The Northland College Softball program is looking forward to the 2008 season. The Jills are coming off a successful year in 2007 in which they posted a team record 23 wins and finished second in the UMAC with an 11-3 record.
Northland established the softball program in 2000 and Wammer believes that being involved in a program from the beginning is both an opportunity and responsibility. He states, “Building a Tradition is the motto of the program. Each year’s team is building upon what previous teams have done before.” A key component of Building a Tradition is what Wammer refers to as ‘doing things the right way’. "We set high expectations of our players, encompassing how they approach the game as well as how they approach academics and college life in general,” Wammer states, “Both small and large things are important -running on and off the field, practicing hard, doing well in the classroom, and being a good representative of our program – are examples of how our players ‘do things the right way’.” Additionally Wammer emphasizes that encouraging a family atmosphere on the team is central to the tradition, "Genuinely caring about each member of the team is something we expect of everyone involved in our program - coaches, players, and manager."
The LumberJills schedule includes a spring training trip every year. This year they will travel to Arizona to participate in the Tucson Invitational Games (in past years they have traveled to California and three different locations in Florida). This early season trip is always a highlight of the season. The team not only gains valuable experience playing teams from all over the country, it is also great opportunity for our team to come together. “Spending a week playing, traveling, rooming, eating, and hanging out with your teammates invariably brings you
closer,” according to Wammer.
Last season, the Jills went into the final UMAC doubleheader of the season needing a sweep to earn a share of the title. After winning the first game 3-0, the Jills came up short in the second game. Individually, the Jills also garnered multiple honors. Five players were named to the UMAC All-Conference team: seniors Mel Grego (1st Team), sophomores Becky Walters (1st Team), Aurora Albrecht (Honorable Mention), and Bobi Jo Wolf (Honorable Mention) and freshman Brittany Schmitt (1st Team). Additionally Grego (OF) and Schmitt (P) were named to the UMAC All-Defensive team. “We were very close last year to earning our first conference championship, with most of our players returning, I know that we want to be in a position to play for a title again this year," states Wammer.
Captains Katie Zaban, Alex Potter and Aurora Albrecht will provide leadership for the Jills. Zaban brings a .321 career average and 12 home runs into her senior season, while Potter and Albrecht both hit .290 last season.
The Jills are hoping for the continued offensive output of Becky Walters, who is a two-time All UMAC player and has posted .371 career average and 77 RBI in just two seasons, as well as Tiffany Datko and Karen Harnisch who both hit over .300 in 2007.
In the circle, All-UMAC Brittany Schmitt who set a team record for wins in 2007 and had a 1.65 ERA will be joined by Steph Langfeldt and Albrecht.
Additional returners Chrissy Dvorscak, Theresa Pufall, Shondrieka Givens, Margaret Koosman, Katie Johnson, Asia DeVlaeminck and Naomi Weckman will be joined by newcomers Langfeldt, Megan Malovec and Amanda Seely. “This group brings much to the table,” according to Wammer, “I believe we will have some great internal competition for playing time which will only make us better.”