Concordia Softball kicks off its 2018 campaign Friday at the Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. against Cal State Dominguez Hill from the California Collegiate Athletic Association. They continue the five game schedule with Western Oregon University, Colorado Christian, Western Washington and Cal State Monterey Bay.
The Eagles will get comfortable on the road early. The first 19 games of their schedule are not only away, but will take them from Nevada, Utah and Hawaii before returning to Eagles Field on March 17th for the home opener against Academy of Art. Following the conference series, Concordia will participate in the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, Calif. from March 23rd-25th.
A look at Last Year: Concordia went 36-15-2 in the 2017 season with a 22-10-0 PacWest record. The Eagles, who were ineligible for post season play due to the NCAA transition, finished fourth in conference behind APU, Dixie State and California Baptist. The Eagles lost key players BethAnn McCann, Lauren Rodriguez, Hanna Miller and Nicole Chavez who played their senior season in 2017.
The Preseason Poll: In the Preseason Poll, Concordia was picked to finish third in conference, tying Azusa Pacific. Reigning champions, CBU, was selected as the conference favorite with eight first-place votes. The Dixie State Trailblazers took spot number two with 121 points and two first-place votes. The Eagles and Cougars each received 112 points. Academy of Art was chosen fifth, earning the final two first-place votes.Â
Look Who's Back: The Eagles are equipped with 17 returners, including 2018 Preseaon PacWest Pitcher of the Year, Grayson Harvey. Harvey led the Eagles with an 18-6 record with one save to earn First Team All-PacWest honors in 2017. As a junior, she led the PacWest in strikeouts with 180 in 163 innings pitched. She was the PacWest Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in 2016. Â
Senior Outfielder Ryann Ferguson will also be returning to Concordia for her fourth and final season. Ferguson was named preseason All-PacWest after hitting .353 in 2017 with 66 hits, 33 runs, 17 RBI and 12 doubles. She held a PacWest high .711 slugging percentage in 2016 with 53 runs, 76 hits, 21 doubles and 12 home runs and was First Team All-PacWest.
"Arguably two of the best players to ever put on the Eagle Uniform and I am excited to see how they close out their careers," Head Coach Crystal Rosenthal said. "Ryann has been a force up to bat for three years and I am hoping for her to have great year. Grayson just needs to be Grayson, she has been so good for three seasons I love how competitive she is and I am excited to watch her on the mound."
In addition to the upperclassmen, the Eagles have a group of young talent eager to get back on the field.
Following a standout freshman season, 2017 All-PacWest honoree Amanda Gjertsen begins her sophomore season as an Eagle. The third baseman from Mission Viejo, Calif. hit .331 in her debut year with 21 runs, 49 hits, seven doubles and 37 RBI. Mackenzie Graham, who earned Third Team All-PacWest accolades, also looks to repeat the same success in her second season. Graham hit .375 with 24 hits, 13 RBI, nine runs and four homers.
Suiting up: With eight freshman on the roster, Rosenthal looks forward to what the newcomers can add to the program.
"We have a really young team with a ton of talent in every aspect of the game," Rosenthal said. "I am looking forward to seeing what our freshman class can add to our program. They are very athletic and gritty and fit the kind of player we have been so successful with over my career here."
Now as official members of the NCAA Div. II, Concordia is prepared to compete against the best.
"You can expect to see a team that is into every pitch, that plays a fast paced style and forces the other team to be at their best," Rosenthal added. "We have great stuff on the mound no matter who gets the nod and we look for our pitchers to set the tone early in a game.Ultimately we are working hard every day to use every opportunity to continue to grow so that we can compete at the highest level."
