2016 MSUB Softball Season Preview

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu February 2, 2016 2016 MSUB softball season preview MSUB Softball on Facebook MSUB Softball on Twitter MSUB Softball on ISSUU MSUB Softball Video Preview 2016 Quick Facts 2016 Media Guide

The 2015 MSU Billings softball team won the GNAC tournament and this year’s team looks to build on the last year’s winning season.

The 2016 MSU Billings softball team is looking to build off an impressive season from last year that included a conference title and deep run into the NCAA tournament.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Looking to build off an impressive finish from the last season, the 2016 Montana State University Billings softball team may look a little different, but with several key returners and a team that understands what it takes to make it deep into the postseason, this year’s Yellowjackets are up for the challenge.

“When I sat down with the team in the fall, I talked with all the returners about keeping the momentum from last season,” interim head coach Rebekah Gasner said. “We still have a lot of returners that know what it is like to play in a championship. I made a point of saying last year we were just four games away from making the national tournament.

That is an exciting perspective, so my goal this season has been: how are we going to win four more games?”

With seven graduated seniors from last season, including GNAC co-Player of the Year Taylor Hoke and first team allGNAC pitcher Jessyka MacDonald, several key roles will need to be filled.

“We will be relying a lot on our returners for what it takes to return to the GNAC tournament,” Gasner continued. “With their experience, they know every practice and game counts. With the academic schedule starting later this season, we were able to take advantage and work outside of practice. Also, the returners know to be efficient in practice in order to continue that momentum. They understand what it means to work for four more games.”

One of those key returners is junior center fielder Bella Rovens. The second-team allGNAC pick finished fifth in the conference with a .392 batting average. From the leadoff spot for MSUB last year, Rovens finished third in the conference in runs scored (51), seventh in hits (65), fourth in stolen bases (13), second in walks, and was just off the mark for the top spot in on-base percentage at .487.

“We are very fortunate to have Bella as a returner,” Gasner said. “She has been with us for the last three years so she knows our program. She has had a well-rounded experience with the highs and lows and knows what it takes to stay on the high side.

She is a good asset as a leadoff and a good leader both on and off the field. The team is always confident in her as a slap hitter. This season she is working on her full swing and short game as an addition to her arsenal.”

In leadership, the MSUB team has transitioned to a new head coach in Gasner, and from seven four-year seniors to three seniors, two of which are four-year Yellowjackets.

Cori Gammon is one of three seniors on the MSUB roster.

“We have been learning a lot as a team this season,” Gasner commented. “Even though I have been a part of this program for the last five years, it’s very different to step into the head role, but I feel strong with our coaching staff.

Maddie (Timoteo) has been a good addition for our four catchers this year as opposed to two. Katie (Mitchell) in the infield is great because she demands a lot of them, which is good as they are all new and need to be able to work together. As far as leadership from the team, we lost a key group of starting seniors, but we do have our group of returning outfielders. Our three seniors have had to grow quite a bit, but they are all growing into their individual leadership roles on the team.”

In the outfield with Rovens is senior Cori Gammon. Appearing in 36 games for the Yellowjackets, Gammon batted .231, connecting for 25 hits and led the team in sacrifice bunts with 10. Gammon had a good NCAA postseason performance for MSUB finishing with six hits including three doubles.

“Cori is an excellent lead-by-example teammate,” Gasner said. “Off the field she doesn’t say much, but she is learning to communicate to the team when they need it. On the field, one of Cori’s best characteristics is her accurate throw from left field. I also think she is just hungry, she knows she is a senior, and wants to be a consistent player for the team at the plate this year.”

Also returning to the outfield are sophomores Amanda Barham and Heather Tracy. Barham played in 28 games making 51 catches and with just two errors finished the year with a .961 fielding percentage. She batted .301 with 25 hits. Tracy started 50 games for MSUB last season, finishing her freshman campaign with a .318 batting average, recording 49 hits and 22 RBIs. “This fall I put Amanda in our 3-spot to bat,” Gasner said. “Her ability to make contact and hit it hard in the gap is a key strength of hers. Heather stepped in and played a huge role for us last year. She earned a lot of respect from her team and hopefully she is respected in the GNAC as a ninth hitter that gets on base. The team looks up to her, she is smart in the box and light on her feet. Our outfield looks really solid with four strong returners.”

Also, returning to the outfield is sophomore Alyssa Yaeger. “Alyssa switched from a right-handed hitter to a left-handed slapper in the middle of last season,” Gasner said. “She has an excellent short game and is learning more and more each practice. She has never hit left-handed before, but she is so fast and asks really good questions.”

Junior Kelsey Devlin is the lone starter returning to the infield. Last season, the third baseman batted .356 with a .550 slugging percentage. At eighth in the lineup for the ‘Jackets, Devlin hit seven home runs for MSUB, sixth-best in the conference. She had 53 hits and was fourth in the team in RBIs with 34. Devlin also had eight doubles and five stolen bases. Against nationally-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay at the NCAA tournament, Devlin was part of a seven-run comeback to advance the Yellowjackets to the next round. She was 2-for-4 in the game, including a 3-run home run in the seventh inning as the ‘Jackets won 7-6 over the Otters.

“As our only returning infielder at practice she has been a leader to help out the rest of the infield,” Gasner commented.

