Softball 2/8/2024 9:18:00 PM by the Dordt University Athletic Communications Office

Weekend Preview - Feb.9-10

Defenders will play a pair of doubleheaders against ranked teams

GAME TIME:

The Dordt University softball team will host its second consecutive weekend softball classic (Feb.9-10) and held at the American State Bank Sports Complex. 11 teams are scheduled to compete in the two-day event.
The Defenders will play a doubleheader each day, beginning with Friday afternoon against (RV) Mount Mercy at 4 / 6pm. They will return to the field on Saturday, Feb.10 for a pair of games against (RV) Grand View at 2 / 4pm.
Follow the games live at the following links:
- Watch (via the Dordt Defender Network)
- Live Stats |
- Program |

ALL-TIME VS THE OPPONENTS:

Dordt is 0-1 against Mount Mercy
- 2012: 9-2 loss
Dordt is 4-4 all-time against Grand View
- last time vs the Vikings: 5-1 loss in 2023
- last win vs Grand View: 2002 sweep 3-1, 2-1

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 and are 17 points in front of No.6 Hastings.
Midland is the GPAC preseason favorite, while Northwestern and Morningside are picked second and third, respectively.

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:

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:

2024 Record:
- 1-2
About Last Season:
- Record: 16-6 (T2nd),earned the No.4 seed in postseason, 35-13 overall
  - lost to Briar Cliff (2-1) and Mount Marty (9-3) in the GPAC Tournament
- 16 GPAC wins - most conference victories under Zomer and most conference wins since 2002
- 35 overall 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 (2024)
- 5.7 runs, 8 hits / game
- .282 batting average (6th)
- 7 extra-base hits
- 1 home run
- 7/7 stolen bases
- 3.68 ERA
- 4 runs given up, 8.1 hits given up / game
- .342 batting average against
2024 Leaders:
- Offense:
  - Chloe Kreuz - .500 average
  - Alyssa Villa - .500 average, hit safely in 2 of 3 games
  - Aurora Tyson - .500 average, hit safely in all three games, leads team w/ 4 RBIs
  - Karli Olsen - .400 average, hit safely in all three games, 3 runs
  - Brooke Rule - .250, hit safely in all three games, HR
- Pitching:
  - Jadyn Faber: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 IP
  - Alexa Kopaska: 0-2, 5.00 ERA, 7 IP
  - Hailey Wilken: 0-0, 2.63 ERA, 2.2 IP, 5 Ks

SCOUTING REPORTS:

(RV) Mount Mercy Mustangs:
- 2024 Record: 0-0
- Head Coach: Larry Yoder (15th year)
  - 370-290 record
- Conference: Heart of America Athletic (HAAC)
- 2023 Record / Finish: 18-8 (3rd of 13 teams), 33-20 overall
  - postseason tournament runner-up
  - qualified for NAIA Opening Round
  - went 1-2 at the Oklahoma City Bracket
- About HAAC:
  - 4 teams from the conference are ranked / receiving votes in the preseason poll
    - Central Methodist - 8th
    - Baker - 11th
    - Grand View - RV
- 2023 By the Numbers:
  - 4.0 runs, 7.4 hits / game
  - .267 batting average
  - 79 doubles
  - 19 home runs
  - 59/72 stolen bases
  - 2.47 ERA
  - 3 runs given up, 5.9 hits given up / game
  - .229 batting average against
- Key Returners:
  - Natalie Tecklenburg (all-conf) - .314 BA, 28 runs, 20 RBIs
  - Kelly Ulatowski - .296 BA, 2 HR, 17 RBIs
  - Raquel Trolliet - .275 BA, 16 runs, 10 RBIs
  - Kalli Minger (all-conf in 2022) - 4-11, 4.41 ERA, 101.2 IP, 59 K's
(RV) Grand View Vikings:
- 2024 Record: 0-0
- Head Coach: Lou Yacinich (21st year)
  - 635-405 record
- Conference: Heart of America Athletic (HAAC)
- 2023 Record / Finish: 17-9 (4th of 13 teams), 33-17 overall
  - 2-2 in conference tournament
- About HAAC:
  - 4 teams from the conference are ranked / receiving votes in the preseason poll
    - Central Methodist - 8th
    - Baker - 11th
    - Mount Mercy - RV
2023 By the Numbers:
- 5.2 runs, 7.9 hits / game
- .300 batting average
- 75 doubles
- 19 home runs
- 47/60 stolen bases
- 2.94 ERA
- 3.5 runs given up, 6.2 hits given up / game
- .241 batting average against
Key Returners:
- Allyx Lee (all-conf in 2022) - .375 BA, 33 runs, 12 RBIs
- Rachel Anderson (2x all-conf) - .368 BA, 20 runs, 7 HR, 57 RBIs
- Jessica Walljasper (2x all-conf) - .291 BA, 12 runs, 3 HR
  - 14-8 record, 2.71 ERA, 136.2 IP, 140 K's
- Lani Gannon - 8-4 record, 3.87 ERA, 85 IP, 80 K's

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Players Mentioned

#20 Jadyn Faber: P/1B; Sophomore

#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

#4 Hailey Wilken: P/U; Sophomore

#18 Alexa Kopaska: P/OF; Freshman

#2 Chloe Kreuz: P / U; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#20 Jadyn Faber
: Sophomore
: P/1B

#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

#4 Hailey Wilken
: Sophomore
: P/U

#18 Alexa Kopaska
: Freshman
: P/OF

#2 Chloe Kreuz
: Freshman
: P / U