Mavs Begin 2014 at Red Desert Classic
Feb 5, 2014 | Softball
Coming off the second-winningest season in program history, the Omaha softball team begins its 2014 campaign at the Red Desert Classic in St. George, Utah this weekend. The Mavericks open play on Friday against Weber State at 2:30 p.m. (CT). On Saturday, UNO faces Utah Valley at 2:30 p.m. and Southern Utah at 5 p.m. Then on Sunday UNO finishes with Idaho State at Noon and Utah State at 2:30 p.m. All games will be played at The Canyons Complex.
The 2014 Mavericks
Omaha is coming off a 36-7 overall record and 14-3 mark in its first year in the Summit League. The Mavericks started the 2013 season with five tournaments and went 22-2 with three tournament titles. UNO finished alone in second place in the Summit League standings, but the Mavs won't be eligible for the conference tournament until 2016 as part of their Division I transition. Still, the Mavs' .837 winning percentage was the second-best in school history behind only the 2001 Division II national championship team. It was also the second-best in Summit League history.
UNO has 10 players back from last season, including seven position starters and two pitchers. Senior ace Dana Elsasser sets the tone. She finished last year 21-7 with a 1.25 ERA and had 13 shutouts and 24 complete games. The Hershey, Neb., native posted the lowest overall ERA in The Summit League and the best ERA in conference games only (0.62). She was named the conference's pitcher of the week four times and earned second-team All-Summit League honors. The Mavs will also benefit from the return of pitcher Kat Barrow. The Kearney, Mo., native appeared just four times last season and had a perfect 4-0 record with a 1.66 ERA before missing the rest of the season with an injury. In addition to Barrow, the Mavs added two new arms to the pitching staff in freshmen Cheyenne Baxter and Lizzie Noble. They are part of a five-member freshman class that also includes infielder Lia Mancuso, catcher/outfielder Megan Stegman and infielder Nicole Warren.
At the plate, the Mavs return the meat of their lineup. Junior Allie Mathewson (.395, 11 HR, 36 RBI), sophomore Campbell Ditto (.376, 7 HR, 30 RBI) and senior Amber Lutmer (.304, 12 HR, 47 RBI) will pace the Maverick attack. In all, seven of the Mavs' nine regular starters in the batting order return. Mathewson was an NFCA All-Region First-Team selection, while Ditto was named Summit League Freshman of the Year. Lutmer was an All-Summit League Second-Team pick and is just 11 home runs, 63 RBI and 12 walks away from setting new career records in all three categories.
Scarpello Hunting 600 Wins
UNO head coach Jeanne Scarpello is only one win away from her 600th career win. Scarpello has an all-time record of 599-188-1 (.761) entering her 15th year as the head coach of the Mavs. The all-time winningest coach in UNO history, Scarpello has her Mavericks coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, although the Mavs weren't eligible for the postseason because of their transition to Division I. The Mavs' 36-7 record (.837 winning percentage) was the second-best in school history, behind only Scarpello's 2001 Division II National Championship team that went 54-6.
Up Next
The Mavs head to Auburn, Ala., next weekend for the Tiger Invitational. UNO is scheduled to play Winthrop, Loyola Chicago, Marshall, Auburn and Western Illinois in a non-league contest.
Scouting the Opposition
Weber State finished 10-38 and 5-13 in the Big Sky last season. Senior Brooke Silva returns after hitting .274 with a team-high 20 runs scored and 21 RBI, along with three home runs and eight doubles. Junior pitcher Morgan Allaband was the ace last season, starting 24 games and posting a 6-20 record with a 4.44 ERA.
Utah Valley was 35-20 last season with a 14-10 record in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference. The Wolverines are a member of the WAC though this season. Amanda Robinson hit .354 with seven home runs, 31 RBI and 10 doubles to lead Utah Valley last season. Josi Summers is the top returning pitcher with a 13-7 record and 2.28 ERA in 2013.
