LINFIELD UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL VERSUS LEWIS & CLARK • MARCH 4-5, 2023

game operations |

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

SEASON OUTLOOK

a standard of excellence

Linfield returns many key players in 2023 as the Wildcats look to continue their winning tradition

by kaho akau ’19

It was a typical season for Linfield softball in 2022, full of wins, awards, championships and a run into the playoffs.

The Wildcats (38-9, 25-3 NWC) completed the program’s 18th consecutive season with at least 30 wins and won their 15th NWC regular-season championship under Jackson Vaughan, who was named the NWC Coach of the Year for the 12th time in his career.

The ‘Cats won their eighth NWC Tournament title in 11 seasons to earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championships. Their quest for a third national title ended in a loss to Belhaven in the championship game of the Marshall, Texas, Regional.

Nine players landed on the All-Northwest Conference Team, representing every position on the field. Four players earned All-Region X honors, including two who went on to be named All-Americans by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

With nearly every key player returning from last year ’s squad, Linfield is primed to replicate its success and make it back to the postseason.

“The kids have worked hard,” said Vaughan about the team’s preseason training. “We have so many players back that there’s been good leadership with how we do things and how we operate on a day-to-day basis.”

IN THE CIRCLE

One thing that’s set in stone is Linfield’s ace pitcher.

Tayah Kelley returns for her senior campaign. The reigning NWC Pitcher of the Year and Second Team All-American struck out 252 batters last season, setting a new single-season program record.

Kelley went 25-5 in the circle and led the NWC with a 1.78 ERA. She tossed 22 complete games and six shutouts while picking up a pair of saves in 180 2/3 innings pitched. She held opposing batters to a .181 batting average.

“Tayah has established herself as our clear No. 1,” Vaughan said. “We had her take most of the fall off to get back to full speed. She’s thrown well, and we hope she can continue to stay healthy and have a great year.”

The No. 2 spot in the rotation is still up for grabs, and Vaughan will likely throw multiple pitchers in that role throughout the season. Sophomore Hailey Wadsworth and junior Tyler Warden saw the most action in 2022, combining for a 13-3 record to back up Kelley. Linfield fans can also expect senior Jordan Bennett to supply more innings.

“We’ve had some pitchers do well and then be a little inconsistent. I’m not sure how it’s all going to turn out yet. Pitching against your teammates and in scrimmages is different than pitching in games where every pitch truly matters.”

Graduate student Cheyenne Datan returns for her fifth year of eligibility and second season for the Wildcats. Newcomers Mackenzie Burke and Kelsie Williams may also get time in the circle at some point in the season.

GETTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER

Linfield returns every starting position player from the 2022 squad except first baseman Abi Proffitt, who graduated last spring after being named an honorable mention on the AllNWC Team.

Three other student-athletes who received their diplomas in 2022 decided to take advantage of an extra year of eligibility thanks to COVID-19. Left fielder Katie Phillips, right fielder Baily Paul and shortstop Katrina Johns will lock down their positions for another year. All three are coming off First Team All-NWC seasons.

“We’re excited they’re all back. They’re all huge components to what we do. I’m excited for what they all do in their fifth year.”

A First Team All-American and the 11th Wildcat to be named the NWC Player of the Year, Phillips batted .405 with 42 RBI as a true senior. She led Division III with 70 hits, which included 19 doubles, five triples and three home runs.

The Wildcats’ leadoff hitter, Paul led the team with a .415 batting average and a .536 on-base percentage on her way to earning First Team All-Region X honors. She scored 52 times and finished 31 for 35 on stolen base attempts. Johns batted .354 and drove in 33 runs.

SEASON OUTLOOK

“There’s nothing that surprises them. They keep adding little elements to their game.”

With so much of the team back at Del Smith Stadium in 2023, the offense will look like those of recent years. There’s a strong mix of both speed and power that should put pressure on opposing pitchers and defenses all season long.

“We’re going to hit some home runs, but we’re going to get a lot of doubles and stolen bases at the top of the lineup. The middle of the order will be more oriented for the long ball, and then we’ll see how the bottom of the order shakes out.”

