UMC Softball Picked to Finish 15th in NSIC Preseason Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn.– The University of Minnesota Crookston softball program was picked to finish 15th in the 2015 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Softball Coaches’ Poll. The Golden Eagles are in their first season under Head Coach Don Stopa.

Winona State University was picked to finish first after sharing first-place with Minnesota State University, Mankato in the poll last season. Reining NSIC regular-season champions Minnesota State shared second place with Augustana College, who advanced to the NCAA Central Super Region Championship last season.

Augustana’s Jenelle Trautmann was named NSIC Softball Preseason Player of the Year. Trautman was a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American Second Team. Minnesota State’s Coley Ries was named NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Ries was NSIC Pitcher of the Year as a freshman.

UMC’s Josee Plante (Sr., 3B, Manitou, Manitoba) and Bailey Braatz (So., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) were selected as UMC’s Players to Watch. Plante hit .252 with nine runs scored and 10 runs batted in as a junior. Braatz appeared in 15 games last season in the circle with 46.2 innings pitched and 30 strikeouts.

The Golden Eagles will open up the Stopa era Feb. 25 as they take on Minot State University and Bemidji State University in West St. Paul, Minn., in a pair of dome games. UMC will take on Minnesota State University Moorhead and Minot State in two more dome games Feb. 26.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).

NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches’ Poll
1.    Winona State (5)     213
2     Augustana (6)     209
         Minnesota State (5)     209
4     Wayne State     166
5     Minnesota Duluth     162
6     Sioux Falls     150
7     Minot State     137
8     U-Mary     126
9     Concordia-St. Paul     120
10     Upper Iowa     115
11     Southwest Minnesota State     75
12     St. Cloud State     73
13     Northern State     68
14     MSU Moorhead     50
15     Minnesota Crookston     24
16     Bemidji State     23