Southern Utah went 18-34 overall and 9-6 in the Big Sky in 2013. The Thunderbirds made it all the way to the Big Sky championship game before falling to Portland State. Kadi Henderson is the top returning hitter at .289 with six home runs and 29 RBI. Ariel Hart is the returning ace after posting an 11-20 overall record and a 4.28 ERA in 30 games started.
Idaho State posted a 29-23 record and 14-4 mark in the Big Sky Conference last season. The Bengals had four players hit double-digit home runs last season and three of them are back this season. Vicky Galasso (.461, 18 HR, 60 RBI) and Terah Blackwell (.367, 12 HR, 49 RBI) lead the way. Hailey Breakwell (.269, 10 HR, 37 RBI) also adds power to the lineup. Kelsi Ott returns in the circle after an 8-6 record and 4.36 ERA last season.
Utah State finished 11-43 overall and 5-16 in the Mountain West Conference in 2013. The Aggies lost 20 games in a row to start the season. Hailey Froton returns after hitting .304 with five triples last season. Noelle Johnson started 21 games with a 3-17 record and 4.94 ERA.
Standout Seniors
UNO's senior class is small in numbers, but is critical to the Mavs' success. Pitcher Dana Elsasser and first baseman Amber Lutmer are both in their final seasons at UNO, and both will wind up among the greatest Mavericks of all-time. Elsasser, the Mavericks' ace the past two seasons, was arguably the most dominant pitcher in the Summit League as a junior with a league-best 0.62 ERA in conference games. Elsasser's career 1.17 ERA ranks fourth-best in school history, and her .199 opponent batting average is second-best. Her 44 career wins rank 13th in school history and her 25 shutouts are eighth. Lutmer has proven to be one of the top power hitters in UNO history, and she has numerous career offensive records in her sights. She has 34 career homers and needs 11 to break Leslie Svoboda's school record of 44. Lutmer has 132 career RBI and needs 61 to break Svoboda's mark of 192 (Lutmer's season best is 47). Lutmer is sitting on 79 walks and with 12 more would be the new school-record holder, surpassing Svoboda's 90 free passes.
Starting Out with Streaks
Senior first baseman Amber Lutmer ended the 2013 season on a 33-game reached base streak. The Omaha native reached base in every game played dating back to Feb. 23. For the season, she reached base safely in 40 of 43 games. Allie Mathewson carries over an 11-game hitting streak from the end of last season.
Barrow Returns From Season-Ending Injury
Pitcher Kat Barrow is back in the circle this season after making four starts in 2013 before missing the rest of the season with an injury. In her four starts, Barrow was 4-0 with a 1.66 ERA. The junior is eligible for a medical redshirt but has not yet received official confirmation. In her freshman year, Barrow was 9-7 with a 1.62 ERA in 20 games pitched.
Ditto Phenomenal in Freshman Season
Catcher Campbell Ditto was named Summit League Freshman of the Year in 2013 and was the second-team all-league catcher after one of the best freshman seasons in UNO history. She posted a .376 batting average to finish fourth in the league and tallied seven home runs, 30 RBI, 34 runs, 11 doubles and four triples. In conference play only, Ditto was third in the league in batting average (.438), on-base percentage (.533) and fourth in slugging percentage (.771).
NFCA All-Region Pick Mathewson Shines in First Season at UNO
UNO center fielder Allie Mathewson was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Midwest Region First Team in 2013, the only Summit League player to earn that honor. Mathewson, a sophomore transfer in 2013 who spent her freshman season at Creighton, is the first Maverick to be selected to the NFCA All-Region First Team since 2011 and the 60th all-region first-team pick in UNO history. However, she is the first honoree since the Mavericks began their Division I transition prior to the 2012 season. A native of Papillion, Neb., Mathewson posted a team-high .395 average in her first year at UNO. Serving as the Mavs' leadoff hitter every game, Mathewson brought power to the top of the batting order with 11 home runs and 36 RBI to rank second on the team in both categories. Not since 2008 has a Maverick hit at least .395 with double-digit homers (Leslie Svoboda, .427, 10 home runs). Mathewson is also the first leadoff hitter in school history to hit double-digit home runs.