Rounding out the key returners are senior third baseman Kamryn Mobley, senior catcher Emma Podliska and sophomores, center fielder Claire Seats and second baseman Brynn Nelson, who could also be an option to fill Proffitt’s absence at first base. Mobley joined Kelley, Phillips, Paul and Johns on the All-NWC First Team as a junior while Nelson earned a spot on the All-Region X Third Team.

Baserunning has always been a strength for the ‘Cats. Sophomore Tiani Wayton was a big impact as a pinch runner last year while freshman Natalie Brinda is expected to show off her speed in her debut season.

EXPECTATIONS FOR 2023

The expectations for Linfield softball haven’t change much from year to year. The main goal is to win the NWC Tournament to secure a spot in the playoffs. Once that’s accomplished, the next goal is to see just how far this team can make it on its hunt for a national championship.

The road won’t be easy. The premier teams in the NWC

also bring back a lot of talent to challenge the ‘Cats for the throne. Pacific Lutheran and George Fox also return fifth-year players while Whitworth, Lewis & Clark and Willamette aren’t far behind in their development.

“This may be one of the tougher years from top to bottom. We’re going to face a lot of tough competition, so we have to see how much better we can get between now and April. Nothing matters too much until you get to the conference tournament. We just have to prepare and keep getting better and hopefully play our best when April rolls around.”

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9 brynn nelson

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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

LEWIS & CLARK PIONEERS

HEAD COACH: Shawna Cyrus (12th year)

ASSISTANT COACHES: Shianne Smith, Steven Dardis

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 757-191-2, including a 46887 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 opens conference play with a 4-2 overall record after last week’s series at Willamette was postponed due to weather. Lewis & Clark is 6-2 to begin the year.

LINFIELD AT A GLANCE

The 12th-ranked Wildcats opened their 2023 campaign in California. Tayah Kelley was named the NWC Pitching Student-Athlete of the Week last week after throwing three complete games, striking out 26 batters along the way. She struck out 10 batters in the season opener at PomonaPitzer before following that performance with 12 more Ks in an extra-inning win at Redlands. Cydney Hess is batting .563 with nine hits. Kaili Saathoff led the ‘Cats with 11 hits and seven RBI while scoring five times on the road trip.

LEWIS & CLARK AT A GLANCE

The Pioneers are also coming off a 4-2 week in California with doubleheader splits with Whittier and Cal Lutheran and a sweep of Occidental. Tallulah Sickels is 3-0 in the circle with two shutouts. She enters the series with a 1.78 ERA. Charlize Pope (2.10) and Alyssa Abe (2.53) have also fended well with ERAs under 3.00. Riley Anderson leads the team with a .478 average, 11 hits, eight runs, 13 RBI and four homers. Kalea Kaui is second to Anderson with seven RBI.

THE SERIES

Linfield is looking for its 100th series win over Lewis & Clark. The Wildcats boast a 99-9 record against the Pioneers. The longest win streak for the ‘Cats was 51 straight games between the 2002 and 2015 seasons. Linfield swept the series last season, winning all four games in Portland.

Please make it home safe today.

35 katie phillips

Tayah Kelley earns her first NWC Softball Student-Athlete of the Week award of the season after going 3-0 in California

Linfield softball is back and so is Tayah Kelley.

The senior flamethrower was recently named the Northwest Conference Softball Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week, claiming an award she received six times during the 2022 season.

Kelley went 3-0 with a 0.94 ERA during the Wildcats’ season-opening road trip to California. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Second Team AllAmerican and reigning NWC Pitcher of the Year tossed three complete games, claiming 26 victims via strikeout while walking just one batter.

In Linfield’s 6-1 seasonopening win at Pomona-Pitzer, Kelley struck out 10 batters and allowed just one run on six hits. She threw a one-hitter in an extrainning shutout at Redlands, adding 12 more Ks. The Myrtle Creek native found herself tested against a tough Claremont-Mudd-Scripps team but limited the damage in picking up her third win in the circle.

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

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.

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