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WELCOME TO LINFIELD UNIVERSITY
THIS WEEK’S MATCHUP: LEWIS & CLARK AT LINFIELD game operations | event staff ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Dr. Garry Killgore
PUBLIC ADDRESS, SCOREBOARD Steve Oleson VIDEO WEBCASTS
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Joe Stuart, Emma Mulligan,
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COMMUNICATIONS
GAME PROGRAM
Kelly Bird, Avi Mehta,
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Ben Ranieri
STATISTICS
Mariah Ohman
14 jordan bennett official publication of the linfield wildcats • golinfieldwildcats.com
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WILDCAT SPOTLIGHT the catball way
You can see how it translates into games.” “She never fails to put a smile on my face or anyone else’s. We’re always joking and laughing with each other. I’m thankful An attention to detail and a commitment to improve oneself to have a fellow senior teammate who shares the same love for every day are the hallmarks of a program that regularly the game and commitment to hard work.” produces exceptional performers such as senior Maddy Podnar Podnar started playing softball at the Little League level in Mill Creek, Washington, in sixth grade. She went on to play in by avi mehta middle school and at the club level. Podnar has two unusual or the first two years of her Linfield University softball game-day superstitions she makes sure to follow. career, Maddy Podnar spent the majority of her time “I have my hair done the same way every day and I don’t watching from the bullpen. Using lessons learned from eat anything at all on game days,” says Podnar. those two years, the left-handed senior has grown into the role In addition to the softball program, Podnar also chose of pitching staff ace for the No. 1 team in the NCAA Division III. Linfield for the small class sizes and the university’s ability to Former all-region pitching star Shelby Saylors “taught me prepare the students for success after graduation. the reins and how we do things,” says Podnar. “I got to watch An elementary education major, she’s been student teaching Shelby and how she became so great. When I was a freshman, first graders at nearby Sue Buel Elementary School this spring. I learned from players like Cheyenne Fletcher on doing things Podnar hopes to stick with that grade level after graduation. the ‘CatBall’ way and ‘As One.’” “We just started going ‘hybrid’ a couple of weeks ago, so “A lot of that influence translated into me improving a lot my it was cool to see the kids in person. Before that, I’d only seen freshman and sophomore year,” she recalls. them on Zoom,” she says. “It was cool to see their personalities Podnar logged just one pitching appearance her freshman and how outgoing they are. season and made eight appearances her sophomore Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all spring sport studentyear. Three of those eight appearances came in the athletes have been granted two years of additional high-stakes NCAA Super Regional against Texas athletic eligibility. Podnar weighed all her options after Lutheran, where she was the winning pitcher in talking to Vaughan, but has made the decision to move the only game the Wildcats won. on to the next phase of her life. The past two seasons, Podnar has been “It is going to be sad but I am ready to get into the ace of the staff and has won Northwest teaching. I’m ready to get a job, find a place to live and Conference Student-Athlete of the Week award move on with that part of my life,” she says. in each season. She is currently tied for the best “It was a hard decision. I could have (played ERA in the NWC. another season) by taking a couple fewer “It is cool to see my growth over the classes, but I decided it would be best for years. I owe that to the people on me to get a job and get started with the team who I got to watch,” says that.” Podnar. She is a part of Linfield’s Coming out of high school, Alpha Phi sorority. Being part of she decided to join the Linfield the sorority “has been a really softball program after meeting fun experience. I chose with recent graduates Brooke Alpha Phi because it was Snyder and Jocie Newton. the right fit for me.” “I met with Brooke and Living with three Jocie and they sold me on other education majors the program and Jackson who are also currently (Vaughan) as the coach,” says student teaching, Podnar Podnar. “Former pitching coach is able to relate with Mandy Hill recruited me and she her roommates and hang was very open about everything out with them as all of their Linfield does.” schedules are synced. Nearly all of Podnar’s “I like to hang out with my starting assignments over the roommates, Aly Langer, Genevieve last three seasons have come O’Brien and Jordyn Feinauer. We live off with Kamryn Apling behind home campus and hang out all the time.” plate as her catcher. She has also gained the reputation as Says Apling: “Maddy is an a shopaholic among her fellow softball team exceptional teammate. She comes to members. “I like to shop a lot. Every Monday practice every day ready to work hard. when we’re off from softball, I go shopping.”