Mavs Picked Second in Summit League Preseason Poll
The Omaha softball team was picked second in the Summit League Preseason Poll, voted on by the league's seven head coaches. The coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. The Mavericks received 31 total points, including one first-place vote, to finish two points behind North Dakota State, which has won the regular-season title two years in a row. The Bison received four first-place votes while Fort Wayne received two and finished third with 29 total points. South Dakota and Western Illinois tied for fourth with 18 points, while IUPUI (12) and South Dakota State (6) rounded out the poll in sixth and seventh, respectively.
Five Newcomers Join Mavs in 2014
Omaha softball head coach Jeanne Scarpello has signed five recruits to join the Mavs as freshmen in 2014. Three hail from Nebraska, while one comes from Missouri and the other from Kansas. “We're thrilled to have these five outstanding players join the Maverick softball program,” Scarpello said. “Each one adds a new dimension to our team, and we are excited about their futures. They all possess outstanding character and a tremendous work ethic.” Three of the signees come from the Omaha area. Infielder Nicole Warren was a standout at Papillion-La Vista South, while Lia Mancuso starred at Omaha Central playing both outfield and infield. Pitcher/outfielder Lizzie Noble joins the Mavericks after a record-breaking career at Bennington, while pitcher Cheyenne Baxter brings her 6-0 frame from Norborne High School in Norborne, Mo., about 60 miles east of Kansas City, and Megan Stegman brings a versatile resume from Washington, Kan.
Mavericks Sign Five for 2015
Omaha softball head coach Jeanne Scarpello has signed five recruits to National Letters of Intent to join the Mavericks in the 2014-15 school year. The class is made up of five incoming freshmen: Jaycee Bernholtz (Liberty, Mo.), Jaylee Hinrichs (Lincoln, Neb.), Kelly Pattison (Lockport, Ill.), Kylie Schwarting (Omaha, Neb.) and Megan May (Lincoln, Neb.). “We are very, very pleased with our 2014 class,” Scarpello said. “As we get closer to being eligible for Summit League and NCAA Tournament play, it's important for us to find the right student-athletes to be a part of our program, and we feel that we've found that with these five. They have a great combination of power, speed and defensive skill, and they all come from winning teams. We love their competitiveness and think they will fit in right away with our current team members next fall.”
The 2014 Mavericks
Omaha is coming off a 36-7 overall record and 14-3 mark in its first year in the Summit League. The Mavericks started the 2013 season with five tournaments and went 22-2 with three tournament titles. UNO finished alone in second place in the Summit League standings, but the Mavs won't be eligible for the conference tournament until 2016 as part of their Division I transition. Still, the Mavs' .837 winning percentage was the second-best in school history behind only the 2001 Division II national championship team. It was also the second-best in Summit League history.
UNO has 10 players back from last season, including seven position starters and two pitchers. Senior ace Dana Elsasser sets the tone. She finished last year 21-7 with a 1.25 ERA and had 13 shutouts and 24 complete games. The Hershey, Neb., native posted the lowest overall ERA in The Summit League and the best ERA in conference games only (0.62). She was named the conference's pitcher of the week four times and earned second-team All-Summit League honors. The Mavs will also benefit from the return of pitcher Kat Barrow. The Kearney, Mo., native appeared just four times last season and had a perfect 4-0 record with a 1.66 ERA before missing the rest of the season with an injury. In addition to Barrow, the Mavs added two new arms to the pitching staff in freshmen Cheyenne Baxter and Lizzie Noble. They are part of a five-member freshman class that also includes infielder Lia Mancuso, catcher/outfielder Megan Stegman and infielder Nicole Warren.
At the plate, the Mavs return the meat of their lineup. Junior Allie Mathewson (.395, 11 HR, 36 RBI), sophomore Campbell Ditto (.376, 7 HR, 30 RBI) and senior Amber Lutmer (.304, 12 HR, 47 RBI) will pace the Maverick attack. In all, seven of the Mavs' nine regular starters in the batting order return. Mathewson was an NFCA All-Region First-Team selection, while Ditto was named Summit League Freshman of the Year. Lutmer was an All-Summit League Second-Team pick and is just 11 home runs, 63 RBI and 12 walks away from setting new career records in all three categories.
