LINFIELD UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL VERSUS GEORGE FOX • APRIL 5, 2023

WELCOME TO LINFIELD UNIVERSITY

game

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Dr. Garry Killgore

EVENT MANAGER

Doug Hire

COMMUNICATIONS

Kaho Akau, Joe Stuart, Kelly Bird

STATISTICS

Marissa Dolson

PUBLIC ADDRESS AND SCOREBOARD

Steve Oleson

VIDEO WEBCASTS

Joe Stuart, Eric Albios

VIDEO CAMERA

Emma Mulligan

GAME PROGRAM

Kelly Bird, Felip Unker, Kaho Akau

WILDCAT SPOTLIGHT

both sides of the coin

Brynn Nelson sees softball from alternate perspectives: As a player for a nationally ranked program and as a youth coach

by marissa dolson ’24

Aside from the great memories of success in the Linfield University softball program, Brynn Nelson enjoys the simple things in life just as much.

“Playing softball and rooming with my best friends has made my time here memorable, says the sophomore infielder. “Traveling to new states and winning conference tournaments have been a blast. But some of my favorite memories are just getting to go out to eat, or studying all together in one of our dorm’s study rooms until late at night.”

Following sports while growing up has had a huge influence on Nelson. Her passion for sports doesn’t just lie within her time playing second base. It also carries over to her summer job and to her intended career path.

During the summer months when Nelson returns to her home in Bonney Lake, Washington, she spends even more time on the field, while enjoying a slightly different perspective.

“I’ve spent a lot of my time working for the Seattle Mariners as a youth coach. I have worked both softball and baseball camps. I also work in the summers as a photography assistant and intern.”

She enjoys interacting with young players and fellow youth coaches.

“We do morning camps where we get to play a lot and teach the basics. Afternoons are more for specific skills where I help with infield and hitting. It’s the best job I have ever had. I get to do the sport I love with great coworkers and some amazing kids that are all excited to learn and play.”

Nelson’s coaching experience has been extremely impactful. As she inspires the next generation of softball and baseball, the 7-13-year-old kids also inspire her.

“Working (as a youth coach) has helped me remember my love for the sport and remember why I started playing in the first place,” she says. “I’m always surprised by how much the girls engage with what they learn. I have had parents come up to me to show me videos of their daughters showing off the new skills they learned the day before and the day after camp. It makes me happy that I get to be a part of their excitement to keep playing.”

Nelson is known for brightening the spirits of her teammates.

“Brynn is the best roommate and my closest friend,” says fellow sophomore Sophia vanderSommen. “I can trust her with anything and she never fails to put a smile on my face. Her hard work on the softball field is inspiring. She brings so much positive energy to our team and is by far one of the funniest people I have ever met.”

A double major in mathematics and economics, Nelson is in her second year at Linfield. Ideally, her dream job involves managing statistical data or sports analytics for a professional sports team. Once she wraps up her degrees, Nelson plans to enroll in a master’s program in either math or economics.

Looking back over the last couple of years of her Linfield experience, she is grateful for the people who have helped her along the way as she carefully balances two challenging majors while being a college athlete.

“My professors have helped me grow a lot as a person,” she says. “They all care so much about their students and making sure we succeed both in and out of the classroom. They have helped me get the chance to balance hard majors along with playing sports, while also teaching me about subjects I’m most passionate about.

“Academics (at Linfield) have helped me become better at time management and have helped me create better learning and study habits.”

Nelson’s support doesn’t stop at her professors or teammates. She receives regular encouragement from her mother Lori, father Ed, and older sister Brooke. Even while Brynn is living in McMinnville, she feels a close connection to home thanks to her family’s support and guidance.

“My parents and sister all gave me great examples of what it means to work hard and to be the best person I can be,” Nelson says. “My mom is extremely selfless and caring, while my dad is hard-working and determined. Brooke has always been my biggest role model. She’s the most hard-working person I know. She always puts others before herself and never skips an opportunity to get better. She is always there when I need her. I couldn’t ask for a better sister.”