“Her bat will also be a crucial part of our season. It can be a game-changer when she gets up to the plate.”

Returning as middle infielders to the program are Myrissa Prince, Jordyn Roark, and Katlyn Stringari. Largely from the DH spot in 21 at bats for MSUB, Roark finished with a .429 batting average, including nine hits. Prince made 10 appearances, and Stringari three, but all three are expected to play a much larger role in the infield this season.

“These players had great role models in Taylor Hoke and Aubrey Conceicao,” Gasner said. “Myrissa has been very open-minded and learned a lot from Taylor. She is becoming a leader and more confident, and she has a lot of power to add to our lineup. Jordyn played a crucial role for us last year as a pinch hitter. She is very patient in the box, a consistent power hitter, and defensively has been working really hard on her range and being a communicator in the field. Kate is one of the hardest working members of our team, and is also a very positive person to have on our team.”

Catcher Haley Rowe is the second senior on the Yellowjacket team. Last season, Rowe was a transfer from Williston State College. For MSUB, she was in just seven games, but this season looks to be an impact player on the field for her team.

Haley Rowe will step-in as starting catcher for the ‘Jackets.

“I am really looking forward to Haley stepping into the role of starting catcher,” Gasner said. “She is stepping into a much bigger leadership position and wants to lead the team and be a vocal catcher behind the plate.”

The Yellowjacket pitching staff this season includes the third senior on the team Amanda Roark. She is joined by sophomore Megan Dettling, and junior transfer Taylor Tokach. Cameron Cassinelli will also be an addition to this year’s staff.

“I am really excited for Amanda,” Gasner said. “She is a senior this year and worked really hard this fall to become the consistent pitcher we need her to be. I am confident in our pitching staff this year. We have always had five pitchers and this year with less, each one of them will have to step up and get the job done.

“Megan has come back extremely focused,” Gasner continued. “She has been very committed, and is ready to play a big role on the team. Since the fall, Taylor has mechanically grown the most of our pitching staff. She is making huge improvements and is a versatile pitcher, which I look to keep batters guessing at the plate. Cam has turned out to be a very good counter-balance to our pitchers that throw hard. She will play a big role for us at first base and as a power hitter in the lineup.”

Cassinelli was named the GNAC Tournament MVP after all four of her hits in the tournament went for extra bases, including two doubles and two home runs in wins against Western Washington and Saint Martin's.

This year, the ‘Jackets added three transfers to their roster. Katie Jackson and Nicole Tiffany were teammates at Bellevue College while Ryland Estrada joins MSUB from Chandler Gilbert Community College. Jackson is a catcher, Tiffany plays second base, and Estrada is projected to play third base.

Cameron Cassinelli was named the 2015 GNAC Tournament MVP.

“Ryland has been a pleasant surprise,” Gasner commented. “She has a very fast first step which sold us at having her stay at third, because there is a lot of short game in the GNAC. Katie is very engaged in running the defense and has developed a good relationship with the pitchers. Nikki also came to us from the outfield, but has found a home at second base. She picks things up quickly and is a solid contact hitter at the plate.”

MSUB has five freshmen on this year’s team. Jessica Bagnell redshirted last season, and is working her way back to the shortstop position. New this season are Erin Watterud (2B, Billings, MT), Justyce Connole (OF, Butte, MT), Vanessa Almario (OF, Salinas, CA), Madison Kelly (C, Phoenix, AZ). A sixth member, Jensen Johnson (2B, Billings, MT), is redshirting this season.

“We have a very large freshman class this year,” Gasner observed. “All of them have a really good attitude, are willing to learn, and are adapting pretty well to being a college athlete. Vanessa has a strong arm and is adapting her hitting style.

Justyce is working on developing her power. Both of them are strong center fielders and I look forward to their contributions. Jackie is hitting really well, and Erin and Jensen are both eager to learn and develop their skills.

“Jessica has battled a lot of adversity,” Gasner continued. “She has worked very hard and hopefully can stay healthy. She had a good mentor in Taylor (Hoke), is a good glove at shortstop, and is a smart player.”

The Yellowjackets open their 2016 season by hosting the seventh annual Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas on Friday, Feb. 5, against Sonoma State. The team will play five games in three days in Nevada and then head to Dixie State for several individual games against the Red Storm before participating in a tournament that weekend.

MSUB begins its Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule on March 5, at Simon Fraser. The first home game for the ‘Jackets is March 19, when MSUB welcomes Saint Martin’s to Avitus Group Stadium. All of the Yellowjackets' home games will feature live video and live statistics through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.

“I am really excited for our schedule this season,” Gasner said. “We have a lot of really good competition this year that we need to take advantage of. We will take it one game at a time, but there are a lot of great opportunities. Our opening two weeks we play 13 games in 10 days with just two days off, but I know the team is ready to start.

“All of the games leading up to GNAC competition will tell us what we need to work on,” Gasner said. “I think the GNAC will be really balanced this year, and I am looking forward to seeing what our team can do.”

Joining the GNAC this year is Concordia (Ore.). MSU Billings will play 28 conference games against seven teams with the top-four teams advancing to the conference tournament April 28-30, in Lacey, Wash., hosted by Saint Martin’s.

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