Game Time:

• the Dordt University softball team begins its 22-game conference schedule with a mid-week doubleheader against Waldorf on Wednesday, March 18
• Wednesday's games will be held at the American State Bank Sports Complex (ASB Dome). 
• first pitch for game one is scheduled for 4pm; game two will begin around 6pm
• Dordt enters GPAC play with a 19-6 record; Waldorf is 2-14 overall

• live stats for all of the Defenders games this season are at this link: 
  • Live Stats
• watch all of the Defenders home games, courtesy of the Dordt Media Network:
  • Watch

GPAC Preseason Coaches Poll:

• the Great Plains Atheltic Conference (GPAC) released its annual preseason coaches' poll on Feb.1
• Dordt was picked to finish fourth out of 12 teams and totaled 83 points
• Midland was picked as the preseason favorite with 114 points and six first place votes
• Morningside (2nd) and Northwestern (3rd) follow Midland
• GPAC Preseason Poll

In the National Poll:

• Dordt is one of three GPAC teams currently recognized in the NAIA Coaches' poll
• the Defenders are the fourth team to receive votes, totaling 71 points
• Northwestern is ranked 18th, down one spot from its spot at No.17 in the preseason poll
• Midland fell eight spots to No.19 in the latest edition of the national poll
• NAIA Coaches Poll - March 4

Last Time Out:

• Dordt concluded its Spring Break tip in Florida with a split of games on March 9
• the Defenders earned a 6-5 win over Bismarck State (N.D.), their second win of the year against the Mystics
• Dordt followed with a 7-3 loss to 14th-ranked Madonna (Mich.)
• Dordt finished its spring break trip with a 5-4 record

Defenders News and Notes:

• Head Coach Jeff Zomer is in his 17th season in charge of the Defenders program
• Zomer is the all-time winningest coach in program history (330-358-1) and is also the longest tenured coach within the program
• 2026, by the numbers:
  • Dordt leads the GPAC with a .331 batting average
  • the Defenders are scoring 6.7 runs / game and average 9 hits / game
  • Dordt leads the GPAC in hits (224), triples (20) and home runs (24)
  • the Defenders rank second in the GPAC with a 2.10 ERA
  • Dordt is giving up 2.8 runs and 5.9 hits / game
• Stat Leaders, 2026 (GPAC ranking, if top 10):
  • Rylee Yager - .506 BA (1st), 23 runs, 40 hits (1st), 12 SB (3rd)
    • 9-4 record, 2.26 ERA (10th), 93 IP (1st), 107 K's (2nd)
  • Chloe Kreuz - .420 BA (5th), 37 hits (2nd), 7 HR (1st)
  • • 3-0 record, 1.47 ERA, 19 IP, 15 K's
  • Annabelle Hensley - .347 BA, 5 HR (3rd), 22 RBI (5th)
  • Lauren Steenstra - ,346 BA, 10 2B (2nd), 24 RBI (3rd)
  • Tera Lynn Price - .339 BA, 5 3B (2nd)
  • Abigail Tweedy - 4-1, 1.38 ERA, 30.1 IP, 30 K's
• the Defenders are off to their best start in program history
• 3 Defenders have earned GPAC Player / Pitcher of the Week this season:
  • Lauren Steenstra - March 4
  • Abigail Tweedy - Feb.19
  • Chloe Kreuz - Feb.12

Scouting Report:

• Waldorf Warriors:
  • Head Coach: Tom Myers (1st year)
    • named head coach in May of 2025
    • previously served as the Head Coach at Northeastern Junior College for seven years
    • all-time winningest coach at NEJC
  • 2026 Record: 2-14; lost nine straight
    • last time out: lost to York (Neb.) 10-5 and to Friends (Kan.) 11-1
    • own wins over Hanniball-LaGrange and Sterling
  • last season: 1-21 (12nd of 12 teams), 3-36 overall
    • did not qualify for postseason
  • return three starters, top two pitchers, from last year
  • by the numbers:
    • 3.6 runs, 5.8 hits / game
    • .242 BA (12th)
    • 11.1 runs, 12.3 hits given up  /game
  • Leaders (2026 stats) (GPAC ranking, if top 10):
    • Kylie Bates: .381 BA (10th), 16 hits
    • Hailey Michalik: .353 BA, 2 HR, 7 RBI
    • Reagan Ridout: .353 BA, 11 runs, 4 RBI
      • 1-5 record, 8.09 ERA  32 IP, 18 K's
    • Gabby Bierly: .304 BA, 8 RBI
    • Makenzie Cope: 1-1 record, 8.37 ERA  41 IP