SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth University softball team opens the 2023 season this weekend with high hopes of challenging for a Northwest Conference title.
The Pirates, who finished 25-17 overall and 15-13 in the NWC last season, have paired a plethora of returnees with a large and talented incoming class.
"We measure success through report cards," said head coach Bob Castle. "One is from the classroom, the other is conference standings. A bigger team and the demands in a classroom at Whitworth make keeping a team GPA over a 3.6 very difficult. That is our challenge. And, we ultimately will not be satisfied with anything other than playing for and winning a conference championship."
Whitworth returns both starting pitchers, an All-NWC infield, and a starting outfielder from last season. The 25-player roster also includes ten newcomers.
According to Castle, the larger roster has meshed into a cohesive team.
"I give a lot of credit to our freshman and transfers for coming in and working hard right away," he said. "Effort goes a long way towards winning teammates over in our competitive environment. While the season is just beginning, they have all been making sacrifices as student-athletes for several months now to get better at the game and to learn about each other. Many of our returners have been excited and driven by the competition. Our first trip of the year should go a long way towards blending us even more."
The opening trip includes doubleheaders at Redlands, Pomona-Pitzer and La Verne in Southern California. The Pirates are scheduled to open Northwest Conference play at home, but upcoming winter weather next week could have an impact on those plans.
The cornerstone of any successful team is strong pitching. Whitworth returns both starters from 2022. Corinne Vasiloff has started 36 games over the last two seasons. She finished 14-14 in 2022 with a 4.77 ERA. Momi Lyman went 11-3 with a 4.34 ERA as a freshman last spring.
Annie Brose also saw time in the circle last season, and Kaleigh Bauerle has two seasons of pitching experience at Pacific University in Oregon. She transferred in this season. First-year Pirate Trinity Miller is a potential star-in-the-making, according to Castle.
The pitching staff has a number of options to throw to behind the plate. Taylor Hofheins and Kelly Hruza were thrust into extensive playing time last season after an injury to starting catcher Maddy Thomas. The pair performed admirably and each is more ready for this season because of that experience. First year Lizzy Bradford is also a catcher who could force her way into the lineup in some role.
The infield returns every starter, beginning with 2022 first team All-NWC honoree Heather Menzer at first base. Menzer batted .352 with 33 RBIs last season. She finished with seven home runs, seven doubles and five triples to lead the team in slugging average (.648). Kylie Koszykowski, a transfer from Columbia Basin College, gives the Pirates significant depth at first base.
At second base, Haley Montoya led the Pirates in batting average (.389) and ranked among NCAA Division III leaders in total hits (56) last season, earning honorable mention All-NWC. Reagan Ellis is a first-year from Bothell who can step in when needed.
Jazz Johnson moved over to shortstop in 2022 and claimed honorable mention All-NWC honors. She batted .255 with 23 RBIs and 27 runs scored. Mackenzie Nine is a first-year from nearby Nine Mile Falls who will gain valuable experience as a backup this season.
Second team All-NWC honoree Mattea Nelson is back as a starter for her third straight season at third base. She batted .364 with 25 RBIs and 29 runs and finished with five home runs and seven doubles in 2022. Katie McKinnis has transferred to Whitworth from the Community Colleges of Spokane as a sophomore.
Another CC of Spokane transfer, Kennedy Robison, looks set to start in center field. Julia Dillon, who started 35 games last spring, returns in right field. Jessica Rusconi, who has 33 starts over her first two years as a Pirate, has the inside track for left field. Any number of players already mentioned in this preview will push that trio for playing time.
Without a chance to practice outside yet in 2023, Castle sees this team as a work-in-progress for several weeks.
"We are still looking for the pieces to come together defensively, since it is hard to run our stuff in our indoor settings," he said. "I love our infield, and it will be a great challenge to be even better than last year's defense. I really think our lineup will be unselfish, consistent and will develop into being tough outs. Our pitchers worked hard in the offseason, and they should among our noticeable areas of improvement."
Whitworth was picked fourth in the 2023 preseason coaches poll, conducted by the NWC office. Defending champion Linfield was first, followed by George Fox and Pacific Lutheran.
