HELENA, Mont. -- Carroll College's softball team's quest for nationals continues this season.
A year after posting a program-best 28 wins, the Carroll College Fighting Saints softball team received its first-ever votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll. For a program entering its fifth year, it signals growth during a quick timeline.
"Receiving votes in the Top 25 is just another progression in our program," Saints coach
Aaron Jackson said. "It elevates expectations. It solidified what we've done as a young program in the short tenure of the program. We are respected not only in our conference but nationally."
Carroll went 28-22 last season, advancing to the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament before bowing out after losses to Oregon Tech (2-1) and British Columbia (2-0).
Carroll graduated three seniors from that school-record-setting squad, and bring back the entire pitching staff. Also returning are all-conference selections Tess Eaton (second team), Ali Williams (second team) Anna ApRoberts (honorable mention) and Gold Glove winner Kendall Mooney.
"The expectations never really change," Jackson said. "The goal is to win the conference championship and make it to the national tournament and compete for a national championship. Those have been expectations from day one. Now we're at a place where those are realities."
Last season also served the distinction of being the Saints' first class of graduation softball seniors.
"We have a group of alumni that can come back and share their stories and tell the stories of Carroll College softball," Jackson said. "There's a sense of pride in the program."
With the Saints set to open up their season in California on Feb. 8, here's a look at the 2019 Carroll College Saints' softball team.
INFIELDERS
Megan McCormick
Fallon, Nevada
5-9, senior
Last season: 16 GP, .250 avg, 7 hits, 3 RBI, .297 OB%
Coaches' thoughts: "We've transitioned her into a first baseman. She was a catcher coming in. She will compete to play at first base for us. Has a solid glove over there. Has a potentially potent bat for us. I don't think I've seen the kid not take a full hack at a pitch. (Laughs.) She's a really committed hitter at the plate."
Kailey Harrison
Jerome, Idaho
5-5, sophomore
Coaches' thoughts: "Will play primarily middle infield. Will look to add some depth there. Is coming around at the plate. We'll look to utilize her in those roles in this coming season."
Brittany Smith
Helena, Montana
5-9, senior
Last season: 44 GP, 41 GS, .256 BA, 31 hits, 17 RBI, 1 HR, .297 OBP
Coaches' thoughts: "One of our seniors. Played the most games at shortstop in the history of the position. Has really developed there. Never played shortstop until she came to Carroll College. A kid that gives all-out effort. Has a solid bat for us and runs the bases well. We really look to her to be that leader."
Kendall Mooney
Missoula, Montana
6-0, junior
Last season: 48 GS, .289 BA, 37 hits, 21 RBI, 3 HR, .331 OBP
Coaches' thoughts: "Kendall is at the hot corner and has really taken a hold of that position. Has a great bat. Can hit for power. Came up with some big, clutch hits a year ago. We look for her to develop more as a hitter and apply some solid defense at the corner."
Katie Huisman
Great Falls, Montana
5-5, sophomore
Last season: 14 GP, .310 BA, 6 RBI, .310 OBP
Coaches' thoughts: "Will help solidify our catching position. She's a cerebral catcher. Understands how to call the game and has a connection to our pitching staff. Will allow us to have a solid presence behind the plate and not have to catch one kid every game. We don't miss a beat with Katie behind the plate. She's a smart kid."
Jessica Nimmo
Las Vegas, Nevada
5-9, freshman
Coaches' thoughts: "Will play middle infield and potentially play some outfield for us. Another kid you look at her and you think 'man she's going to hit for singles and be battling average kid.' She has some great power at the plate and runs the bases well. We like the fact she's multi-positional."
Courtney Schroeder
Great Falls, Montana
5-10, junior
Last season: 10 GP, .286 BA, 4 hits, 7 RBI, .353 OBP
Coaches' thoughts: "Is gonna be at first base for us this year. Another kid that brings a solid glove there and works her butt off. "We look for her to develop at the plate and commit to being that solid approach at that plate. A kid that has really developed into a great first baseman. Excited to see her progression there."
Natalie Gaber
Littleton, Colorado
5-6 sophomore
Last season: 30 GP, 23 GS, .307 BA, 23 hits, 16 RBI, 1 HR, .310 OBP
Coaches' thoughts: "She's going to be in a lot of places. We're going to ask her probably to play at least three or four positions. She's' a versatile player. She has one speed and one speed only and that's hard. She's a kid that's really gritty. At the plate, she's the same way. She has power. We look for her to get the lineup and utilize her more this coming season."
Tianna Sell
Mead, Colorado
5-7, senior
Last season: 39 GP, 38 GS, .306 BA, 33 hits, 15 RBI, 3 HR, .324 OBP
Coaches' thoughts: "Has been the cornerstone behind the plate for four years. Came in as freshman and solidified that position. She has been behind the plate the most times in program history. Just has a great connection with our pitching staff and has the ability to call a game. She's called our games since her freshman and we trust her in doing that. To build a relationship with umpires, which is so crucial, she does a great job in that. She has the potential to be one of the most feared hitters in the conference."
Anna ApRoberts
Portland, Oregon
5-6, junior
Last season: 49 GP, 48 GS, .310 BA, 52 hits, 19 RBI, 2 HR, .406 OBP
Coaches' thoughts: "A kid that came in as a walk-on and was all-conference as freshman and all-conference as a sophomore. She's a stellar second baseman. She's a great No. 2 hitter for us. A kid that fights for everything she's gotten. We look for Anna to continue to develop her. Anna is a great competitor and gives it her all."
Josie Barker
Seattle, Washington
5-6, freshman
Coaches' thoughts: "Looking for her to push Kendall. She's developing at the plate. She has taken big steps in learning how to stay on the plate. She's becoming a well-rounded hitter."
Emma Hamilton
Lexington, Kentucky
5-7, freshman
Coaches' thoughts: "A late find for us. Made a visit in July and then went out of the country for a few weeks and then decided to come to Carroll College. She's a great surprise for us. She has great power. Another catcher that can develop. She has a great presence behind the plate. She's a loud kid and can control the field. She can call the games."
Rachel Vance
Yakima, Washington
5-2, freshman
Coaches' thoughts: "Rachel will be a corner infielder for us. Plays a solid quarter infield. We look for her to develop at the plate."
OUTFIELDERS
Brooke Brewer
Peoria, Arizona
5-9 sophomore
Last season: 24 GP, 16 GS, .196 BA, 9 hits, 2 RBI, .286 OBP
Coaches' thoughts: "Our only lefty in our lineup and our only sophomore in our lineup. Plays a great outfield. Covers some good ground. Will give us a different look at the plate. Excited to be able to utilize her in that position."
Amber Brewer
Peoria Arizona
5-3 freshman
Coaches' thoughts: "She's really proven she can play at this level and play at a high level. She has a potent bat. You look at her and you wouldn't think she's going to hit for power, but she has tremendous power."
Chelsea Todd
Missoula, Montana
5-7 sophomore
Coaches' thoughts: "She possesses some good power at the plate and has a strong arm in the outfield. She's a real solid outfielder and will push that group to be better."
TJ Rucker
Portland, Oregon
5-6 senior
Last season: 37 GP, .125 BA
Coaches' thoughts: "Another one of our seniors that has great speed. Unassuming. Has been a valuable pinch runner for us in the past few years. Runs the bases hard. We look for her to progress and push the outfield and get more innings out there. Possesses great power but can also lay down a bunt. She brings a lot of great dimensions.
Ashley Davis
Billings, Montana
5-9 senior
Last season: 19 GP, 16 GS, .146 BA, 6 hits, 4 RBI, .286 OBP
Coaches' thoughts: "Another senior outfielder. A year ago she battled a thumb injury and a leg injury so was kind of a disappointing season for her. Throughout all of that, she was a leader in the dugout. She came ready to work. Now that she's healthy, we look for her to get back where she was as a sophomore, all-conference."
Michaela Boyette
Taylorsville, Utah
5-3 freshman
Coaches' thoughts: "She's a utility catcher, outfielder. She covers a lot of ground. She has great speed. We will utilize her as a pinch runner also. We can use her behind the plate and also in the outfield when we need that great defensive coverage."
Brooke Yarnall
Frenchtown, Montana
5-3 junior
Last season: 36 GP, 28 GS, .258 BA, 23 hits, 18 RBI, .305 OBP
Coaches' thoughts: "She really solidified herself in the outfield. She took advantage of the opportunity she got and was a clutch hitter. We look for her to be that center fielder. When clutch time comes up, she's one of the kids we want at the plate."
PITCHERS
Ali Williams
Kalispell, Montana
5-11 junior
Last season: 13-9 W-L, 2.08 ERA, 148 IP, 133 SO, 128 H; 44 GP, .305 BA, 36 hits, 24 RBI, 5 HR, .408 OBP
Coaches' thoughts: "I think that Ali's work speaks for itself. If you look at her overall win and loss record a year ago, it was pretty good. But we also put her in situations where she faced No. 1s and lost one-run battles. Her dominance on the mound and her presence going into her junior year is just going to be that much better. She's become a great overall pitcher. She can throw up and down and right to left and hit all quadrants and then she's a feared hitter. She probably hits some of the farthest balls I've ever seen hit."
Tess Eaton
San Diego, California
5-5 senior
Last season: 10-4 W-L, 2.48 ERA, 107.1 IP, 85 SO, 106 H
Coaches' thoughts: "She's been a staple in the circle for us. Came in and has pitched a lot of games for us. At one point she was 12-0 last year before she faced her first loss, a tough loss at that. A real unassuming kid. She's all of 115 pounds, if that. She has great grit, has great spin on the ball, and a drive when she puts her mind to it, she's going to succeed. That's what she does on a daily basis."
Brooke Brown
Phoenix, Arizona
5-9 junior
Last season: 5-7 W-L, 4.37 ERA, 73.2 IP, 44 SO, 77 H
Coaches' thoughts: "We look for her to take that next step for us. She's a solid kid that has really developed since she got here. This is going to be one of her best years yet. We're excited to have her back on the mound and give us a different look in our conference counters."