Softball | 1/23/2025 10:06:00 AM
Burnsville, Minn. – The NSIC office released the annual NSIC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Thursday morning ahead of the 2025 season. Minnesota Crookston softball, headed into their first season under the direction of
Ashton Sangster, was slated to finish 14
th in the 15 team Northern Sun conference.
Augustana, who advanced to the College World Series last season was selected to finish first with 14 of the possible 15 first place votes. Concordia-St. Paul was tabbed to finish second, while Minnesota State was picked to finish third. Minnesota Duluth and Winona State round out the top-five.
Concordia-St. Paul's Alexis Monty was chosen as the Preseason Player of the Year, while graduate student Grace Glanzer of Augustana was selected as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Whitnee Curry (Sr., MIF/OF, Lincoln, Neb.) was slated as the player to watch for the Golden Eagles. Curry is expected to be in the middle of the lineup after hitting a team-high .340 last season, while driving in 17 runs. Curry started in all but three games last season.
Alexa Guilford (Jr., LHP, Crystal City, Manitoba) was selected as the pitcher to watch for the Golden Eagles. The now junior was fantastic as a sophomore, leading the Golden Eagles in ERA, WHIP, appearances, saves and opponent batting average.
The Golden Eagle offense should be solid this season. Including Curry, the maroon and gold return three position players who started more than 40 games;
Haley Koch (Sr., C, Mondamin, Iowa),
Rayna French (So., C, La Salle, Manitoba) and
Sophie Juntunen (Jr., 1B, St. Michael, Minn.) are all expected to make big impacts offensively for the Golden Eagles.
Minnesota Crookston also returns
Evie Stuck (Sr., P/OF, Papillion, Neb.) and
Charlotte Dombrowski (Jr., P/OF, Valparaiso, Ind.) in the circle, joining Guilford.
Riley Blake (Fr., P/OF, Las Vegas, Nev.) and
Hannah Trzinski (Fr., P, Stevens Point, Wis.) could both make impacts in the circle as freshmen this season.
Minnesota Crookston opens the season in one week, as they head down to Branson, Mo., for six non-conference games, starting with a pair of games against East Central and Northwestern Oklahoma State.
