2009 Season Wrap Up

Here it is June 29th and I'm finally getting around to wrapping up the 2009 season which ended eight weeks ago. What have I been doing you ask. Well, I have put on 6000 miles driving around Minnesota and Wisconsin looking for future Saints, along with a trip to the College World Series in Oklahoma City and a trip to Winnipeg. Yes, I'm a little road weary.

As I reflect on our season I am happy with the results. We set out to accomplish three goals: 1) Be the best Independent team in the Midwest Region, 2) Be ranked in the top ten in the region, and 3) Be the best team in the UMAC. Although we only succeeded at our third goal I still feel it was a successful year. We had two huge wins late in the season. The first was a 3-1 win over Eau Claire avenging two earlier losses and the second was a 4-3 win over Gustavus Adolphus. Gustavus went on to finish third in the country so I think it proves we can compete at a high level. In addition, we became the first team in the UMAC to go 24-0, winning the regular season and post season championships.

I think the biggest surprise throughout the season was the power we demonstrated at the plate. We hit 31 home runs, which was only two short of a team record set in 2006. We were led at the plate by freshman Theresa Tauer (3B, Wayzata) who belted nine over the fence and knocked in a team high 47 RBI. The freshman class hit a total of 20 homeruns, including six by Brynn Wollak (C/DH, Stillwater), and four by Merryssa Tiedeman (OF, Zumbrota-Mazappa).

Junior Kristin Swartz (2B, Hermantown) was steady all year both offensively and defensively earning the UMAC Player of the Year award, while hitting .393 with a .724 Slugging percentage and .956 fielding percentage. Both Swartz and Tauer were second team All-Region picks.

Newcomer Jen Falk (P, Altona, MB, Canada) and sophomore Kayla Jenkins complimented each other on the mound. They recorded 15 and 14 wins, respectively, and combined for a 2.21 ERA.

Seniors Chelsey Weiss (OF, Brainerd), Mary Jo McNamee (3B/P, Escanaba, MI), Robin Lake (C, McGregor) and Mya Gordon (1B, Duluth) were without a doubt the hardest working class I've EVER had while at St. Scholastica. Their selfless commitment and leadership to the softball program has left a lasting legacy that have set the standard high for future classes. I am proud to have known them and coached them.

This is an exciting time for Saints softball and I am looking forward to what lies ahead of us.

Saints tagged with additional honors...

Two Saints were named to the Midwest All-Region team announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Junior captain Kristin Swartz (2B, Hermantown, MN) and freshman Theresa Tauer (3B, Plymouth, MN) were both named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Midwest Region Second Team.
Swartz finished the season with a .383 batting average while hitting 6 homeruns and 37 RBI. Tauer led the Saints with a .487 batting average while belting nine homeruns with 47 RBI.

Saints receive UMAC recognition

Several Saints received UMAC recognition following both conference regular season and post-season championships.

UMAC Coach of the Year: Jen Walter
UMAC Player of the Year: Kristin Swartz, 2nd Base (Hermantown, MN)

All-Conference:
Kayla Jenkins, Sophomore, Pitcher (Esko, MN)
Jen Falk, Sophomore, Pitcher (Altona, Manitoba, Canada)
Brynn Wollak, Freshman, DP/Catcher (Hugo, MN)
Kristin Swartz, Junior, 2nd Base (Hermantown, MN)
Theresa Tauer, Freshmen, 3rd Base (Plymouth, MN)

Honorable Mention:
Chelsey Weiss, Senior, OF (Brainerd, MN)
Michaela Carlson, Junior, OF (Alexandria, MN)

UMAC All-Defensive Team:
Kristin Swartz, Junior, 2nd Base (Hermantown, MN)

Tauer and Jenkins named UMAC Player, Pitcher of the Week

For the second time this season, sophomore Kayla Jenkins (Esko, MN) has been named UMAC Pitcher of the Week after hurling her way to a .86 ERA in five wins last week.



