Rochester, MN-
The 2022 Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) softball season is underway and it's shaping up to be another compettitive season. The MCAC softball coaches took time out of their busy schedules to share thoughts and predictions on the 2022 conference season.
Minnesota College Athletic Conference softball competes at the NJCAA Division III level and is divided into a North and South division.
North Division coaches selected Central Lakes College as the likely team to finish atop the division. The Raiders return a veteran squad that finished as the runners-up in the North Division. In the South Division, Anoka-Ramsey Community College was picked slightly ahead of St. Cloud Technical and Community College to finish the season as the division champions. The Golden Rams return a strong group of sophomores with the goal of repeating as the champions of the South.
MCAC Softball will see three first-year coaches commanding their team's this season. Ray Podominick at Vermilion Community College, Jaimi Stejskal at Rochester Community & Technical College, and Joel Kaden at Riverland Community College will be at the helm for the first time in 2022. Dieter Humbert (Rainy River Community College – 17 years), Steve King (Minnesota State – Fergus Falls – 13 years), Dave Alto (Anoka-Ramsey Community College – 13 years), Greg Thorstad (St. Cloud Technical and Community College – 12 years), and Steve Rannikar (Hibbing Community College – 12 years) each bring over a decade of veteran experience to the conference.
Read on for the predicted order of finish in each division and for divisional outlooks of the teams who comprise the North and South Division ranks of the MCAC. Be sure to follow @MCACSports and @NJCAASoftball on Twitter for the latest in MCAC and NJCAA two-year college softball news, rankings and season information.
For the MCAC Softball home page, click here or go to https://mcacsports.org/sports/sball/index.
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2022 Softball Preview and Coaches Poll
North Division |
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MCAC North No. 1 Central Lakes College
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Head Coach: Ray Austin, 7 years at Central Lakes College Overall Record: 96-62 Coaching Staff: Ashly Erickson, pitching coach; Carlie Sweet, volunteer assistant coach; Donovan Tiberg, athletic trainer Top returning players: Cassidy Zontelli, Brainerd, MN, SS Addie Sanford, Aitkin, MN, RHP/INF Sarah Kossan, Motley, MN, C/OF Lexi Swanson, Pennock, MN, 1B/OF Sydnee Johnson, Brainerd, MN, INF Top incoming/new players: Marissa Callahan, Browerville, MN, RHP Brooke Corrigan, Foley, MN, INF Halle Zuppan, Pierz, MN, C/OF Comments from Coach Austin: "CLC returns a veteran core that finished runner up last year and will look to build on that finish." |
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MCAC North No. 2 Itasca Community College
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Head Coach: Kyle Erickson, 8 years at Itasca Community College Overall Record: 141-128 Coaching Staff: Emily Kessler, assistant coach; Mandi McNeil, pitching coach; Kayla Swanson, pitching coach Top returning players: Taylor Shepard, Coleraine, MN, RHP Maddy Shepard, Coleraine, MN, INF Haley Shepard, Blackduck, MN, INF/C Top incoming/new players: Emma Hurd, North Branch, MN, C/INF Abby Gustason, Coleraine, MN, C/INF Izzy Clark, WI, Pitcher Comments from Coach Erickson: "Balanced group of players that are excited to play ball." |
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MCAC North No. 3 Rainy River Community College
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Head Coach: Dieter Humbert, 17 years at Rainy River Community College Overall Record: 322-221 Coaching Staff: Roger Hasbargen, assistant coach; Jesse Valentine, assistant coach Top returning players: Jordan Cobbe, Leander, TX, C Valerie Sandoval, Laredo, TX, 3B Kaydin Bruner, Pewaukee, WI, SS Top incoming/new players: Presley Frost, Cortez, CO, RHP Kayla Townsend, Memphis, TN, OF Sofia Bills, Orem, UT, 2B Comments from Coach Humbert: "Will have a well balanced roster, however, we're dangerously short of depth."
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MCAC North No. 4 Northland Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Amanda Momerak, 2 years at Northland Community & Technical College Overall Record: 12-12 Coaching Staff: Haley Price; Craig Johnson Top returning players: Grace Minten, Perham, MN, 3B Justine Pratcshler, Winnipeg, Manitoba CAN, C/1B Hailee Harris, Hailey, ID, CF/RHP Desiree Lawrence, Champaign, IL, RHP/2B Kylie Shetler, Newfolden, MN, RF Top incoming/new players: Kasey Stegman, Drayton, ND, SS Felicity Andress, McIntosh, MN, 2B/LF/C Mara Davis, Nebraska City, NE, 1B Cmments from Coach Momarek: "Northland is looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. We're looking forward to seeing how our pitching depth compares to those in our conference."
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MCAC North No. 5 Mesabi Range College
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Head Coach: Tamara Moore, 2 years at Mesabi Range College Overall Record: 0-8 Coaching Staff: Jesse Bennett, assistant coach; Darin Aho, assistant coach/hitting coach Top returning players: Amelia Fritz, Minneapolis, MN, SS/P Hailey Aho, Virginia, MN, 3B/SS Morgan (MJ) Malecha, Orr, MN, C/OF Julia Knapper, Mt. Iron, MN, 1B Top incoming/new players: Thea Besch, Cherry, MN, 1B Grace Phenning, Virginia, MN, P/OF Helen Phenning, Virginia, MN, C/OF Comments from Coach Moore: "We will be improved from last season with more experience. The addition of incoming freshmen add a new dimension to our hitting as well as improving our defense. We continue to work hard in practice looking forward to our first games." |
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MCAC North No. 6 Hibbing Community College
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Head Coach: Steven Rannikar, 12 years at Hibbing Community College Overall Record: 102-134 Coaching Staff: Kasey Palmer, assistant coach Top returning players: Athena Dunham, Hill City, MN, C Gena Mancini, Iron, MN, RHP Top incoming/new players: Sophie Anderson, Chisholm, MN, SS/P Kaija Gams, Chisholm, MN, C Harmony Folstad, Keewatin, MN, 2B Comments from Coach Rannikar: "Need to improve on our defense from last year."
