2010 Softball Preview

Raiders Look to Get Back to Postseason Play

The Northwestern College softball team will have a new look as Stephanie Kuhl begins her first season as head coach, becoming just the third coach the Raider softball program has had in 20 years. Dave Hulsart (1990-2001, 2009) and Melanie Mason (2002-2008) served as the head coach prior to Kuhl’s appointment. Hulsart, last year’s interim coach, will serve as the assistant coach.

2010 Team Kuhl comes to the Raiders after a successful two-year stint as the top assistant coach for the Wayne State College softball program. Prior to that, Kuhl was a four-year standout player for the South Dakota State softball program, where she finished her playing career as the school’s all-time leader in home runs and RBIs. Kuhl is excited about the opportunity to instill new energy and excitement to one of the premier and most consistent programs in the GPAC at Northwestern. “Being a new coach, I have really tried to implement my system from day one, such as out hustling our opponent. We need to sprint everywhere and the team has really bought on to that.”

The Northwestern softball program has accumulated 20 or more wins in nine of the last 10 seasons. Six of those years, the Raiders compiled 30 or more victories. They finished in the conference’s top four in eight straight seasons, twice winning the regular season championship, prior to last season. In 2009, a youthful Northwestern roster finished 10^th in the GPAC with a 10-14 record but closed the season with a 7-5 record. They were 13-24 overall. As with any new coach, the offseason and preseason focus is a period of adjustment in getting the players on the same page and getting acclimated with the new regime. As Kuhl states, “I am also a very fundamental coach so we are not throwing a lot of crazy things at them.”

Kuhl inherit a squad that returns 12 letter winners and nine starters from last year’s team. With such a solid nucleus returning for the Raiders, optimism is high heading into the season. “I am very excited about the start of our season. We had a good fall but just struggled at finding a way to win. We have worked very hard this offseason and I feel we are much more confident as a team. I expect us to get better every game. We are young in a lot of positions but I feel we will really grow this season.”

Three seniors who have been with the team for the past three seasons will provide Coach Kuhl with experience and leadership. Sara Curry (Fort Collins, Colo.) is a two-time Sara Curry action honorable mention all-conference player and will once again man the shortstop position. An outstanding defensive player who possesses great range, Curry has developed into a valuable offensive weapon as well. A career .272 hitter, she hit .294 with 16 runs scored and a career-best 21 RBIs last year. Curry was also a perfect 6-for-6 in stolen bases. “Sara is very strong offensively and defensively and brings a lot of experience to our infield.” Chelsey Ulfers (Allison, Iowa) and Hope Weiler (Remsen, Iowa) also return in the Red Raider infield. A starter at first base in 2009, Ulfers hit .239 last season with a pair of extra-base hits and five RBIs. A starter at second base last year, Weiler is very solid defensively and a good base runner.

A talented list of juniors comprise the 2010 roster. Rachel Harris (Akron, Iowa) earned second team all-GPAC honors last year after leading the Raiders with a .343 batting average at the lead-off spot. The junior scored 22 runs, drove in 13 runs and led the team with 10 stolen bases. “Rachel is a great leader in the outfield and is a great threat offensively.” Also a standout defensively with excellent range, Harris will patrol centerfield once again this season. Stephanie Van Duyn (Bellflower, Calif.) joins Harris in the outfield after starting in all 37 games last season. A two-year starter, she hit .233 last year with 12 runs scored and 13 RBIs. Jessica Hooper (Phelan, Calif.) played in 26 games Harris as a utility player, posting a .200 average at the plate with seven RBIs. She appeared in nine games with seven starts as the Raiders third pitcher.

One of the strengths of this year’s squad could be in the sophomore class, where six players return along with two newcomers. Shelby Johnson (Akron, Iowa) and Glory Benson (Arvada, Colo.) both earned honorable mention all-GPAC honors as freshmen and will look to make even more of an impact this season. Johnson threw out 14 base runners last year and boasted a .990 fielding percentage as catcher. Offensively, she hit .308 with 16 runs scored and 20 RBIs. “Shelby has worked really hard this offseason and brings a ton of leadership behind the plate. I also feel she is our greatest offensive threat.” Benson hit .288 with a team-high 23 runs scored to go with 12 RBIs. The sophomore will play leftfield for Coach Kuhl’s squad. Kami Kuhlmann (Charter Oak, Iowa) batted .297 with 16 runs scored in 24 games played since joining the team after the completion of the basketball Shelby season. She posted a 6-5 record with a team-best 3.00 ERA in 66 innings pitched. Kuhlmann will need to step into the number one starter role this season with the departure of Gavi Burrola. Ashley Evans (Remsen, Iowa) hit .247 with a team-high two home runs and 12 RBIs and will looked for an expanded role. Brittany Dicus (Sioux City, Iowa), a transfer from Biola (Calif.), will provide Coach Kuhl with another potent bat in the line-up.

Other newcomers who will compete for time will be Rebecca Reints (Orange City, Iowa), Heidi Esdohr (Coon Rapids, Iowa) and Sadie Mennen (Parkersburg, Iowa).

One of the strengths of this year’s team, according to Kuhl, is defense. “We are very solid at every position and are two deep at most. If we throw strikes and make teams hit it on the ground we are going to be very solid.” Kuhl adds “We are very strong on the left side of the infield with Curry and Esdohr. Our outfield is also really fast and has a lot of experience.” A key for the Raiders will be pitching, especially with the loss of Burrola and the fact that Kuhlmann will not be with the team until after basketball. “Pitching is probably our weakest position because of injuries and only having two pitchers.”

The Red Raiders will open the season at the Tucson Invitational (Ariz.) over spring break. They will play eight games in a span of four days which will provide the team with valuable field experience. Upon returning, Northwestern will play a pair of non-conference doubleheaders before opening GPAC play against defending champion Morningside on March 24. The conference will be very competitive once again, with several teams capable of making a run at the regular season title. “Morningside and Hastings are teams that have been at the top of the conference for awhile. I feel we played well with Morningside this fall and hopefully we can surprise them this spring.”