WELCOME TO LINFIELD UNIVERSITY
Casey Powell
COMMUNICATIONS
Kelly Bird, Chase Fisk, Joe Stuart
STATISTICS
Camren Hanamoto
PUBLIC
Emerson Teller
VIDEO WEBCASTS
Joe Stuart, Maddie Funk
Tyler Shuter, Eric Albios
GAME PROGRAM
Kelly Bird, Chase Fisk, Felipe Unker, Natasha
Freimuth
cat chat
11 cydney hess
LINFIELD’S WINNING WAYS
The Linfield softball program extends its incredible string of consecutive 30-win seasons to 22
The sustained level of excellence is continuing for the Linfield University softball program in head coach Jackson Vaughan’s 25th season. Last weekend, the Wildcats reached the 30-win plateau for the 22nd consecutive year.
Not counting the CoVID-shortened 2020 campaign, Linfield has won no fewer than 30 games in every season since 2004.
A Heritage of Confident Service
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In that span, Linfield has achieved seven seasons of 40 or more wins and two years with 50 or more victories, those coming in 2011 and 2024. Since 2004, the Linfield softball program has claimed 17 NWC titles and reached the NCAA Division III finals nine times, claiming two national crowns in 2007 and 2011.
AROUND THE NATION
Riding a 20-game win streak, Linfield remains ranked No. 3
Virginia Wesleyan extended its win streak to 36 games to lead the NFCA/GoRout Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll for a seventh straight week, the Association announced on Tuesday.
At 36-0, the Marlins boast the second-longest active win streak in NCAA play to Division II’s Colorado Christian’s 42 and haven’t lost since last year’s NCAA Division III championship series. Virginia Wesleyan won three of its four games this past week by run rule, outscoring their two opponents by a combined 45-6 margin.
A 4-0 week kept Trine (23-1) locked in at No. 2, while Linfield (30-6) dropped three of four to new No. 21 Pacific Lutheran (30-8) to tumble five places to eighth.
Saint Mary’s (28-2) moved ahead one spot to No. 3, while East Texas Baptist (31-3) took over fourth, ahead of Texas Lutheran (32-4), which remained fifth after a loss. Washington-St. Louis (223-1) is the new No. 6 team, while idle Redlands (29-4) stayed seventh. Huntingdon (27-6) and Belhaven (28-8) swapped spots to round out the revised top 10.
Mount Union (23-5) went 4-0 last week, moving the Purple Raiders up four places to 13th, while Rowan (29-7) chalked up six wins to advance the Profs three spots to No. 17.
Three newcomers entered the Top 25 coaches poll this week. No. 22 Swarthmore (26-8) has won 13 of its last 14, and No. 25 Rochester (23-5) is in the midst of a 17-game win streak, joining previously-mentioned PLU
The NFCA/GoRout Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll is selected by 10 NCAA Division III head coaches representing the 10 NCAA regions. At right, current 2026 records are listed going into the week, with first-place votes in parentheses.
1 kya lindell
AROUND THE NATION
26 tyler mCNELEY
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.
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HEAD COACH JACKSON VAUGHAN
1997 graduate Jackson Vaughan has become nationally renowned in two sports
J setting a standard of excellence
ackson Vaughan has transformed the Linfield softball program into an annual national-championship contender during 24-plus seasons as coach. Entering this week, Vaughan has amassed a career record of 924-212-2, including a 566-97 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, 11 regional titles and 18 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 13 of the last 17 seasons. He was selected as the top coach in the West Region in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011.
In 2004, Vaughan engineered an upset of No. 1-ranked East Texas Baptist in the
regional playoffs. In 2011, he 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 26 years, helping the Wildcats amass a 205-36 record since 2000. Linfield qualified for the Division III playoffs 15 of the last 22 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 where they are raising their three school-age daughters, Hallie, Reese and Finley.
vaughan by the numbers
924-212-2 in 24+ Seasons
5th-Highest Winning Pct. (81.3) in NCAA Division III Softball History
Led Linfield to NCAA Division III National Championships in 2007 and 2011
8 Top-Four Finishes at the NCAA Championship Finals
9 NCAA Championship Finals Tournament Appearances
14 Regional Championship Game Appearances
18 Northwest Conference Championship Teams
Led Linfield to 20 NCAA Postseason Appearances
23 Consecutive Seasons of 30 or more Victories
Coached 48 NFCA All-Americans
Coached 108 NFCA All-Region Award Recipients
2-time National Softball Coach of the Year
7-time NFCA Regional Coach of the Year
14-time Northwest Conference Coach of the Year
205-36 as Defensive Coordinator of the Linfield Football Team
15 NCAA Championship Football Playoff Appearances
Member of Linfield’s 2004 NCAA Division III Championship Football Team Coaching Staff
Honored as 2015 NCAA Division III Defensive Coordinator of the Year by website FootballScoop.com
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LINFIELD COACHING STAFF
Jamie Vasas began his softball coaching career in 2014, leading the 10U Oregon Panthers. That year, he guided his team to the 10A State Tournament before finishing third at the ASA National Championship in Stockton, Calif. The following year, he led 12U NW Bullets, placing third at the 12A State Tournament. In 2016, his Oregon Titans club achieved a runner-up state tournament finish.
In 2017, he helped launch new a club program called the NW Vandals. Since its formation, the Vandals has grown fivefold, increasing from two teams to 10 “Class A” level squads as of 2023.
Jordan Bennett enjoyed a distinguished four-year playing career with the Wildcats as a pitcher and pinch runner.
Appearing in 56 games, she posted a 7–1 record in the circle and earning NWC Pitcher of the Week honors during both her freshman and sophomore seasons. During her career, Bennett contributed to three straight NWC titles and three NCAA playoffs appearances.
The San Jose, California, native is a graduate of Leland High School, where she was a four-year letterwinner, twoyear team captain, and an instrumental leader in her team’s CCS playoff run.
Boulder, Colorado, native Amanda Knopf was a four-year starting pitcher at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she graduated from in 2012. She holds Macalester career and single-season strikeouts records for strikeouts.
In 2012, she led the Scots to their first and only winning season since 1997.
Knopf represented the United States as part of USA Athletes International and traveled to the Caribbean in 2011 to play on a team with college players from around the U.S.
She previously served as an assistant pitching coach at Macalester from 2012 to 2014.
Assistant coach Emily Allen was a two-time all-West Region and all-conference catcher for the Wildcats, competing from 2015 until 2018. She was a member of Linfield’s 2015 team that placed third in the nation and the 2018 squad that captured the NWC crown.
A three-year starter, Allen recorded a .381 career batting average and a .988 career fielding percentage.
Allen has served as an assistant coach at Aloha High School and at the youth club level with The Bat Company She also tutored young softball players through private hitting and catching lessons.
jamie vasas ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH Third year
jordan bennett assistant coach Third year
amanda knopf pitching coach seventh year
emily allen assistant coach fifth year
kya lindell | 1
5-5 | Freshman | SS Astoria, Oregon
brenna bartek | 4 5-7 | Sophomore | OF San Jose, California
destiny cornwell | 8
5-4 | Freshman | P Sherwood, Oregon
karah miller|10
5-10 | Freshman | 1B Keizer, Oregon
mCKENNA PARMELEE |16
5-6| Freshman | C/1B Sherwood, Oregon
ashlyn aven | 20
5-7 | Senior | 3B/C Yelm, Washington
ally downing | 21 5-5 | Sophomore | OF Gresham, Oregon
lacey vasas | 23
5-4 | Freshman | P/UT Salem, Oregon
Kaia Young | 27
5-5 | Sphomore | OF/2B Portland, Oregon
cydney hess | 11
5-10 | Senior | 3B West Linn, Oregon
emily foytack | 12
| Sophomore | C Longview, Washington
josie brooks | 9
5-8 | Freshman | OF Molalla, Oregon
lauren beach |18
5-8 | Sophomore | 3B/OF Lake Oswego, Oregon
Tyler mcneley | 26 5-10 | Sophomore | P Lakeview, Oregon
KEIRA SULLIVAN | 24
5-9 | Freshman | 1B Martinez, California
katelynn dilbeck | 35 5-7 | Freshman | OF San Jose, California
lexiss antle | 28 5-7 | Junior | 2B/UT Gaston, Oregon
leilani garcia | 5 5-4 | Freshman | P San Lorenzo, California
brooklyn sweatman | 7 5-6 | Freshman | 2B/SS Aloha, Oregon
annika dayberry | 22 5-10 | Sophomore | OF Redmond, Washington
sophie pappas | 30 5-5 | Sophomore | 2B/SS Portland, Oregon
meara sain | 33 5-6 | Junior | OF Eugene, Oregon
lily buendia |17
5-5 | Freshman | 3B/UT Junction City, Oregon
mia heigh| 55
5-7 | Freshman | C/3B Auburn, Washington
LINFIELD WILDCATS
ASSISTANT COACHES:
PUGET SOUND LOGGERS
LINFIELD VERSUS PUGET SOUND
series BREAKDOWN
21 ally downing
THE RECORDS
Linfield enters the final Northwest Conference regular season series with an 18-6 league record and a 30-6 overall mark. The Wildcats begin the weekend tied with the Lewis & Clark River Otters for second place in the NWC standings and are assured of a berth in next week’s NWC Tournament. Puget Sound comes to McMinnville riding a seven-game losing skid. The Loggers are 3-21 in the NWC and 5-29 overall.
