FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu February 1, 2017 2017 MSUB softball season preview MSUB Softball on Facebook | MSUB Softball on ISSUU | 2017 Quick Facts | 2017 Media Guide Preview interviews with Bella Rovens, Megan Dettling, Heather Tracy, and head coach Jessica Rayman
The 2017 Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket softball team.
The MSUB softball program is under new leadership and with a group of core experienced returners, will look to move up from their last place finish in the conference last season. BILLINGS, Mont. – A new era began at MSUB in 2017 as head coach Jessica Rayman took over the reins of the Yellowjacket softball program. Rayman inherited a team that finished last in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2016 with an overall record of 6-22 overall and 14-36 conference action. In the GNAC preseason coaches’ poll, MSUB was selected to finish eighth based on last year’s results. Rayman, along with assistant coach Sara Allen, lost just three seniors and inherited five all-conference honorees and one all-region selection. After winning the GNAC tournament and advancing to the west sub-region championship in 2015, the core team of five returning position players and three pitchers are looking to guide their team back to the top of the conference.
“I am very excited about this group of young women and getting this season started,” Rayman said. “The team has been working extremely hard at practice and I am excited to see them compete in games this year. We have a large number of returners who have experience competing in the GNAC, along with five seniors who bring great leadership and knowledge on the field.” Two-time all-GNAC honoree Bella Rovens is one of the five looking to finish her career with a strong season. Already a multiple member of the MSUB softball record book, Rovens has a chance to move-up in several categories including runs where she needs just three to tie the all-time leader Terina Stacks (118, 2006-09). Last season the center fielder finished second on the team with a .357 batting average and led the team in runs scored at 35. Senior infielder Kelsey Devlin was third on the team with a .345 batting average and fourth in the GNAC in home runs with 11. Devlin has 19 career home runs which is eighth at MSUB. The native of Great Falls, Mont., was a GNAC honorable mention selection last season, ending the season fifth in the conference in slugging percentage at .681 Three transfers from last season make-up the rest of the senior class. Nikki Tiffany (Bellevue College) hit .302 last season with 29 runs. Catcher Katie Jackson (Bellevue College) made appearances in four games for the Yellowjackets with a RBI. Right-handed pitcher Taylor Tokach (Chandler Gilbert CC) made 24 appearances for MSUB, earning 10 starts and three complete games. Tokach tossed 59 and 1/3 innings with 15 strikeouts. The six member junior class brings a lot of experience and depth to the roster. Outfielder Heather Tracy earned second team D2CCA all-west region honors and first team all-GNAC accolades. She was fourth in the GNAC with a batting average of .429, sixth in slugging percentage (.662), and eighth in on-base percentage (.461). Tracy recorded 31 runs, 24 RBI’s, and 16 stolen bases. Tracy has 26 career stolen bases, just behind Rovens at 28 with the MSUB career record at 35 (Jessica Frank, 35, 2005-08).
Heather Tracy was an all-region honoree last season.
Cameron Cassinelli and Megan Dettling also earned allGNAC honors. Cassinelli finished with a .589 slugging percentage and .406 on-base percentage. She tied with Devlin in home runs at 11 and was eighth in the conference in walks with 20. At 17 career home runs, Cassinelli needs just one more to move onto the MSUB alltime list.
Dettling was a right-handed pitcher all-conference award winner ending the season with a GNAC-leading .209 opposing batting average. She finished fifth in the league in strikeouts with 78 and a conference-leading 6.09 per game. Dettling made 21 appearances for MSUB last season with 15 games started and seven complete games. She earned wins over nationally-ranked Sonoma State and Dixie State posting two shut out wins on the season. With 125 career strikeouts, Dettling has already reached the MSUB top-10 list, although the native of Sparks, Nev., has a ways before matching Joey Ehnes (672, 2002-05).
“Megan returns on the mound this year and we are looking to her to really set the tone on the field,” Rayman said. “Also, returning is Bella who brings great leadership in the outfield. Offensively, we return hitters like Kelsey and Heather who will be large contributors to our order.” Juniors Myrissa Prince, Katlyn Stringari, and Amanda Barham all saw time in the rotation for the Yellowjackets last season. Prince hit .338 and was second on the team with 33 RBI’s. The second baseman earned GNAC Player of the Week honors batting 7-for-14 with four singles, a double, a triple, and two home runs in a four-game home series against Saint Martin’s. Stringari saw action in 17 games with eight hits and six runs. Barham made appearances in 22 games with six hits and two stolen bases. The Yellowjackets have eight underclassmen on the roster. Sophomore catcher Tylee Oxendahl is the lone transfer on the roster and is from Dawson Community College. Sophomore Jessica Bagnell had 11 hits in 26 games. At shortstop, Bagnell had 35 putouts. Joining Tokach and Dettling on the pitching staff is freshman Maddy Lincoln. The 6-foot-1 left-handed pitcher will be expected to provide immediate contributions in Megan Dettling led the GNAC in opp. batting average. the circle for MSUB. “Along with our returners, we have three freshmen and one transfer,” Rayman said. “As a whole we have a great amount of talent and I am extremely excited to see us grow together as a team this season.” The 2017 season begins with a 14-game, nine-day road trip to Nevada and Utah. The Yellowjackets officially begin competition at the MSUB-hosted Desert Stinger tournament in Las Vegas, Feb. 3-5. The ‘Jackets open with the University of Sioux Falls on Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. Pacific time. At the eighth annual Desert Stinger, MSUB will face five teams. For the complete schedule visit the tournament home page here. From Las Vegas, the ‘Jackets head north to St. George to play four single games before taking part in the Dixie State tournament Feb. 9-11. “We begin our season at the Desert Stinger and Dixie State Tournaments where will face some very good competition,” Rayman commented. “This will be a good gauge to see where we are at and what we will still need to get better. We later jump into a tough GNAC schedule, which I am excited to see us compete for a spot in the conference tournament.” The Yellowjackets open their GNAC slate with a four-game series at Western Washington Mar. 4-5. The first home games of the year will be against Western Oregon Mar. 18-19 at Avitus Group Stadium. MSUB will head to California the following week for the Tournament of Champions hosted by Stanislaus State Mar. 31-Apr.2. The top-4 teams in the league advance to the GNAC tournament May 4-6 hosted this year by Saint Martin’s in Lacey, Wash.
All Yellowjacket home games are contested at Avitus Group Stadium on the campus of Montana State University Billings. Tickets are $5 for the general public and $3 for students and seniors. All MSUB students and children grade six and under are admitted free. A live video stream and live stats for home games will be provided on the MSUB Stretch Internet portal here. This includes all of the Desert Stinger tournament games as MSUB will be broadcasting a live web stream for all five Yellowjacket games in Las Vegas.
2017 MSUB Softball Seniors: Nikki Tiffany, Bella Rovens, Kelsey Devlin, Taylor Tokach, and Katie Jackson.
--@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--