Scarpello Hunting 600 Wins
UNO head coach Jeanne Scarpello is only one win away from her 600th career win. Scarpello has an all-time record of 599-188-1 (.761) entering her 15th year as the head coach of the Mavs. The all-time winningest coach in UNO history, Scarpello has her Mavericks coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, although the Mavs weren't eligible for the postseason because of their transition to Division I. The Mavs' 36-7 record (.837 winning percentage) was the second-best in school history, behind only Scarpello's 2001 Division II National Championship team that went 54-6.
Up Next
The Mavs head to Auburn, Ala., next weekend for the Tiger Invitational. UNO is scheduled to play Winthrop, Loyola Chicago, Marshall, Auburn and Western Illinois in a non-league contest.
Scouting the Opposition
Weber State finished 10-38 and 5-13 in the Big Sky last season. Senior Brooke Silva returns after hitting .274 with a team-high 20 runs scored and 21 RBI, along with three home runs and eight doubles. Junior pitcher Morgan Allaband was the ace last season, starting 24 games and posting a 6-20 record with a 4.44 ERA.
Utah Valley was 35-20 last season with a 14-10 record in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference. The Wolverines are a member of the WAC though this season. Amanda Robinson hit .354 with seven home runs, 31 RBI and 10 doubles to lead Utah Valley last season. Josi Summers is the top returning pitcher with a 13-7 record and 2.28 ERA in 2013.
Southern Utah went 18-34 overall and 9-6 in the Big Sky in 2013. The Thunderbirds made it all the way to the Big Sky championship game before falling to Portland State. Kadi Henderson is the top returning hitter at .289 with six home runs and 29 RBI. Ariel Hart is the returning ace after posting an 11-20 overall record and a 4.28 ERA in 30 games started.
Idaho State posted a 29-23 record and 14-4 mark in the Big Sky Conference last season. The Bengals had four players hit double-digit home runs last season and three of them are back this season. Vicky Galasso (.461, 18 HR, 60 RBI) and Terah Blackwell (.367, 12 HR, 49 RBI) lead the way. Hailey Breakwell (.269, 10 HR, 37 RBI) also adds power to the lineup. Kelsi Ott returns in the circle after an 8-6 record and 4.36 ERA last season.
Utah State finished 11-43 overall and 5-16 in the Mountain West Conference in 2013. The Aggies lost 20 games in a row to start the season. Hailey Froton returns after hitting .304 with five triples last season. Noelle Johnson started 21 games with a 3-17 record and 4.94 ERA.
Standout Seniors
UNO's senior class is small in numbers, but is critical to the Mavs' success. Pitcher Dana Elsasser and first baseman Amber Lutmer are both in their final seasons at UNO, and both will wind up among the greatest Mavericks of all-time. Elsasser, the Mavericks' ace the past two seasons, was arguably the most dominant pitcher in the Summit League as a junior with a league-best 0.62 ERA in conference games. Elsasser's career 1.17 ERA ranks fourth-best in school history, and her .199 opponent batting average is second-best. Her 44 career wins rank 13th in school history and her 25 shutouts are eighth. Lutmer has proven to be one of the top power hitters in UNO history, and she has numerous career offensive records in her sights. She has 34 career homers and needs 11 to break Leslie Svoboda's school record of 44. Lutmer has 132 career RBI and needs 61 to break Svoboda's mark of 192 (Lutmer's season best is 47). Lutmer is sitting on 79 walks and with 12 more would be the new school-record holder, surpassing Svoboda's 90 free passes.
Starting Out with Streaks
Senior first baseman Amber Lutmer ended the 2013 season on a 33-game reached base streak. The Omaha native reached base in every game played dating back to Feb. 23. For the season, she reached base safely in 40 of 43 games. Allie Mathewson carries over an 11-game hitting streak from the end of last season.