Brynn Nelson loves celebrating victories, home runs and traveling around the country with her Catball family. She loves the quality time spent with teammates and best friends off the field. And she carries the inspiration and enthusiasm from the youth camps with her to the field every day, truly acknowledging the love she has for the game of softball.

MEET THE WILDCATS

TIANI WAYTON| 1 5-4 | Sophomore | OF Kailua, Hawaii

TAYAH KELLEY | 2 5-7 | Junior | RHP Myrtle Creek, Oregon

claire seats | 5 5-7 | Sophomore | OF Seattle, Washington

savannah fitzgerald| 7

5-4 | Junior | C Twin Falls, Idaho

brianna loza |10 5-4 | Sophomore | 3B Hillsboro, Oregon

Natalie brinda | 13 5-8 | Freshman | SS Portland, Oregon

jordan bennett | 14 5-4 | Junior | RHP San Jose, California

ashley sutton |16 5-8 | Sophomore | C Monroe, Oregon

ashlyn aven | 20 5-7 | Freshman | 3B/C Yelm, Washington

jacey leyvas | 8 5-7 | Sophomore | 1B Redlands, California

brynn nelson|9 5-6 | Sophomore | 2B Bonney Lake, Washington

kelsie williams| 6 5-9 | Freshman | RHP Sammamish, Washington

katrina johns |12 5-5| Graduate Student | SS Naches, Washington

emma podliska|18 5-11 | Junior | C Auburn, Washington

kaili saathoff| 17 6-0 | Sophomore | 1B Philomath, Oregon

kate kraljev |27 5-6 | Freshman | 3B/OF Happy Valley, Oregon

tyler warden | 25 5-10 | Sophomore | RHP Monroe, Oregon

kamryn mobley| 21 5-5 | Junior | 3B Aurora, Oregon

jenna wong | 3 5-3 | Sophomore | SS/2B Kahaluu, Hawaii

BAILY PAUL | 4 5-5 | Graduate Student | OF Gig Harbor, Washington

sophia vandersommen|15 5-6 | Sophomore | OF Tigard, Oregon

haley gutierrez| 22 5-5 | Junior | 2B Hacienda Heights, California

cheyenne datan| 24 5-8 | Senior | RHP

cydney hess | 11 5-10 | Freshman | 3B/1B West Linn, Oregon

katie phillips| 35 5-6 | Senior | OF Tustin, California

haley wadsworth | 30 5-6 | Sophomore | RHP Happy Valley, Oregon

34 mackenzie burke | 34 5-6 | Freshman | LHP/OF Kirkland, Washington

Uncommon

LINFIELD WILDCATS

HEAD COACH: Jackson Vaughan (22nd year)

ASSISTANT COACHES: Emily Allen, Amanda Knopf

STUDENT MANAGERS: Blake Rybar, Caiden Biege-Wetherbee

GEORGE FOX BRUINS

HEAD COACH: Jessica Hollen (15th year)

ASSISTANT COACHES: John Hollen, Rachel LaRont

HEAD COACH JACKSON VAUGHAN

Jackson Vaughan has transformed the Linfield softball program into an annual national-championship contender during 21 seasons as coach. Vaughan has amassed a career record of 776-192-2, including a 48188 mark in the Northwest Conference. Over the past two decades, he has led Linfield to unprecedented success, a span that includes the 2007 and 2011 NCAA Division III national championships, nine regional titles and 15 conference crowns. Twice, in 2007 and 2011, he was honored as the Division III Coach of the Year by the NFCA and has been named NWC Coach of the Year 11 of the last 15 seasons. He was selected as the top coach in the West Region in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011. In 2004, he engineered an upset of No. 1-ranked East Texas Baptist in the regional playoffs. In 2011, Vaughan

guided the Wildcats to their second national championship and third NCAA title appearance in five seasons.

