Softball looks to an experienced roster for 2020 season

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College Yellow Jacket softball team will look to build on last season's HCAC post season push as they return a wealth of talent in 2020. The Purple and Gold return the majority of their starting nine from last season's squad that finished 21-18 overall, 9-7 in HCAC action and look to an exciting class of newcomers to add into the mix this season. 

"We've had a very competitive preseason" stated head coach Megan Warren. "Our team has been working extremely hard to grow together and we're ready to get out on the field."

PITCHING

Taylor Biggs (Cincinnati, Ohio /Oak Hills) is the lone pitcher returning from the past season and she saw action in 26 games in the circle for the Yellow Jackets. The junior tallied a team-high 50 strikeouts through 109.1 innings of work. Biggs registered a team-best 10 wins on the mound with a 4.61 ERA. She finished the season with nine complete games, including four shutouts and two saves, earning her an HCAC Pitcher of the Week honor. Offensively, she registered 31 at-bats with eight hits for a .258 batting average,  tallying three RBI with one double. 

Senior Sydney Zeuch (Mason, Ohio/ Mount Notre Dame), saw action for the Yellow Jackets in the 2018 season appearing in 20 games and posted a 3.09 earned run average. 

Junior Jennifer Kaffenbarger (DeGraff,Ohio/ Indian Lake) and freshmen Hunter Schwochow (Clyde, Ohio/Clyde) and Sara Blausey (Genoa, Ohio/Genoa) will look to add depth to the pitching staff this season.

"We are thrilled to have some depth on our pitching staff this year, " added Warren. "Taylor had a great season last year and we've been able to bring in some support for her and I can't wait to see how they work as a unit this season." 

INFIELD

Defiance returns the bulk of its infield, welcoming back four starters from a season ago in senior Brooke Gostomsky (Covington, Ohio/Covington), junior Hali Geraci (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro), and sophomores Kalin Hubble (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) and Sophie Moller (Pickerington, Ohio/North).

Gostomsky, a Second Team All-HCAC selection, started at third base for the Purple and Gold with 39 game appearances. The senior posted a .312 batting average and was second on the team in runs (28), extra-base hits (17), total bases (72), and home runs (7). Defensively, Brooke had 36 putouts with 87 assists for a .932 fielding percentage. 

Geraci, a member of the HCAC All-Tournament team, started at shortstop for the Yellow Jackets last season. The junior played and started in 38 games and registered a .326 batting average with 17 RBI, one home run and 11 walks. Defensively, she recorded 85 putouts and a team-leading 98 assists, for a .920 fielding percentage and 10 double plays.   

Hubble, was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and earned All-HCAC First Team honors. She appeared in and started all 39 games for the Yellow Jackets, recording a team-high .386 batting average, and set the Defiance single-season record for home runs with an HCAC leading 10. Kalin led the team with 30 RBI , 44 hits,  and slugging percentage of .728. Defensively, she played most of the season in the outfield and had 27 putouts, but also made four appearances on the mound, putting in 7.1 innings of work. 

Moller, played in 35 games for the Yellow Jackets with 32 starts. The sophomore posted a .297 batting average, with three doubles and a home run to tally 14 RBI. Defensively, she ranked second on the team with 91 putouts and 15 assists behind the plate.  

Juniors McKenize Baker (Bellville, Ohio/ Clear Fork), Jen Nashalsky (Galloway/Hilliard Bradley) and Kaylee Dunkle (Stoutsville/Canal Winchester), as well as senior Jada Lopez (Leipsic) will return to the infield this year adding experience to the lineup.

Baker, played in seven games last season with one start in right field. The junior made nine plate appearances and posted three hits as well as a .333 batting average and slugging percentage.  

Nashalsky, played in 36 games with 26 starts for the Yellow Jackets last season and recorded 26 hits on 77 at-bats for a batting average of .338. The junior tallied a team-best 10 doubles with 13 RBI to  post a .468 slugging percentage. 

The Purple and Gold also welcome freshman Grace Gostlin (Kalamazoo, Mich./ Parchment), Alivia Kruczkowski (Holland, Ohio/ Springfield), Camryn Bekkering (Portland, Ohio/Dewitt), and Lily Linke (Westerville, Ohio/Central) to the infield for the 2020 season. 

"We are fortunate to have some very talented athletes on our team and have been able to move some players to the infield this year to make us better, "  stated Warren. "They have set goals for themselves that are going to help our team tremendously and as mostly upperclassmen, their experience will be something we rely on to lead our defense."

OUTFIELD

The Yellow Jackets return four outfielders, including senior Arianna Richards (Covington, Ohio/ Covington), as well as juniors Erin Breece (Hamler, Ohio/Patrick Henry), Makenzie Wilson (Haskins, Ohio/Otsego), and Stevie Brooks (Leipsic, Ohio/Leipsic).

Richards spent the most time in the outfield for the Yellow Jackets last season appearing in  35 games with 62 at bats. The senior registered 11 hits, scoring 15 runs with an on base percentage of .283. She finished the 2019 season with a .250 batting average and 7 stolen bases. Defensively, Richards tallied 31 putouts with three assists.

Wilson, appeared in 18 games for the Purple and Gold making nine starts and 31 putouts last season. The sophomore went 3-for-3 in stolen bases, with one home run and a RBI.

Defiance will also look for contributions from senior Jess Mello (Vermilion, Ohio/Vermilion) and freshmen Rylee Hershberger (Breman, Ind./Breman), Marissa Roberts (Warren, Ohio/LaBrae), and Josilyn Guzman (Woodhaven, Mich./Woodhaven). Hershberger landed herself on the 2020  Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Athletes to Watch list for the upcoming season. 

"Our outfield is going to be very exciting to watch," said Warren. "We have a good mix of returners and new players who have been competing all preseason and I'm excited to see that pay off for our team this year."

The Yellow Jackets open the 2020 season this Saturday, February 22, as they travel to Rhodes College  for a two day invite facing Fontbonne University (Mo.) at 10:00 am CST and Rhodes College (Tenn.) at 2:00 pm CST.