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MCAC North No. 7 Vermilion Community College
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Head Coach: Ray Podominick, 1 year at Vermilion Community College Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Steve Smrekar, volunteer assistant coach Top returning players: Teah Goulet, International Falls, MN, UTL Hailey Hurlbut, Goodhue, MN, OF Top incoming/new players: Riley Roden, Rogers, MN, OF/P Claire Huttle, Chesterfield, MO, SS Aubrea Smieja, Whitehall, WI, P/INF Comments from Coach Podominick: "Happy to be fielding a team this year and our players are excited about the upcoming season."
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2022 Softball Preview and Coaches Poll
South Division
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MCAC South No. 1 Anoka-Ramsey Community College
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Head Coach: Dave Alto, 13 years at Anoka-Ramsey Community College Overall Record: 211-235 Coaching Staff: Kim Bienfang, volunteer assistant coach; Jen Zidar, volunteer assistant coach; Shannon Olson, volunteer assistant coach Top returning players: Emma Bright, Anoka, MN, OF Sunny Strait, Minnetonka, MN, INF/P Mckenna Packard, St. Francis, MN, OF/3B Madison Segler, Little Falls, MN, 2B/SS Brooke Beberg, Andover, MN, OF Top incoming/new players: Molly Gross, Columbia Heights, MN, P/INF Hailey Babcock, Blaine, MN, SS Marissa Kerry, International Falls, MN, C Comments from Coach Alto: "We are excited for the season to start! We have a good group of returning players, along with a good mix of incoming players. Our keys for the season will be to only worry about the things that we can control, and to get better everyday. We play many great teams in and out of the conference season, so we have to be prepared to give our best effort day in and day out."
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MCAC South No. 2 St. Cloud Technical & Community College
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Head Coach: Greg Thorstad, 12 years at St. Cloud Technical and Community College Overall Record: 283-146 Coaching Staff: Ashley Pool, pitching and assistant coach Top returning players: Molly Carnell, Comfrey, MN, RHP Justice Boyer, Kimball, MN, CF/C Terri Tretter, Pierz, MN, C/2B Sam Knudon, Monticello, MN, INF/OF Alayna Manning, Monticello, MN, OF Top incoming/new players: Rainna Stangle, Sartell, MN, C/UTL Kami Dougherty, Sartell, MN, P/!B Emma Imdieke, St. Cloud, MN, SS/3B Comments from Coach Thorstad: "We hope to have a good balance of experience and incoming athletes. We look forward to competing in the MCAC."
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MCAC South No. 3 Minnesota West Community and Technical College |
Head Coach: Jeff Jager, 3 years at Minnesota West Community & Technical College Overall Record: 11-9 Coaching Staff: Jordan Kruse, assistant coach Top returning players: Steph Kazemba, Worthington, MN, SS/RHP Grace Suttle, Crooks, SD, 3B Emily Wilke, Le Sueur, MN, 2B Mallory Thorson, Luverne, MN, OF Top incoming/new players: Torrance Clelland, Rimbey, Alberta CAN, C Dannyn Peterson, Tulare, SD, OF Comments from Coach Jager: "I think we will be an overall solid ball team this year. We have a great mix of returning starters and freshmen."
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MCAC South No. 4 Rochester Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Jaimi Stejskal, 1 year at Rochester Community 7 Technical College Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Hannah Nelson, assistant coach; Mike Macken, assistant coach; Greg Holm, athletic trainer Top returning players: No players return from 2021 Top incoming/new players: Kelsey Grunewald, Madella, MN, 3B Payton Fox, Northfield, MN, SS Journey Smith, Tomah, WI, CF Isabelle Hahn, Kasson, MN, RHP/OF Abigail Scanlan, Stewartville, MN, 2B/RHP Comments from Coach Stejskal: "I'm excited and honored to coach this group of talented, compassionate, caring and hardworking young women in my first season as head coach of the RCTC Yellowjackets. I am impressed with their competitive spirit and love for the game."
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MCAC South No. 5 Minnesota State Community & Technical College |
Head Coach: Steve King, 13 years at Minnesota State – Fergus Falls Overall Record: 105-182 Coaching Staff: Monte Fredrickson Top returning players: Maddy Schjerve, Fergus Falls, MN, RHP Emma Bartels, New York Mills, MN, INF MacKenna Kehoe, Morris, MN, CF/C Top incoming/new players: Mackenzie Foss, Battle Lake, MN, SS/CF Anissa Antonsen, Frazee, MN, 3B Comments from Coach King: "Good leadership with 7 returning players. We hope to be much more competitive this year and play much better defense."
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MCAC South No. 6 Ridgewater College
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Head Coach: Datriana Jensen, 6 years at Ridgewater College Overall Record: 22-60 Coaching Staff: Carrie Ogdahl, assistant coach Top returning players: No returning players from 2021 season Top incoming/new players: Angie Weller, New York Mills, MN, UTL Tayler Schmidt, Paynesville, MN, C/OF Comments from Coach Jensen: "After not seeing the field last year, we're excited to get to work."
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MCAC South No. 7 Riverland Community College
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Head Coach: Joel Kaden, 1 year at Riverland Community College Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: TBD Top returning players: No returning players from 2021 season Top incoming/new players: No specific players mentioned Comments from Coach Kaden: "Team is playing at the club level this spring."
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This release sponsored by:
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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.