Prior to becoming head coach, he served four seasons as a Wildcats assistant softball coach. He has served as a defensive coordinator and assistant football coach for the past 25 years, helping the Wildcats amass a 188-32 record since 2000. Linfield qualified for the Division III playoffs 14 of the last 20 seasons and captured the 2004 national championship with a 13-0 record.

A native of Hereford, Oregon, Vaughan received a bachelor’s degree from Linfield in accounting in 1997, graduating with honors.

He and his wife, Shelly, live in McMinnville with their three daughters, Hallie, Reese and Finley.

caiden biege-wetherbee Student Assistant KAylie holland Certified Athletic Trainer kelly bird Sports Communications

emily allen Assistant Coach

amanda knopf Assistant Coach

blake rybar Student Assistant

kaho akau Sports Communications

joe stuart Broadcast Coordinator

Eric Albios Broadcast Engineer

DEL SMITH STADIUM

Del Smith Stadium has steadily evolved into a jewel among college softball facilities in the Pacific Northwest. Named in honor of trustee emeritus and longtime Linfield College athletics supporter Del Smith, the facility slowly took shape over a 30-year period.

In 1990, the softball field became a permanent, softball-only facility. Prior to the 1990 season, the softball field was also used as the Wildcats’ soccer field in the fall. At that time, the field underwent a facelift as the playing surface was moved back 25 feet from the street to allow for portable bleachers, a temporary outfield fence was installed and a single batting cage was erected.

In 1995, a substantial upgrade was undertaken which added two covered team dugouts and a home-team dressing room. In addition, a six-foot cyclone fence was installed around the field’s perimeter.

The move toward permanent seating began in 1997 when an elevated platform was constructed. Stadium lighting was added in 2001. By 2008, an all-aluminum 400-seat grandstand replaced three sets of portable bleachers, doubling seating capacity.

An enclosed pressbox replaced a makeshift plywood shelter that provided protection from the weather for statisticians and game officials. During the same period of

time, an enhanced scoreboard with capability to display each score by inning, replaced the aging model in right field.

The facility took another major step forward in 2010 with the completion of two covered and partially enclosed batting cages beyond the outfield wall.

More improvements followed in the fall of 2020. The perimeter of the field was completely encircled with mesh branding, honoring Linfield’s graduated All-Americans as well as the Wildcats’ many conference, regional and national championships. New branded padding was added to the backstop and new netting system was installed.

THE RECORDS Linfield enters the week with a four-game lead in the Northwest Conference standings at 23-3 overall and 13-1 in league play. George Fox sits in second place at 16-10 overall with a 9-5 NWC mark.

LINFIELD AT A GLANCE The Wildcats are fresh off a four-game sweep of then-No. 25 Pacific Lutheran, dropping the Lutes from second place to fourth. They’ve won 19 of their last 20 games. Kaili Saathoff batted .636 against PLU while Katie Phillips and Claire Seats drove in nine runs apiece. Seats hit two home runs in the series. Tayah Kelley officially eclipsed 500 strikeouts and 60 wins in her career against George Fox last week. She leads Division III with 15 wins in the circle and ranks second in the nation with 120 strikeouts.

GEORGE FOX AT A GLANCE After a rocky start, the Bruins are suddenly right back in the mix in the NWC. They’ve won seven of their last eight games since returning from Kentucky. Kamryn Potter and Sydney Sandifer are tied for the Division III lead with nine homers each. Potter leads the Bruins with 31 hits, 35 runs, 11 doubles and 28 RBI. Ashley Davis is 7-4 with five complete games and a 4.12 ERA in her 13 starts. Kami Gibson has been a solid No. 2 in the circle.

THE SERIES Linfield is 93-21-1 against George Fox in the all-time series, including 48-9 at home. The ‘Cats and Bruins are wrapping up a series that started last Wednesday. Kelley matched her career high with 15 strikeouts to lift the ‘Cats to a win in Game 1, but the Bruins bounced back to take the nightcap and earn a split.

Please make it home safe today.

