Softball Tabbed Fourth in Summit League Preseason Poll
Feb 9, 2022 | Softball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Omaha softball team was tabbed fourth in the 2022 Summit League Preseason Poll, the league announced Wednesday afternoon. Senior infielder Jamie White and junior pitcher Kamryn Meyer were named Preseason Players to Watch.
South Dakota State took the tournament title last spring and were named the preseason favorites garnering seven of the eight first-place votes. The Mavericks tallied 35 points in the poll and fall behind North Dakota State and Kansas City who tied for second.
The bottom four of the poll consists of South Dakota, North Dakota, Western Illinois, and St. Thomas at fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively.
Omaha finished last season at 20-28 overall and 12-11 in league play. They entered the Summit League Tournament as the No. 2 seed and earned a first round bye. For the first time in program history, Omaha made it to the championship game. Their run fell short to SDSU who earned a 9-0 win in game one and a 4-2 win in game two to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
White enters her fourth season with the Mavericks after being named to the 2021 All-Summit First Team last year. She started all 48 games at third base for Omaha last season. White finished the 2021 season hitting .269 with 35 hits, including four doubles and five homers. She also tallied 17 runs and 24 RBI.
White posted five multi-hit games last season, which included a career-high four hits at Kansas City. She also went on a nine-game hitting streak near the end of the regular season. White nearly sparked the upset vs. SDSU in the championship game with a two-run blast to bring Omaha back within two of the Jackrabbits.
Meyer returns for her junior campaign in the circle. She was named to the 2021 All-Summit Second Team and earned two Pitcher of the Week honors last season. She made 28 appearances and 18 starts in 2021. She finished with 10-8 record and a 3.18 ERA.
Meyer retired 166 batters over 127.2 innings of work, recorded five shutouts, and pitched a no-hitter. Her no hitter came against North Dakota in the Summit League Tournament. She struck out eight batters in the contest. She posted a career-high 13 batters vs. North Dakota earlier in the regular season.
The Mavericks begin the 2022 season at the UNI Dome Tournament this weekend. Action starts at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 11. Omaha opens with Nebraska.
2022 Summit League Preseason Players to Watch
Note: Players to Watch nominated by league's head coaches
Kansas City
Kloe Hilbrenner, OF
Mia Hoveland, P
North Dakota
Alexys Campos, OF
Jannay Jones, P
North Dakota State
Lainey Lyle, P
Avery Wysong, C
Omaha
Kamryn Meyer, P
Jamie White, INF
St. Thomas
Sarah Hudson, 3B
Brooke Ellestad, SS
South Dakota
Courtney Wilson, OF
Lauren Eamiguel, INF
South Dakota State
Tori Kniesche, P
Cylie Halvorson, INF
Western Illinois
Abby Carlin, P
Savannah Rodriguez, DP
South Dakota State took the tournament title last spring and were named the preseason favorites garnering seven of the eight first-place votes. The Mavericks tallied 35 points in the poll and fall behind North Dakota State and Kansas City who tied for second.
The bottom four of the poll consists of South Dakota, North Dakota, Western Illinois, and St. Thomas at fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively.
Omaha finished last season at 20-28 overall and 12-11 in league play. They entered the Summit League Tournament as the No. 2 seed and earned a first round bye. For the first time in program history, Omaha made it to the championship game. Their run fell short to SDSU who earned a 9-0 win in game one and a 4-2 win in game two to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
White enters her fourth season with the Mavericks after being named to the 2021 All-Summit First Team last year. She started all 48 games at third base for Omaha last season. White finished the 2021 season hitting .269 with 35 hits, including four doubles and five homers. She also tallied 17 runs and 24 RBI.
White posted five multi-hit games last season, which included a career-high four hits at Kansas City. She also went on a nine-game hitting streak near the end of the regular season. White nearly sparked the upset vs. SDSU in the championship game with a two-run blast to bring Omaha back within two of the Jackrabbits.
Meyer returns for her junior campaign in the circle. She was named to the 2021 All-Summit Second Team and earned two Pitcher of the Week honors last season. She made 28 appearances and 18 starts in 2021. She finished with 10-8 record and a 3.18 ERA.
Meyer retired 166 batters over 127.2 innings of work, recorded five shutouts, and pitched a no-hitter. Her no hitter came against North Dakota in the Summit League Tournament. She struck out eight batters in the contest. She posted a career-high 13 batters vs. North Dakota earlier in the regular season.
The Mavericks begin the 2022 season at the UNI Dome Tournament this weekend. Action starts at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 11. Omaha opens with Nebraska.
2022 Summit League Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
Rank |
School |
Points (1st) |
2021 Record (SL) |
|
1. |
South Dakota State |
49 (7) |
43-8 (21-1) |
|
T2. |
North Dakota State |
38 (1) |
16-29 (11-12) |
|
T2. |
Kansas City |
38 |
29-26 (11-13) |
|
4. |
Omaha |
35 |
20-28 (12-11) |
|
5. |
South Dakota |
22 |
13-38 (8-12) |
|
6. |
North Dakota |
20 |
17-33 (8-14) |
|
7. |
Western Illinois |
13 |
16-29 (6-14) |
|
8. |
St. Thomas |
9 |
MIAC: 33-10 (17-5) |
2022 Summit League Preseason Players to Watch
Note: Players to Watch nominated by league's head coaches
Kansas City
Kloe Hilbrenner, OF
Mia Hoveland, P
North Dakota
Alexys Campos, OF
Jannay Jones, P
North Dakota State
Lainey Lyle, P
Avery Wysong, C
Omaha
Kamryn Meyer, P
Jamie White, INF
St. Thomas
Sarah Hudson, 3B
Brooke Ellestad, SS
South Dakota
Courtney Wilson, OF
Lauren Eamiguel, INF
South Dakota State
Tori Kniesche, P
Cylie Halvorson, INF
Western Illinois
Abby Carlin, P
Savannah Rodriguez, DP
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
INF
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