Last season was a year of growth and development. Now, the NCC softball team feels it is their time to shine. New players and a mature mindset gives the Cardinals what they need to win their first CCIW crown since 2011.
On the way up
The Cardinals had a relatively disappointing season last year, finishing with a 9-24 overall record (5-11 in conference play). Yet, with all their pitchers and most of the position players returning, the Cards now have great depth. The team arguably has one of the best infields in all of the CCIW, with All-CCIW honorees Katie Del Re, ’24, playing shortstop and Talia Torosian, ’24, playing third base. Del Re had a team-best .347 batting average and was voted the conference’s Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year. On the other hand, Torosian hit .340 and drove in 15 runs, the most on the team. Other returners such as Charlotte Toosley, ’26, Kayla Crabtree, ’26, and Sarah Lynch, ’24, will be looking to improve stats from last year. The pitching staff will again be headlined by Lauren Bowmar, ’26, Sam Schilf, ’26 and Caroline Dooley, ’25.
New kids on the block
The new members of the team consist of three transfer students and three first years. Transfer Gracie Vlach, ’26, started all 34 games for Carthage College last season and played both second and third base while batting .304. Alongside her will be Marian University (Wisconsin) transfer Emalee-Ann Potocki, ’26, who has experience playing catcher and third base, and Taylor Warren, ’25, who was Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Year at Waubonsee Community College. First-years Rachel Madsen, ’27, Juliana Maude, ’27 and Carley Creeth, ’27, will also look to prove they play at the college level.
Season so far and what is to come
The Cardinals started out their season in the Sunshine State of Florida. They played a grueling 14 games in eight days, but the team thrived as they flew home with a 12-2 record. The Cards started CCIW play by taking one out of two against Augustana. After a three-week hiatus, the Cards swept Carroll and took a game from Lake Forest. So far, the newcomers have shown they belong. Vlach leads the team with a .404 batting average and a .845 on-base plus slugging percentage. Additionally, Madsen is hitting .321 and has played in every game this season. Returners Del Re and Torosian are continuing their dominance in the field, having turned seven double plays. The pitching staff has hosed down opponents with a combined era of 1.45. If this great play can continue, the NCC Softball title drought should soon be over.
