Softball 2/1/2024 7:52:00 PM by the Dordt University Athletic Communications Office

Defender Softball To Open 2024 Season

GAME TIME:

The Dordt University softball team will play in its 2024 season debut this weekend at the first of four Classics hosted by the American State Bank Sports Complex.
The Defenders will play three games in two days, beginning with a 6pm match-up on Friday, Feb. 2 on the east field against Kansas Wesleyan. They will then return to action on Saturday, Feb. 3 for two games, the first against William Penn at noon followed by a 4pm first pitch against Buena Vista.
Follow the games live at the following links:
- Watch (via the Dordt Defender Network)
- Live Stats |

ALL-TIME VS THE OPPONENTS:

Dordt is 2-3 all-time against Kansas Wesleyan
- last time vs KWU: 11-0 loss (5) in 2020
- last win vs KWU: 9-3 in 2007
Dordt is 1-5 all-time against William Penn
- last time vs WPU: 2-0 loss last year
- last win vs WPU: 6-5 in 2009
Dordt is 4-3 all-time against Buena Vista
- last time vs BVU: 5-0 win last year

GPAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL:

The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) released its annual softball preseason coaches' poll earlier today and Dordt was picked to finish fifth by league coaches. The Defenders totaled 81 points, trailing Jamestown by four points and are 17 points in front of No.6 Hastings.

Here is the complete 2024 GPAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll:

PLACE	SCHOOL	POINTS	1ST PLACE
1	MIDLAND	119	9
2	NORTHWESTERN	112	3
3	MORNINGSIDE	92
4	JAMESTOWN	85
5	DORDT	81
6	HASTINGS	64
7	BRIAR CLIFF	52
8	MOUNT MARTY	51
9	CONCORDIA	50
10	DOANE	42
11	DAKOTA WESLEYAN	31
12	COLLEGE OF SAINT MARY	13

IN THE RANKINGS:

Two teams from the GPAC, Midland and Northwestern, open the season ranked in the NAIA preseason poll. Midland, the GPAC postseason champion in 2023, is ranked 10th while Northwestern, the GPAC regular season champion, begins the season ranked 15th.

LONGEST TENURED COACH IN PROGRAM HISTORY:

Head Coach Jeff Zomer begins his 15th season in charge of the Defenders softball program. Zomer, who took over the program in 2010, is the seventh head coach within the program and the longest tenured coach in program history. He holds a 276-299-1 record (49%) and has guided Dordt to the GPAC postseason tournament in all but two seasons.

ABOUT THE DEFENDERS:

2023 Record: 16-6 (T2nd w/ Midland and Morningside),earned the No.4 seed in postseason, 35-13 overall
lost to Briar Cliff (2-1) and Mount Marty (9-3) in the Northwestern bracket of the GPAC Tournament to end the season
16 GPAC wins - most conference victories under Zomer and most conference wins since 2002
35 overal wins - school record
Postseason Honors:
- All-Americans (2): Ella Koster (2nd team), Abby Kraemer (HM)
- GPAC:
  - Abby Kraemer - Pitcher of the Year
  - Abby Kraemer, Ella Koster - 1st team all-conference
  - Aurora Tyson, Chandler Schemper - 2nd team all-conference
  - Ivy Terpstra - Honorable Mention
return 6 starters in the batting order, 4 of 5 pitchers
By the Numbers (GPAC rank, if available)
- 4.7 runs, 7.2 hits / game
- .278 batting average (6th)
- 56 doubles (7th)
- 14 home runs (10th)
- 117 stolen bases (2nd)
- 2.04 ERA (1st)
- .84 WHIP (1st)
- 2.5 runs given up, 6.1 hits given up / game
- .237 batting average against
Returning Players / Stats:
- Aurora Tyson - .359 batting average, 12 runs, 15 RBIs, 8-9 SB
- Lauren Steenstra - .257 batting average, 12 runs, HR, 16 RBIs, 11-12 SB
- Karli Olsen - .252 batting average, 5 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 21 RBIs
- Emma Groen - .248 batting average, 32 runs, 3 HR, 33 RBIs, 8/10 SB
- Brooklynn Cox - .202 batting average, 19 runs, HR, 12 RBIs, 18/21 SB
- Brynn Torrenga - .190 batting average, 7 runs, 9 RBIs, 5-6 SB
- Alexa Kopaska - 6-4, 3.03 ERA, 76.1 IP, 42 K's
- Hailey Wilken - 9-2, 2.78 ERA, 73 IP, 24 K's

SCOUTING REPORTS:

Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes:
- 2024 Record: 0-0
- Head Coach: Ryan Cooper (1st year)
- Conference: Kansas Collegiate Athletic (KCAC)
- 2023 Record / Finish: 13-11 (6th), 18-25 overall
  - lost to Oklahoma Wesleyan and Friends in KCAC postseason tournament
- KCAC Preseason Poll:
  - picked to finish 6th of 14 teams
  - Ottawa (1st) and Friends (2nd) are the preseason favorites in the KCAC
  - Ottawa (17th) and Friends (RV) were both ranked in NAIA preseason poll
- 2023 By the Numbers (KCAC ranking):
  - 4.2 runs, 6.9 hits / game
  - .263 batting average (T12th)
  - 57 doubles (9th)
  - 24 home runs (4th)
  - 25 stolen bases
  - 3.57 ERA (6th)
  - 1.3 WHIP
  - 4.7 runs given up, 7.3 hits given up / game
  - .275 batting average against
- Key Returners:
  - Josie Buhr (1st team all-conf) - .374 BA, 35 runs, 18 RBIs
  - Sydnee Fordham - .303 BA, 13 runs, 9 RBIs
  - Jocelyn Alcala - .278 BA, 14 2B, 17 RBIs
  - Miranda Fogal (1st team all-conf) - 11-9, 1.81 ERA, 119.2 IP, 165 K's
William Penn Statesmen:
- 2024 Record: 0-0
- Head Coach: Laura North (1st year)
- Conference: Heart of America Athletic (HAAC)
- 2023 Record / Finish: 11-15 (10th of 14 teams), 19-29 overall
  - did not qualify for postseason tournament
- About the HAAC:
  - Baker and Central Methodist won the 2023 regular season with a 21-5 record
2023 By the Numbers (HAAC ranking):
- 3.3 runs, 6.7 hits / game
- .251 batting average (13th)
- 40 doubles (14th)
- 10 home runs (13th)
- 33 stolen bases
- 3.34 ERA (7th)
- 4.3 runs given up, 6.9 hits given up / game
- .267 batting average against
Key Returners:
- Abby Wilson (2nd team all-conf) - .308 BA, 33 runs, 11 SB
- Allyson Steward (HM all-conf) - .298 BA, 11 runs, 1 RBIs
- Nayely Martinez - .216 BA, 5 runs, 6 RBIs
- Chelsey Huff (1st team all-conf) - 10-14, 2.31 ERA, 154.1 IP, 147 K's
Buena Vista Beavers:
- 2024 Record: 0-0
- Head Coach: Sarah Richardson (1st year)
- Conference: NCAA D-III / American Rivers Conference
- 2023 Record / Finish: 2-14 (9th of 9 teams), 6-28 overall
  - did not qualify for postseason tournament
- About the ARC:
  - Coe won the regular season title last season
2023 By the Numbers:
- 3.1 runs, 6.1 hits / game
- .239 batting average
- 30 doubles (14th)
- 5 home runs
- 17 stolen bases
- 6.90 ERA
- 6.2 runs given up, 8.7 hits given up / game
- .322 batting average against
Key Returners:
- Jamie Wendt (2nd team all-conf) - .310 BA, 15 runs
- Nataliah Murilo - .304 BA, 8 runs, 18 RBIs
- Paige Druskis - .267 BA, 21 runs, 8 RBIs
- Kennedi Claycomb - 1-8, 6.79 ERA, 53 IP, 29 K's

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Players Mentioned

#2 Ella Koster: OF; Senior

#23 Abby Kraemer: P; Senior

#11 Karli Olsen: C; Junior

#10 Chandler Schemper: INF; Senior

#30 Ivy Terpstra: OF; Senior

#44 Aurora Tyson: U/OF; Sophomore

#24 Emma Groen: INF; Senior

#4 Hailey Wilken: P/U; Sophomore

#5 Brooklynn Cox: OF; Junior

#18 Alexa Kopaska: P/OF; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#2 Ella Koster
: Senior
: OF

#23 Abby Kraemer
: Senior
: P

#11 Karli Olsen
: Junior
: C

#10 Chandler Schemper
: Senior
: INF

#30 Ivy Terpstra
: Senior
: OF

#44 Aurora Tyson
: Sophomore
: U/OF

#24 Emma Groen
: Senior
: INF

#4 Hailey Wilken
: Sophomore
: P/U

#5 Brooklynn Cox
: Junior
: OF

#18 Alexa Kopaska
: Freshman
: P/OF

PLACE

SCHOOL

POINTS

1ST PLACE

1

MIDLAND

119

9

2

NORTHWESTERN

112

3

3

MORNINGSIDE

92

4

JAMESTOWN

85

5

DORDT

81

6

HASTINGS

64

7

BRIAR CLIFF

52

8

MOUNT MARTY

51

9

CONCORDIA

50

10

DOANE

42

11

DAKOTA WESLEYAN

31

12

COLLEGE OF SAINT MARY

13

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned