Season Preview: Softball returns veteran squad for the 2016 season
By Ashley Birchmeier
ADA — The Ohio Northern softball team returns a veteran squad for the 2016 season.
The Polar Bears welcome back 10 letterwinners from last year's team that finished 24-14 overall, 12-6 in the Ohio Athletic Conference and claimed a second place finish in the OAC Tournament.
Head coach Ali Hess, enters her third season with the Polar Bears holding a career record of 47-33 overall and 24-12 OAC.
She has guided ONU to one OAC Regular Season Title and two OAC Tournament Runner-up finishes in her first two seasons.
"We are looking forward to seeing this team grow as we return a plethora of experience all around the field," said Hess. "I am excited to see the mix of returners and our new talent mesh together to provide the program with greater consistency, leadership, athleticism, and depth. We have the potential to be a very solid team this year and fully expect to continue the success of ONU softball."
Here is the breakdown for the Polar Bears in 2016:
In the circle, Hess welcomes back top pitcher, sophomore Kirsten Lightel, who earned OAC Rookie of the Year and OAC Pitcher of the Year honors a season ago.
Lightel made 27 appearances as a freshman, recording 120 strikeouts in 149 innings of work.
Northern also welcomes back junior Paige Ordean, who made 19 appearances, recording 30 strikeouts and one shutout in 2015.
Freshman Kylie Asmus and Kaitlin Surdej will also join the duo this season and look to provide depth at the pitching position.
In the infield, Northern welcomes back starting second baseman and All-OAC selection sophomore Jenna Hollar.
Hollar recorded a conference-leading 27 stolen bases and a team-leading 43 hits as a freshman.
The Polar Bears also return starting shortstop sophomore Gia Saturday, as well as starting third baseman sophomore Miranda Huddle and senior catchers Amanda Lahti and Tessa Topp.
Saturday led the Polar Bears last season at the dish, recording a team-leading 34 RBIs on 37 hits. The sophomore was named an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete in 2015.
Huddle appeared in 38 games last season and will look to provide depth this season, bringing the ability to play both the middle infield as well as the outfield for Ohio Northern.
Lahti and Topp will look to lead the Polar Bears behind the plate.
Lahti made 38 starts at catcher last season, while Topp made 24 appearances. The duo will be joined by freshman Sara Florian in 2016.
Sophomore Anna Martin returns as the top outfielder for the Polar Bears being joined by junior Megan Hupp.
Martin made a team-leading 124 plate appearances and scored a team-leading 31 runs as the lead off hitter for ONU.
Hupp appeared in 34 games as a sophomore, splitting time between right field and designated player for the Polar Bears. The junior made 61 appearances at the dish, recording 13 hits.
Northern welcomes freshman Laura Burden, Catherine Jenks, and Mackenzie Sowers to the outfield this season.
Northern opens the 2016 season with its annual spring break trip to Clermont, Fla. Feb. 26-March 5.
ONU then returns home to face Bluffton on March 15, followed by Case Western Reserve on March 20.
The Polar Bears will open OAC play on March 25 as they travel to Marietta, followed by John Carroll on April 2.
Northern then returns home to take on Otterbein April 6 and Mount Union on April 9.
The Polar Bears will also play host to Muskingum on April 16, non-conference opponents Mt. St. Joseph on April 17 and Anderson (Ind.) on April 26.
ONU will close out its regular season April 30 as they play host to Capital.
"We have a competitive schedule for the 2016 season starting off with some great teams we will face in Florida," said Hess. "We should have some good tests right out of the gate which gives us a chance to see where we are at early in the season. Our non-conference schedule should prepare us well for our conference opponents and allow for the opportunity to grow as a team throughout the season."