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RECENT ACCOLADES podnar, bennett, kelley receive honors Linfield softball pitcher Maddy Podnar, Jordan Bennett and Tayah Kelley have each been honored with Northwest Conference Pitching Student-Athlete of the Week honors at various points this spring. In two victories over Pacific Lutheran last weekend, Podnar posted an ERA of 1.50. She was credited with the win in both contests for top-ranked Linfield. Podnar recorded six strikeouts and gave up just one run during a complete-game victory on Saturday. Statistically, the Mill Creek, Washington, native ranks second in the con-ference with an ERA of 2.20, is second with an ERA of 43, and shares the conference lead with eight pitching wins. During four games in mid-March against Whitworth, Bennett pitched sev-en innings in relief and came away with two wins. She allowed three earned runs and struck out five, including the final two batters of Game 4 to seal the victory and a sweep of the four-game series. She is third in the conference with three pitching victories and ranks 14th with six strikeouts. Twice this spring, Kelley has been named the NWC Softball-Pitching Stu-dent-Athlete of the Week. Against Pacific Lutheran in early March, Kelley spun a complete game, giving up four hits and notching eight strikeouts. In three appearances against Warner Pacific in late February, Kelley recorded an ERA of 0.70. She also logged15 strikeouts.
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503.472.6131 2700 SE Stratus Ave. | McMinnville, OR 97128 2700 SE Stratus Ave. | McMinnville, OR 97128 503.472.6131
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$55.3 million
$4.4 million donated
$4.4 millionfordonated $55.3 million to services distributed in payroll in capital employed$2.1 and million $1.1 million $4.4 million donated $55.3 million Added 14 to services for in payroll in capital employed need in taxes to 630 employees improvements affiliated providers to services forthose in distributeddistributed in payroll in capital employed andand paid those in need those in need improvements affiliated providers to 630 employees improvements to 630 employees affiliated providers Added 14 employed and
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Added 14 affiliated providers employed and affiliated providers
$2.1 million in capital
$2.1 million improvements in capital improvements
$55.3 million distributed in payroll $55.3 million to 630 employees
distributed in payroll to 630 employees
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official publication of the linfield wildcats • golinfieldwildcats.com
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MEET THE LINFIELD WILDCATS
TAYAH KELLEY| 2
Kamryn Apling| 3
Baily Paul| 4
Kelsey Wilkinson | 5
Abi Proffitt | 6
Leah Walborn | 7
Maddy Podnar | 8
Kendra Hutchinson|10
Chloe Mcdaniel | 11
Katrina Johns | 12
Amanda reser |13
Jordan Bennett | 14
Riley Sykes | 15
Sierra Lees | 17
Emma Podliska| 18
Shakayla Snyder| 20
Jenny Ball | 21
Haley Gutierrez| 22
Sophomore Pitcher Myrtle Creek, Oregon
Senior Pitcher Mill Creek, Washington
Senior Pitcher Stanwood, Washington
Graduate Catcher Hillsboro, Oregon
Freshman Infielder Aloha, Oregon
Freshman Infielder Concord, California
Junior Infielder Gig Harbor, Washington
Sophomore Outfielder Battle Ground, Washington
Fifth Year Outfielder Lincoln City, Oregon
Junior Infielder Naches, Washington
Auburn, Washington
Senior Catcher Banks, Oregon
Sophomore Infielder/Catcher
Serrina cabral |23
Tyler Warden | 25
Kira Sneddon | 27
Kamryn MObley| 33
cheyenne Fletcher
Amanda Knopf
Ben Baxter
Chris Collins
Junior Infielder Oxnard, California
Assistant Coach Second Year
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Freshman Infielder/Pitcher Monroe, Oregon
Assistant Coach Second Year
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Junior Infielder Lebanon, Oregon
Student Assistant
APRIL 24-25, 2021
Sophomore Infielder/Catcher Aurora, Oregon
Student Assistant
Junior Infielder Lake Tapps, Washington
Senior Infielder Tigard, Oregon
Freshman Outfielder Boise, Idaho
Sophomore Pitcher San Jose, California
Freshman Infielder/Outfielder West Salem, Oregon
Sophomore Infielder
Katie Phillips | 35
Jackson Vaughan
Junior Outfielder Tustin, California
Hacienda Heights, California
Head Coach 20th Year
THIS WEEK’S MATCHUP roster
lewis & clark pioneers NO. NAME 2 Kai Pinera
POS.
YR./EL
B/T
HOMETOWN
OF
So./Fr.
L/R
Mililani, Hawaii
C
So./Fr.
R/R
Gresham, Ore.
4
Lindsey Flegel
5
Lily Moffitt
INF
Jr./So.
R/R
Half Moon Bay, Calif.
6
Alyssa Hoeke
OF
Fr./Fr.
L/R
Cupertino, Calif.
7
Jules Henderson
INF
Sr./So.
R/R
Rocklin, Calif.
8
Sydney Cross
INF/C
Sr./Jr.
R/R
Mount Shasta, Calif.
9
Sierra Gundersen
INF
Sr./So.
R/R
Forest Grove, Ore.
C
Sr./Jr.
R/R
Lafayette, Colo.
OF
Fr./Fr.
R/R
Vacaville, Calif.
12 Alyssa Abe
P
So./Fr.
R/R
Wahiawa, Hawaii
13 Kalea Kaui
INF
So./Fr.
R/R
San Jose, Calif.
14 Olivia Brackin
INF
Jr./So.
