Itasca Community College 2018 Softball Preview

Itasca Community College 2018 Softball Preview

Head Coach, Year(s) at School, Overall Record at School 
Kyle Erickson,  5 years at Itasca
Additional Coaching & Support Staff:

Emily Kessler, Emily Erickson, Brooke Ostendorf

Top returning players:
Kayla Christopherson, Zimmerman MN SS; Xenia Hillman, Northhome-Kellier HS UTL; Carli Haynes, Grand Rapids MN, 3B; Sydney Denny, Grand Rapids MN, 1B; Rylie Donahue, Greenway MN, OF
Top incoming student-athletes: 
Talyn McClaflin, Big Lake IF; Anna Peters, Big Lake P; Maya Schroeder, Grand Rapids IF
Coach Erickson on the Viking pitching staff for 2018 season:
"We have 3 freshman pitchers with some big game experience. The key will be to throw strikes and trust our defense."
Coach Erickson on the Viking offense for 2018 season:
"We have a balanced line-up led by the returning sophmores, all of which played crucial roles in our success last year and will have to continue to be leaders this year. We have some freshman bats coming in that will provide balance as well."
Coach Erickson on Viking Softball in 2018:
"We want to continue to build on the successful tradition at Itasca"

About Softball in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference:

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference boasts a strong tradition in fastpitch softball; multiple decades of intercollegiate NJCAA competition has allowed student-athletes in the MCAC to pursue careers at four-year college programs and compete for National Championships. 

Currently, MCAC Softball teams compete in a two-division alignment.  Northern Division teams include Hibbing Community College, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range College, Rainy River Community College, Central Lakes College,  Northland Community & Technical College and Vermilion Community College.  The Southern Division is home to St. Cloud Technical & Community College, Ridgewater College, M State Fergus Falls, Anoka-Ramsey CC, Minnesota West CTC, Riverland Community College and Rochester Community & Technical College. 

At the conclusion of the 2018 spring season, MCAC Division Champions and Divisional runner-up, as well as third and fourth-place finishing teams, will advance to the 2018 NJCAA Division III Region XIIIA and B Tournaments.  The Region XIII A & B Tournaments will be hosted by the regular season champion.   Winners of the 2018 NJCAA Region XIII A & B tournaments will advance to the 2018 NJCAA Division III National Tournament, held in Rochester, Minnesota on May 17-19. 

Softball in the MCAC features athletes from over Minnesota and many surrounding states.  Our campus environments include the opportunity to attend college and compete in a variety of Minnesota State System colleges, from the urban hubs of the Twin Cities, Rochester, and St. Cloud, and the picturesque college towns ranging from Thief River Falls to Ely, Worthington to Brainerd.  Learn more at: http://www.minnstate.edu/

 

 More on Itasca Community College:

 
The scenic Itasca Community College campus, just 180 miles north of Minneapolis and St. Paul, is surrounded by majestic pines and more than 1,000 lakes. Itasca has two residence halls on campus. Students enroll at Itasca because they can get the big college experience on a smaller and more personal scale.The college is part of the Northeast Higher Education District, a consortium of five state colleges: Hibbing, Itasca, Mesabi Range, Rainy River and Vermilion. 
 

Gopher Sport, based in Owatonna, is an industry leader in Physical Education, sports and fitness equipment.  Gopher Sport is dedicated to providing programs and departments with the products to improve fitness, develop skills, create fun and reach a high standard of learning and living. Gopher Sport has diligently served teachers, coaches and athletic directors around the world for over 65 years. 

 

About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system.  The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions.  The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.