Theresa Tauer (freshman, Plymouth, MN) earned her first Player of the Week award after compiling a .652 batting average leading the Saints to a 8-1 record last week. Tauer had 15 hits including 8 doubles on the week which included a split with the defending NCAA Division III National Champions, UW-Eau Claire.

Oh, the things we do to play a home game...

It has become inevitable the past couple years that just when we start to think we're going to get out on our field, good ole' mother nature decides to dump heaps of snow on it. Our home opener with Northwestern was postponed from last Saturday, but we were bound and determined to do everything within our power to play at home this week. We were scheduled to play Martin Luther College today and Bethany Lutheran College tomorrow, both at home.
Although we moved our game scheduled for today to Ashland, WI, we still were trying to play at home tomorrow. Over the past week people have been putting many hours of hard work into the field. Highlights included shoveling a good portion of the outfield and breaking up inches of ice underneath the snow. There was also a competition to see who could chip off the biggest ice chunk with the ice pic. This kept a few entertained for a while. Numerous sleds were used to carry snow from the outfield to beyond the left field fence after using ice picks and shovels. Drainage ditches were produced from the left side of the infield into left field and it looked as if we would challenge the flow of the Nile River for a while. We also attempted shop vac'ing the water from the field. One (who will remain anonymous) even went to the extremes of starting snow on fire (and not realizing that when you pour gasoline on a fire while it's burning, the flame will, in fact, follow the gasoline back into the container. And, at that point, it's best to bail ship but AVOID throwing the container in the fire. Lesson learned. Despite all of our efforts, our field still looks like it needs a few days of the Sun's tender loving care before it's ready for Saints softball.

So... off we go to Ashland tomorrow morning to face Bethany Lutheran College in a conference doubleheader. With a few more days of sun, we hope to be able to play our home opener on Monday against Northwestern
College.

25th Anniversary Team

Last weekend was suppose to be a big one. Our home opener and the celebration of 25 years of St. Scholastica Softball. Again, the weather gods did not cooperate so instead of a great weekend of softball and celebration it was a grueling weekend of snow removal.

But neither snow, wind or rain will deter us. We can still celebrate our 25 years of softball and to do so we have named our Silver Anniversary Team.

KEELY BEHNING - Duluth, Minn.
1999-01 - Outfield/Pitcher
All-Region (2x), UMAC All-Conference (2x)
Single Season record holder in steals (33) and triples (9)
Career State: .377 BA, .552 SLG%, .441 OBA, 50 SB



ERICA (BOND) KOZACEK - Jefferson City, Tenn.
2005-07 - Outfield
NFCA All American (3rd Team), All Region (2x), UMAC All-Conference (2x), Member of Saints Century Club (106 hits)
Career Stats: .455 BA, 20 HR, 78 RBI, .880 SLG%

LAURA BRUEGGEMEIER - Litchfield, Minn.
1996-00 - First Base
All-Conference Honorable Mention (3x)
Member of Saints Century Club (144 hits, 122 runs)
Career Stats: .299 BA, 87 RBI, 22 SB, .962 FLD%


AZUR (BUCZYNSKI) COLEMAN - Cloquet, Minn.
1998-02 - Pitcher
All Region, UMAC All Conference (3x)
Career Stats: 34 Wins, 523.1 IP, 81 Starts, 213 K's



KELLY (CORDIE) KONCZAK, -Lino Lakes, Minn.
2002-06 - Catcher/Third Base
UMAC All Defensive Team, Best Stolen Base Against % (.434 0 23 of 53)
Member of Saints Century Club (127 hits)
Career stats: .283 BA, 9 HR, 30 SB, .968 FLG%


RILEE DAWSON - Eveleth, Minn.
2003-07 - Pitcher/First Base
NFCA All American (2nd Team), All Region, UMAC All-Conference (3x), UMAC Player of the Year, UMAC All Defensive Team,
Member of Saints Century Club (105 hits)
Career Stats: .349 BA, 13 HR, .578 SLG%, 34-14 W/L, 2.35 ERA, 300 K's, 299 IP

