Fort Hays State was picked fourth in the MIAA Softball Preseason Coaches Poll, released on Wednesday, January 23. The MIAA expands to 15 teams this year in softball as each member institution has the sport. Fort Hays State is looking to continue its success under second-year head coach Erin Kinberger, who guided FHSU to a 31-19 mark in her first season.
The Tigers finished third in the MIAA last year with 11 teams in the conference. FHSU nearly made the finals of the MIAA Tournament for the second straight year in 2012, but came up just one win short of repeating the feat from 2011.
Emporia State, the conference regular season and tournament champion in 2012, is picked atop the conference once again. The Hornets went undefeated in MIAA play last year and finished the year 42-11 overall. ESU received 12 first place votes in the poll.
Picked second is Central Oklahoma, which won the South Central Regional last year and fell just one win short of the national title game, falling to 2011 national champion UC-San Diego twice in a row to end its season at 46-9 overall. The Bronchos received three first-place votes in the poll. Missouri Western is picked third in the conference, which kept the Tigers from their second straight MIAA Tournament final in 2012 and finished 42-13 overall, making the South Central Regional.
Fort Hays State looks to improve against the three teams picked ahead of them in the conference in 2013. Nine of Fort Hays State’s 19 losses in 2013 came against the teams picked ahead of them in the conference. The only win in 10 games against those three teams was against Missouri Western at the MIAA Tournament.
The Tigers are led by the only senior on this year’s team, Maddie Holub, who earned All-South Central Region Second Team honors and All-MIAA First Team honors in 2012 as a pitcher. Holub had a dominating year in the pitching circle, shattering the single-season school record for strikeouts with 306 passing the old mark of 190 set by Kayla Rupa in 2009. She was twice named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week in 2012 and earned Louisville Slugger Division II National Pitcher of the Week for April 16-22 with a no-hitter and one-hitter. Holub struck out 10 or more batters in a game 16 times in 2012, including a school-record 16 strikeouts on three occasions. She also set single-season records at FHSU for wins (19), saves (4), fewest hits allowed per innings pitched (.56), and strikeouts per innings pitched (1.57). She ranked third nationally in strikeouts per seven innings (11.0) and seventh in total strikeouts.
Two other All-MIAA selections return in 2013, which includes junior catcher Callie Wright and sophomore outfielder Amanda Vaupel. Wright batted .258 with 11 extra-base hits and 21 RBI in 2012, including three home runs. She was a second-team selection and set a new FHSU single season record in putouts with 369, while starting all 50 games at catcher. Vaupel hit .333 as a true freshman with eight extra-base hits and 26 RBI and started all 50 games for FHSU in the outfield. Another All-MIAA selection returning is Danie Brinkmann, who redshirted last year, but was an all-conference selection in 2011 when she hit .323 with 16 extra-base hits and 22 RBI, including four home runs. Other notable returners from last year are Kellsi Olsen and Madison Putman, who each started all 50 games.
Below is the 2013 MIAA Softball Preseason Coaches Poll…
2013 MIAA Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Emporia State (12) 194
2. Central Oklahoma (3) 177
3. Missouri Western 176
4. Fort Hays State 153
5. Pittsburg State 143
6. Central Missouri 128
7. Washburn 103
8. Northwest Missouri 92
9. Northeastern State 83
10. Nebraska-Kearney 81
11. Missouri Southern 77
12. Truman 68
13. Lindenwood 52
14. Lincoln 25
15. Southwest Baptist 23
-FHSU Sports Information-
The Fort Hays State Tigers nearly erased a nine-point deficit in the final three and-a-half minutes, but a missed layup by Lance Russell with under 10 seconds to play helps the Pittsburg State Gorillas hold on for a 72-69 win Saturday afternoon at John Lance Arena in Pittsburg. The loss drips the Tigers to 10-5 and 4-3 in the MIAA. Pitt State improves to 12-4 and 5-3 in the conference.
Lizzy Jeronimus hit a runner over Kate Lehmam with 20 seconds to play to break a 48-48 tie. The Sophomore All-American then hit one of two free throws with 4.5 seconds the play as the No. 24 Pittsburg State Gorillas rally for a 51-48 win over the No. 21 Fort Hays State Lady Tigers Saturday afternoon at John Lance Arena. The loss is FHSU’s fourth-straight in Pittsburg and drops them to 11-4 and 3-4 in the MIAA. The Gorillas improve to 12-4 and 6-2 in the conference.
The 15th-ranked Fort Hays State wrestling team defeated 17th-ranked Adams State in dual action by a score of 24-15 on Thursday evening at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. The win improved Fort Hays State to 8-5 in dual action for the season.
The Fort Hays State Tigers closed the first half on a 10-0 run to lead by 14 at the break then built the lead to 25 in the second half in a 74-59 win over Southwest Baptist Wednesday night at Gross Coliseum. The victory improves the Tigers to 10-4 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA. Southwest Baptist, who had their three-game win streak snapped, falls to 5-10 and 3-4 in the conference.
The Fort Hays State Lady Tigers fell behind by five early in their game with Southwest Baptist Wednesday night at Gross Coliseum. They responded with a 24-5 run and go on to beat the Bearcats 64-55. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak and improves the Lady Tigers to 11-3 and 3-3 in the MIAA. The Bearcats have lost four straight and drops to them to 6-9 and 1-6 in the MIAA.
The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team drops three spots to No. 21 in the latest USA Today Division II Coaches’ Poll. The Lady Tigers are one of four from the MIAA ranked again this week. Washburn is the highest ranked, moving up three to No. 8. Central Missouri jumps four to No. 11 and Pittsburg State drops four to No. 24.