4 baily paul

Another week of games, another Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week award, this time for Katie Phillips

2022 NWC Player of the Year

Katie Phillips, a staple in the Linfield lineup since she was a freshman in 2019, reeled in her first career NWC Softball Position Student-Athlete of the Week award. She’s the first position player to receive the honor for the Wildcats in 2023.

Phillips batted .438 in Linfield’s four-game NWC sweep of Willamette in Salem. The first team NFCA AllAmerican went 7 for 16 in the series with six runs scored and 11 RBI. She notched multiple hits in two of the games, led by a 3-for-5 performance in a six-inning, 13-1 win in Game

2. Phillips drove in two or more runs in all four games. In Game

3, the graduate student left fielder went 2 for 4 with a pair of two-run bombs, her first of the year. It was the third two-homer game of her Linfield career. After a busy week at the plate, Phillips is batting .329 on the season with a .346 on-base percentage and a .566 slugging percentage. She leads the ‘Cats with 24 RBI after nearly doubling her season total in the four games. Phillips is the active career leader in Division III softball with 607 at bats, 230 hits and 152 RBI.

LINFIELD SPORTS NETWORK

can’t attend the game? catch the action on the lsn

The Linfield Sports Network continues to bring fans live action of all home Linfield softball games in 2023. Fans can enjoy live and on-demand video webcasts and play-by-play commentary on their computer, tablet, mobile device or Smart TV.

Live coverage begins 15 minutes prior to the start of each contest. Broadcasts include a complete postgame wrap-up with analysis and statistical breakdown.

LSN live broadcasts are under the direction of the athletic department’s Broadcast Operations Coordinator, Joe Stuart. In his second year in the position, Stuart oversees all technical production and management of LSN broadcasts as well as providing play-byplay commentary on football, basketball, baseball and softball webcasting in addition to assisting with other athletics communications needs.

Linfield freshman Eric Albios, a member of the Wildcats baseball team, will direct the video streams from the Del Smith Stadium pressbox. Veteran soccer player Emma Mulligan returns to her post as the outfield camera operator. Senior Jack Stallard, a member of the Linfield men’s basketball team, will also mix-in as an occasional play-by-play voice. Stallard started began broadcasting for the LSN last spring, calling play-by-play for baseball and softball.

All LSN broadcasts, both live and on demand, can be accessed at golinfieldwildcats. com/watch or in the Linfield Athletics app on mobile, tablet or smart TVs.

We are proud to serve as the team physicians for Linfield College, McMinnville High School and the See Ya Later Foundation.

From the weekend warrior to the elite athlete, we are ready to get you back in the game. We will work closely with you to help create a treatment plan geared to and focused on you.

THE TOPCAT CLUB

The Linfield University TopCat Club serves as a support organization to the 21 NCAA Division III varsity sports teams and the more than 500 students who participate in athletics each year. Each year, support from the TopCat Club is essential to maintaining and expanding each of these programs.

The mission of the TopCat Club is to provide students with an outstanding athletic and academic experience and to strengthen the overall competitiveness of the overall Linfield athletics program.

At Linfield, we continually strive to improve programs and facilities so that our teams may compete at the highest level. Roughly 75 percent of the athletic department’s annual operating budget comes from the university’s general fund. The remainder is generated through a wide variety of external sources, including annual gifts to the Linfield TopCat Club.

To learn more about giving opportunities, please visit the TopCat Club website at www.linfieldtopcat.com.

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The Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame, sponsored by Pacific Office Automation, was established in 1998 as an avenue to honor former outstanding athletes, coaches, staff and contributors and to preserve the memory of their past achievements.

A new class of inductees is honored at the Hall of Fame Banquet each fall. Inductees are chosen from a list of submitted nominations and voted upon by the Hall of Fame Executive and Selection Committees. The 20-member panel is made up of current and former staff members, past inductees, a member of the media, and a former athlete representing each of the preceding six decades.

Nominations may be submitted by any interested person but must be submitted using the online nomination form. Hall of Fame nominations are considered in any one of six categories: Athlete, Coach, Team, Athletics Staff, and Meritorious Service. The deadline to submit nominations each year is March 1.