Softball recap: Strong season despite NCAA regional upset

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After posting an undefeated MIAC season, the St. Thomas softball program (41-7) ended its season with an NCAA regional defeat at the hands of Central College (Iowa). Despite the loss, the Tommies posted one of their best seasons in recent history.

Team accomplishments

Securing the program’s 10th straight MIAC playoff title, the team’s 20-0 record earned it a spot in the regional round of the NCAA tournament.

Tommie softball was in the Division III playoffs for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons and 20th time overall. It won NCAA crowns in 2004 and 2005 and a runner-up finish in 2006. Tommie softball has a combined MIAC/NCAA postseason record of 87-39.

This season marked coach John Tschida’s eighth 40-win season in the last nine years. The team also posted a 26-game win streak. St. Thomas softball still hasn’t posted a losing season in the program’s 35-year history and are 77-1 in conference regular-season play since an April 2010 split.

Teammates huddle around home plate as Emily Gregory rounds the bases after her home run against Washington University-St. Louis in the NCAA tournament. (Andrew Stafford/TommieMedia)
Teammates huddle around home plate as catcher Emily Gregory rounds the bases after her home run against Washington University-St. Louis in the NCAA tournament. Gregory was named All-MIAC this season. (Andrew Stafford/TommieMedia)

The Tommies have won 30 or more games in each of the last 14 seasons.

Individual accomplishments

The Tommies looked to sophomore pitcher Kendra Bowe for strength on the mound. Bowe received the MIAC Pitcher of the Year Award for the second consecutive year, and she made the MIAC playoffs’ all-tournament team. Going 20-4 with two saves in 33 appearances and 19 starts, Bowe’s 136.1 innings pitched kept the Tommies moving forward. She had a 4-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio on the year.

In middle infield, Jenna Hoffman’s leadership proved vital for the Tommies. Hoffman received a spot on the MIAC playoffs’ all-tournament team and was named the conference playoffs’ MVP in her third season with the Tommies. Hoffman hit .415 on the season with 12 homers and 42 RBI. In the field, she registered a .932 fielding percentage with 71 putouts. Hoffman was named to the all-conference team for her 2013 season successes.

All-American second baseman Kimmy Hassel kept the team moving forward in the season with strong performances at the plate, batting .449 in her final season in Tommie purple. Hassel crossed the plate 49 times for the Tommies, just four shy of team-leader Hoffman.

Hassel was named first-team all-conference with teammates Bowe, Hoffman and catcher Emily Gregory. Pitcher Brianna Bannon and shortstop McKenzie Wergin received second-team all conference selections.

Gregory was a crucial component to the Tommies’ offense, posting a .437 average, 12 homers and a team-high 59 RBI. Gregory, a junior, has 29 career home runs, fourth-most in conference history. Going hand-in-hand with Gregory’s strength behind the plate was her team-leading 166 putouts.

In March, after 13 seasons with the team, Tschida surpassed 700 wins as a coach.

What’s next?

The 2014 season looks to be another promising year for the Tommies. With five starters graduating, the team retains 34 players from this year. The most notable loss will come with Hassel.

Of those returning, Hoffman and Gregory will lead the team offensively with outfielder McKenzie Wergin also taking charge.

Bowe will be a catalyst in helping the team kickstart another successful season. Fellow pitcher Bannon should give St. Thomas another 1-2 punch on the mound to rival any other conference foe.

Sean Crotty can be reached at crot0230@stthomas.edu.