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APRIL 24-25, 2021

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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

EVENT MANAGER

Joe Stuart, Emma Mulligan,

Doug Hire

Josh Hanigan

COMMUNICATIONS

GAME PROGRAM

Kelly Bird, Avi Mehta,

Kelly Bird, Avi Mehta, Chris Miles

Joe Stuart

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STATISTICS

Mariah Ohman

14 jordan bennett official publication of the linfield wildcats • golinfieldwildcats.com

GAME TIME

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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.”

F

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APRIL 24-25, 2021

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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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APRIL 24-25, 2021

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official publication of the linfield wildcats • golinfieldwildcats.com

GAME TIME

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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

8

Freshman Infielder/Pitcher Monroe, Oregon

Assistant Coach Second Year

GAME TIME

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.

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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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