0 win vs Fort Scott where she went 1 from 3 with 2RBI’s and a homrerun and defensively made 7 putouts. Great job Hayley- good luck for the postseason!
WILLISTON STATE COLLEGE – Williston State endured a difficult season, finishing the year with 5 wins and 28 losses. The Tetons finished last in the Mon-Dak Athletic Conference with a 2-18 record. They continued to work hard throughout the season, and will regroup with more experience next year. A successful season is not necessarily measured by wins or losses, but in character growth and the ability to overcome. Great job Tetons on facing your fair share of adversity- better luck next year.
Poppy Carman – Poppy Carman’s freshmen year will be one to remember as she found herself as one of the main pitchers on a struggling team. Poppy lead the team in innings pitched (60), strikeouts (27), and complete games (6). Her 10.27ERA was second best on the team. She fielded .950, committing only one error for the season. She went 3 of 17 batting with 1 RBI, finishing with a .176 average. Poppy has faced challenges with enthusiasm and determination and she has certainly proven resilient as she tirelessly worked to support her team. Way to make your mark Poppy! We know next year will be even better!
That’s it for our regular season re-cap. With some teams already in postseason play, some teams already out of postseason play, and some teams waiting to begin postseason play, another Shoutout will be on the way soon. Thank you for your continued support of our Aussie softballers over the US College system!