Softball To Open Season on Friday

          DECATUR, Illinois—The Millikin softball team is ready to start the 2020 season on Friday, February 28 when they host Calvin University at the Workman Family Softball Field. Despite this week's snow and cold temperature, Friday's game will be played as scheduled. No pets are allowed at the Workman Family Softball Field with the expection of registered service animals.
After posting three straight winning seasons, Millikin Softball Co-Head Coaches Whitney Sowers and Katie Tenboer believe the 2020 Big Blue team is primed for continued success and ready to make a run at the NCAA Tournament and be a major factor in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) race.
          Millikin was 26-12 last season earning a spot the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 national poll and receiving consideration for the NCAA Tournament.
          Three starters return on the infield led by three-year starter and two-time CCIW All-Conference First Team performer Kalli Farmer (Columbia, H.S.) at shortstop. Farmer hit .438 last season and is a plus defender. Senior Alyssa White (Mokena, Lincoln Way East H.S.) returns at third base after having a breakout season in 2019 battling .346. Cassidy Knoerzer (Lake St. Louis, Mo., Timberland H.S.) returns at second base where she started 35 games last season. Freshman Gretchen Gould (Sterling, H.S.) and sophomore Kaylee Goluch (Inverness, Fremd H.S.) are battling for time at first base. The Millikin infield is deep with sophomores Bailey Benton (Argenta, Argenta-Oreana H.S.) and Grace Biondo (Naperville, Naperville Central H.S.) capable of impacting games off the bench. Gould, Goluch and Benton could all get at-bats as the designated player as well.
          The Big Blue outfield will be centered around junior Skielyr Trenkle (Le Roy, H.S.), a two-time CCIW All-Conference Second Team player. Trenkle hit .298 with 27 RBI last year after batting .329 as a freshman. A group of players is battling for the corner outfield slots including juniors Maddie Holland (Shelbyville, H.S.) and Kailey Pulec (Frankfort, Lincoln Way East H.S.) along with freshmen Jada Wilson (Decatur, Warrensburg Latham H.S.) and Emma Spurgetis (Rock Island, H.S.). Junior Hannah Watts (Mt. Zion, H.S.) is slowed by an early season injury, but could be a factor in the outfield as well this season.
          The Big Blue feature a deep, but young pitching staff in 2020 led by sophomore Aly Armstrong (Effingham, H.S.) who went 9-6 with a 2.61 ERA last season recording 76 strikeouts. Senior Gracie Brookens (Blue Mound, Meridian H.S.) provides the young staff some experience posting 30 wins in her collegiate career to date. Freshman Bailey Coffman (Heyworth, Bloomington Central Catholic H.S.) and Addison Sargent (Mt. Vernon, H.S.) round out the staff. Armstrong, Coffman and Sargent could also provide an offensive boost at the plate. The pitching staff will receive support from an experienced catcher in senior Kelsey Farmer (Mattoon, H.S.). Sophomore Cassie Reed (Bethalto, Civic Memorial H.S.) provides the Big Blue with a solid backup catcher and Biondo provides additional depth behind the plate.
          Junior Rachel Wallis (Danville, H.S.) and freshmen Alyssa Hennessy (O'Fallon, Mo., Fort Zumwalt West H.S.), Isabel Hochleutner (Elwood, Joliet Catholic H.S.) and Emily Woerman (Oswego, H.S.) provided additional depth off the Big Blue bench.