Barrow Returns From Season-Ending Injury
Pitcher Kat Barrow is back in the circle this season after making four starts in 2013 before missing the rest of the season with an injury. In her four starts, Barrow was 4-0 with a 1.66 ERA. The junior is eligible for a medical redshirt but has not yet received official confirmation. In her freshman year, Barrow was 9-7 with a 1.62 ERA in 20 games pitched.
Ditto Phenomenal in Freshman Season
Catcher Campbell Ditto was named Summit League Freshman of the Year in 2013 and was the second-team all-league catcher after one of the best freshman seasons in UNO history. She posted a .376 batting average to finish fourth in the league and tallied seven home runs, 30 RBI, 34 runs, 11 doubles and four triples. In conference play only, Ditto was third in the league in batting average (.438), on-base percentage (.533) and fourth in slugging percentage (.771).
NFCA All-Region Pick Mathewson Shines in First Season at UNO
UNO center fielder Allie Mathewson was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Midwest Region First Team in 2013, the only Summit League player to earn that honor. Mathewson, a sophomore transfer in 2013 who spent her freshman season at Creighton, is the first Maverick to be selected to the NFCA All-Region First Team since 2011 and the 60th all-region first-team pick in UNO history. However, she is the first honoree since the Mavericks began their Division I transition prior to the 2012 season. A native of Papillion, Neb., Mathewson posted a team-high .395 average in her first year at UNO. Serving as the Mavs' leadoff hitter every game, Mathewson brought power to the top of the batting order with 11 home runs and 36 RBI to rank second on the team in both categories. Not since 2008 has a Maverick hit at least .395 with double-digit homers (Leslie Svoboda, .427, 10 home runs). Mathewson is also the first leadoff hitter in school history to hit double-digit home runs.
Mavs Picked Second in Summit League Preseason Poll
The Omaha softball team was picked second in the Summit League Preseason Poll, voted on by the league's seven head coaches. The coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. The Mavericks received 31 total points, including one first-place vote, to finish two points behind North Dakota State, which has won the regular-season title two years in a row. The Bison received four first-place votes while Fort Wayne received two and finished third with 29 total points. South Dakota and Western Illinois tied for fourth with 18 points, while IUPUI (12) and South Dakota State (6) rounded out the poll in sixth and seventh, respectively.
Five Newcomers Join Mavs in 2014
Omaha softball head coach Jeanne Scarpello has signed five recruits to join the Mavs as freshmen in 2014. Three hail from Nebraska, while one comes from Missouri and the other from Kansas. “We're thrilled to have these five outstanding players join the Maverick softball program,” Scarpello said. “Each one adds a new dimension to our team, and we are excited about their futures. They all possess outstanding character and a tremendous work ethic.” Three of the signees come from the Omaha area. Infielder Nicole Warren was a standout at Papillion-La Vista South, while Lia Mancuso starred at Omaha Central playing both outfield and infield. Pitcher/outfielder Lizzie Noble joins the Mavericks after a record-breaking career at Bennington, while pitcher Cheyenne Baxter brings her 6-0 frame from Norborne High School in Norborne, Mo., about 60 miles east of Kansas City, and Megan Stegman brings a versatile resume from Washington, Kan.
Mavericks Sign Five for 2015
Omaha softball head coach Jeanne Scarpello has signed five recruits to National Letters of Intent to join the Mavericks in the 2014-15 school year. The class is made up of five incoming freshmen: Jaycee Bernholtz (Liberty, Mo.), Jaylee Hinrichs (Lincoln, Neb.), Kelly Pattison (Lockport, Ill.), Kylie Schwarting (Omaha, Neb.) and Megan May (Lincoln, Neb.). “We are very, very pleased with our 2014 class,” Scarpello said. “As we get closer to being eligible for Summit League and NCAA Tournament play, it's important for us to find the right student-athletes to be a part of our program, and we feel that we've found that with these five. They have a great combination of power, speed and defensive skill, and they all come from winning teams. We love their competitiveness and think they will fit in right away with our current team members next fall.”
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF/IF
/ Softball
OF/RHP
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballTuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