R/R
Castro Valley, Calif.
17 Cassidy Crusberg
UTL
Fr./Fr.
R/R
San Diego, Calif.
18 Kami Merrill
OF
Jr./So.
R/R
Placentia, Calif.
20 Mari Alvarez
UTL
Fr./Fr.
R/R
Fremont, Calif.
21 Jane Wilson
P/INF
So./Fr.
L/L
Kirkland, Wash.
26 Jordyn Vierra
OF
So./Fr.
L/R
Wailuku, Hawaii
33 Braylin Jenson
OF
Jr./So.
L/R
Bothell, Wash.
P/OF
So./Fr.
R/R
Chowchilla, Calif.
10 Hannah Urbach 11 Sam Gildersleeve
44 Kylie Hill
HEAD COACH: Shawna Cyrus (12th year) ASSISTANT COACH: Steven Dardis
linfield maintains No. 1 ranking in Division iii Linfield saw its 18-game win streak end, but maintained its standing as the top team in the country for a third week in the NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Wildcats (22-2) dropped the second game of a four-game weekend series with Puget Sound, but won the final two games to quickly get back on track. Meanwhile, No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan (21-3-1) also lost — to then-No. 22 Randolph-Macon — but rebounded to sweep Ferrum on Saturday and Bridgewater (Va.). on Tuesday. There was no such stumble from reigning national champion Texas Lutheran (16-3), which took two from Trinity (Texas) and four from Schreiner to remain firmly entrenched in third, while East Texas Baptist (16-3) won three against Texas-Dallas to move up to fourth, and Salisbury (14-4) rolled to a pair of wins over Division II Bowie State to ascend to fifth.
PREVIEW 5 kelsey wilkinson
LINFIELD AT A GLANCE The Wildcats are 10-1 in the Northwest Conference and 22-2 overall. Linfield is batting .342 on the season, scoring 8.6 runs per game to lead the conference. Abi Proffitt is tied for second with 24, and Katie Phillips and Emma Podliska are each tied for fifth with 23. Kamryn Mobley and Baily Paul stand eighth with 22 runs batted in. Phillips ranks sixth with a batting average of .415, Kamryn Apling is second with an on-base percentage of .556. Kelsey Wilkinson leads the conference 19 stolen bases. Wildcat pitchers also lead the conference with 134 strikeouts. Maddy Podnar’s season ERA of 2.45 is tied for first. Tayah Kelley leads the NWC with 66 strikeouts, Podnar is second with 51. The two starters have nine wins each, to share the conference lead. Relief pitcher Jordan Bennett is fourth with four victories. LEWIS & CLARK AT A GLANCE The Pioneers’ team batting average of .331 is second-highest in the NWC. The Pios have struck out just 47 times this season, fewest in the conference. Sydney Cross has eight home runs and 17 RBIs and leads the NWC with a slugging percentage of 1.000. Samantha Gildersleeve has six home runs and Olivia Brackin has four. The Pios have the NWC’s third lowest ERA (4.78). Alyssa Abe is among the NWC leaders with an ERA of 3.71. Jane Wilson is ninth at 5.41. THE SERIES In 99 meetings, the ‘Cats lead 91-8, including 11 straight wins. Two wins this weekend would secure a 23rd straight winning season for Linfield.
official publication of the linfield wildcats • golinfieldwildcats.com
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LINFIELD CHEER & STUNT
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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 15-year period. Many of the early improvements came through the work of players and volunteers using donated materials. 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 permanently installed around the field’s perimeter and the batting cages were outfitted with an Astroturf base.
The move toward permanent seating began in 1997 when an elevated platform was constructed. Stadium lighting was later added in 2001. Recent additions include a warning track and outfield foul poles. Red vinyl slats were inserted into the perimeter fence, adding a finished look as well as a feeling of intimacy to the venue. By 2008, an all-aluminum 400-seat grandstand replaced three sets of portable bleachers, doubling seating capacity. The majority of the funding was provided by a gift from Smith. An enclosed pressbox replaced a makeshift plywood shelter that provided protection from the weather for statisticians and game officials. Mounted on a steel pedestal 25 feet above the ground, the pressbox sits just behind the last row of seating. 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
official publication of the linfield wildcats • golinfieldwildcats.com
forward in 2010 with the completion of two covered and partially enclosed batting cages beyond the outfield wall. Most recently, the infield and outfield surfaces were completely revamped in 2011. The top layer of soil was removed, drainage tile was inspected and repaired, and a several layers of gravel and sand were applied to improve the field’s ability to drain during prolonged periods of rain. In addition, auxiliary seating sections were created in the right- and left-field corners to accommodate additional fans during multiteam tournaments. New bullpens were also added next to each team’s respective dugout. More improvements followed in the fall of 2020 and were nearly entirely cosmetic in nature. To enhance the stadium’s aesthetics, the perimeter of the field was completely encircled with mesh branding, graphically 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.
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