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Inside the Diamond: Minnesota Softball

Minnesota Gopher Softball

Inside the Diamond is a weekly feature during the off-season of NCAA Softball. Each week Fastpitch News (FPN) will look at a 2016 USA Today/NFCA (final poll) top 25 team. FPN will look at the season that was and what 2017 may have to offer. Next up: Minnesota Softball.

Since Jessica Allister  was named the head coach on August 10, 2010 the Minnesota Gophers have won at least 30 games every season, won two Big Ten tournaments and reached the NCAA tournament four times. This season Minnesota won the Big Ten tournament over then No. 2 Michigan. They posted a 43-14 record and advanced to the Seattle regional where they were knocked out by the University of Washington. Against top 25 teams the Gophers where 7-4 on the season. That includes the win over Michigan and two wins over WCWS champions Oklahoma. They are the first team we have looked at that had a winning record against ranked opponents and the only team so far with three wins over top five teams. The one real weakness for Minnesota is pitching depth.  They will graduate six players from this years team, but they are adding nine.

Minnesota racked up some post season awards as well. Pitcher Sara Groenewegen (31-7) was a first team All-American and first team Big Ten Selection. Freshman Maddie Houlihan was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and infielder Sam Macken was also a first team selection. The good news is that all three of those players return in 2017. Groenewegen was the workhorse of the pitching staff throwing roughly 65% of the innings. She threw every inning (24) in the Big Ten tournament. Groenewegen posted a 2.03 ERA over 234.2 innings and racked up 336 strikeouts which tied her for first in the country and tops among pitchers in major conferences. Not only was Groenewegen good in the circle, she also hit .296 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI.

Houlihan was a nice addition to the Gopher line-up. She ended the season with the second best batting average on the team at .356. She also showed power with 11 home runs and 46 RBI. Macken lead the Gophers in average hitting .366 with 12 home runs and 53 RBI. Minnesota is in good shape at the plate as they return five of their top seven hitters.

Minnesota will most be hurt by the departures of outfielder Paige Palkovich (.275), catcher Taylor LeMay (.319) and outfielder Kayla Wenner (.351). The loss of Nikki Anderson (8-4) may have an impact as she played the No. 2 role in the circle. With that said, coach Allister has three solid pitchers coming in this season.

Who they lose

  • Pitcher – Nikki Anderson
  • Outfielder – Sydney Fabian
  • Catcher – Taylor LeMay
  • Utility – Brandi McGregor
  • Outfielder – Paige Palkovich
  • Outfielder – Kayla Wenner

They lose pretty much their entire starting outfield from 2016. It will be interesting to see who coach Allister decides to transition out there. She has several options among returning players and some solid players coming in.

Who they get

  • Infielder – Allie Arneson (University of Virginia)
  • Infielder/Pitcher – Carlie Brandt (Le Sueur, MN)
  • Pitcher – Tori Finucane (University of Missouri)
  • Pitcher – Amber Fiser (Van Horne, IA)
  • Pitcher – Kendal Judge (Plainfield, IL)
  • Infielder/Pitcher – Katelyn Kemmetmueller (Rogers, MN)
  • Infielder – Kaylen Krueger (Green Bay, WI)
  • Catcher – Kendyl Lindaman (Ankeny, IA)
  • Infielder – MaKenna Partain (Banks, OR)

There is an absence of pure outfielders, but there is a lot of athleticism in this class. Two of the biggest players they got are transfers Finucane and Arneson. Finucane is a big get for the Gophers but it comes with a big “if”. If, Finucane can get back to her 2014 form where she was named 2014 SEC Freshman of the Year with a 21-6 record and 1.73 ERA over 190.1 innings pitched. She also earned All-SEC honors that season. In 2015 she had a terrible injury when she was struck by a ball. Last season she was limited, due to the fact she was recovering from that injury. So, if she can round back into form she gives Minnesota a legitimate No. 2 and allows the coaching staff time to develop some of the young talent they have coming in. Arneson hit .268 with 27 runs and 15 RBI in her freshman season with the Cavilers. She started 43 games at shortstop as well.

Carlie Brandt is an exceptional athlete that can play just about anywhere on the field. It is unknown at this time if she will pitch. Brandt was the 2016 Minnesota Softball Gatorade Player of the Year. Fiser will add depth to the pitching staff and should be fighting for innings right away. Judge also has had a lot of success in the circle both in high school and club.  Kemmetmueller another pitcher who also plays in the infield and like Brandt it is not known if she will pitch at Minnesota. She has a solid bat and that may prove to be where she is most needed. Krueger brings another solid bat to the party and could be another that is transitioned to the outfield. Lindaman is a blue chip catcher that could see a lot of action from the start. Not only is she a solid defensive catcher she brings power with her. She is  fourth nationally for career home runs (71) in high school. Partain adds to the overall athleticism of this class and also has a great bat. She is a middle infielder that could possibly end up seeing time in the outfield, note that is just speculation though.

Overall Minnesota is in great shape. Their biggest issue the past two seasons has been pitching depth. It appears that coach Allister has done everything she can to address that by bringing in five players that either are pure pitchers or have had success pitching. If they can establish a strong No. 2 this team could be dangerous. They could actually be better at the plate in 2017 and have shown they can play with and win against the top teams in the country. Will this be the season that Minnesota breaks through and makes a bid to make it to the WCWS? Time and the development of a second pitcher will tell.

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