Softball voted second in North Star Preseason Poll

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Bellevue University softball team has been picked second in the 2016 North Star Athletic Association, according to the conference coaches' preseason poll which was announced Monday.

The Bruins, who collected 69 points in the preseason poll, won the MCAC regular season and tournament championships to close out last season an overall record of 41-14-1 last season. Bellevue is awaiting the release of the NAIA Softball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll to see where they are viewed nationally to open the season. That poll comes out later today.

Seventh-year head coach Michala Cimino will lead the club once again in 2016 where an element of the unknown exists around the program following the graduation of a pair of all-Americans in pitcher Taylor Mohler and second baseman Ashley Gigax as well as all-region and all-MCAC shortstop Shelby Kindelin.

Despite the losses from last year's ball club, the Bruins do return a strong core of talent. Among the returners is junior pitcher Kelli Fisher (18-6, 1.86 ERA, 144 SO, 169.0 IP) who looks to slide into the vacated role of staff ace. Also back are junior outfielder Courtney Schendt (.302 AVG, 13 XBH, 28 RBI, 16 Runs) and a slew of sophomores in infielder Emily Gigax (.259 AVG, 13 XBH, 17 RBI, 22 Runs), utility player Michaela Miller (.284 AVG, 7 XBH, 20 RBI, 20 Runs), catcher Sayde Woten (.327 AVG, 18 XBH, 25 RBI, 20 Runs), and first baseman Alex Tooley (.304 AVG, 14 XBH, 29 RBI, 20 Runs).

Rounding out the list of returners for the Bruins are Sarah Zeleny (So., OF), Sydney Robertson (Jr., IF/OF), and Kaitlyn Goney (Jr., OF).

The Bruins also brought in another great recruiting class highlighted by pitcher/third baseman Erin Sharpe (Albuquerque, N.M./Valencia HS). She thrice led her high school career Sharpe led her high school team in home runs and she was named to the 6AAAA first team all-district selection in New Mexico in three successive seasons.

The list of newcomers is long and includes 3B/OF Maddie Siedlik (Omaha, Neb./Millard South HS), 1B/OF Katie Franzen (North Platte, Neb./North Platte HS), UT Emily Miller (Aberdeen, S.D./Aberdeen Central HS), UT Kayla Lehigh (Elkhorn, Neb./Millard North HS), and Kayla Young (Los Lunas, N.M./Valencia HS). Freshmen pitcher Myah Boehnke (Fort Collins, Colo./Poudre HS) and catcher Randi Henry (La Vista, Neb./Ralston HS) are redshirting this season.

This is Bellevue's inaugural season in the North Star Athletic Association. They open their season with a triple-header on Friday, Feb. 26 in Fayetteville, Ark. at the Evangel Tournament. The Bruins take on Midland (10 a.m.), Lindenwood-Belleville (2 p.m.), and Oklahoma City (4 p.m.).

2016 NSAA Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll:

Rank--School (1^st Place Votes)—Points

1—Dickinson State (9)—81

2—Bellevue—69

3—Jamestown—66

4—Valley City State—50

5—Waldorf—40

6—Presentation—39

7—Mayville State—24

8—Viterbo—18

9—Dakota State—10