KRISTI (ERICKSON) KIRK - Becker, Minn.
2002-06 - Outfield
All Region (1st Team-2x, 2nd Team-1x), UMAC All Conference (4x)
Member of Saints Century Club (189 hits, 142 runs, 116 RBI)
Career Stats: .390 BA, 13 HR, .601 SLG%, 43 SB


ABBIE FELDT, Bovey, Minn.
1999-01 - Pitcher/First Base
All Region (2x), UMAC All Conference (2x)
Career Stats: .328 BA, 50 RBI, .429 SLG%, .981 FLD%, 16-16 W/L, 2.62 ERA



VERONICA GIESEN, New Praque, Minn.
1998-00, 02 - Centerfield
All Region (2nd Team), UMAC Player of the Year, UMAC All Conference (2x)
Member of Saints Century Club (136 Hits)
Career Stats: .357 BA, .538 SLG%, 37 SB


LAURA HEISE, Richfield, Minn.
2002-06 - Pitcher/First Base
All-American (2x), All Region (3x), Region Player of the Year, UMAC Player of the Year (4x), UMAC All Conference (4x), NCAA DIII Career Strikeout leader (1125)
Member of Saints Century Club (217 hits, 136 runs, 151 runs)
Career Stats: .456 BA, .750 SLG%, 95-21 W/L, 0.68 ERA, 732.1 IP, 46 Shutouts


CHRIS LORENTZ, Staples, Minn.
All Region (2x), UMAC All Conference (4x)
Member Saints Century Club (209 hits, 175 runs, 119 RBI, 109 SB)
Career Stats: .379 BA, 13 HR, .577 SLG%



STEPH SKLORS, Eveleth, Minn.
All District (2x), Team Captain





SUE VAN LOON - Hermantown, Minn.
1987-91
All District (3x) MWCC All Conference





HEAD COACH JEN WALTER
Record 245-140 (.636)
UMAC Coach of the Year (4x)




Thank you to all former Saints who made this program what it is today. Your legacy lives on!

COACHING A SPRING SPORT IN DULUTH!

One of the benefits in moving into our new addition last fall for me has been a window that allows me to see outside. It is the first time in my 10 years here that I've been able to do that. An a day like today I'm not so sure that's much of a benefit. As I write this I'm staring out that window looking at blizzard conditions which are forecast to last into tomorrow. My colleagues, who normally stop by my office to say hi and check in on how the season is going seem to be avoiding me lately. Hmmm....I wonder why that is?

If John Baggs were here right now I know exactly what he would be saying, "turn a negative into a positive". He never had a problem building a successful program in a less than ideal climate. So I will remain optimistic and take on the challenge.

Since returning from our spring trip we have identified some areas that we feel we need to improve on, so have spent the past two weeks addressing those areas. The first being our defense. We went back to the basics and really focused on looking the ball in and our footwork. I think we made improvements as wee committed no errors in our doubleheader against UW-Eau Claire on Sunday, but I still feel like we left a lot of outs on the field so we will continue to work in that area.

Our pitchers have also been working on trying to control the zone. We just haven't been consistent enough throughout a game. It seems every mistake they make are hit hard and then decent pitches are turning into Texas Leaguer's and swinging bunts. We haven't had a lot of things go our way, but good teams make their own breaks so we will keep plugging away.

Hitting has been very inconsistent this season, although I feel we have faced much better pitching than we did last year at this point. Last Sunday I felt we put together better at bats but didn't have much to show for it with only five hits in the doubleheader, but I am seeing signs of good things. To be honest that is the one thing I like about being indoors, I've always felt it's easier to get more swings inside so we will continue to work at it.

So, as the March goes out like a furocious, hungry, man-eating lion, all I can say is bring it on. We can't control the weather, but we can control our attitude toward it. As a matter of fact, I'm rewriting our Saints Softball Mission to include...we will become the northernmost softball program to win a National Championship.

Rain, snow, wind, cold does nothing but fuel our fire!

This picture was taken yesterday (March 30, 2009),
before the snow!