LINFIELD AT A GLANCE
Catcher Ashlyn Aven and infielder Cydney Hess are set to be celebrated Sunday as part of Senior Day. Aven remains the Division III leader in home runs (17) and runs batted in (66). On the Linfield career list, she ranks among the top 10 in slugging percentage (6th) and home runs (9th). Among single-season leaders, Aven sits 4th in slugging, 6th in RBIs and 8th in home runs. Hess is also prominent on the career list, ranking among the top 10 in RBIs (5th), doubles (5th), home runs (7th), runs scored (9th), and hits (10th). Outfielder Meara Sain leads the NWC in batting average (.472). Her 23 doubles top NCAA Division III. She has drawn 17 walks and struck out just five times. Tyler McNeley is 17-3, the third-most wins in Division III.
PUGET SOUND AT A GLANCE
Loggers freshman Macy Maxwell (.375) and junior Nyomi Estrada (.342) have been the team’s most productive hitters, ranking among the top-16 in the NWC in batting average. Senior outfielder Elyssa Garcia leads the Loggers in home runs (3) while driving in a team-high 13 runs. With 16 starts and 20 appearances, Estrada pulls double-duty in the circle and enters the weekend series with a 5.91 earned run average.
SERIES HISTORY
Linfield is 90-18 all-time when facing Puget Sound, going 42-9 at home. The Wildcats have won the previous 18 meetings, half of those coming by the eight-run rule. Linfield shut out Puget Sound in three of four games last season, outscoring the Loggers 30-3.
THE NORTHWEST CONFERENCE
12 emily foytack
NFCA WATCH LIST
Senior Ashlyn Aven is joined by juniors Tyler McNeley and Meara Sain as 2026 NFCA Players to Watch
Three Linfield Wildcats are among 118 student-athletes from across the country named recently to the 2026 NFCA Division III Pitcher and Player of the Year watch list.
The list is separated into the 10 regions and is compiled by members of the NFCA Division III All-America Committee with one head coach representing each of the 10 NCAA regions.
Representing Linfield on the list are catcher Ashlyn Aven, pitcher Tyler McNeley and out-fielder Meara Sain.
Seventeen returning NFCA All-Americans highlight the list, including four from the first team, five from the second team, and eight from the third. Both Trine’s Debbie Hill and Williams’ Sadie Leonard are three-time All-America honorees, while four others on the list — Bowdoin’s Anika Ewert, Trine’s Tyra Marcum, Simpson’s Ashlyn Steen and Makayla Steffes of Saint Mary’s — are two-time All-Americans. Last year’s NFCA Freshman of the Year, Lilly Goldberg of Swarthmore, is also on the list. Aven is a 2025 second team All-American while McNealy was a third team All-American in 2024 as well as being named 2024 NFCA Freshman of the Year.
The 2026 NFCA Player and NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year winners will be announced on May 27 prior to the start of the NCAA Division III World Series.
Student-athletes do not have to be on this watch list to be considered for end-of-season awards, which will be voted on by the members of the NFCA Division III All-America Committee.
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RECENT HONORS
Linfield pitcher Colton Ouellette recently earned Northwest Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week honors, as revealed Monday by the conference office.
Ouellette tossed seven innings of one-hit ball in a 6-0 win over the Whitman Blues last weekend. Against Whitman, his seven scoreless innings helped the Wildcats defeat the Blues on the way to claiming their fifth NWC series of the season.
It’s the first NWC weekly honor of the sophomore’s career. Competing in his second season as a Wildcat, Ouellette boasts 38 strikeouts and a 4.14 earned run average in 11 appearances, making three starts to a 2-3 record with a save.
An exercise science major, Ouellette is pursuring a career as a chiropractor or athletic trainer. The Reno, Nevada, native is the son of Mike and Carri Ouellette.
The Northwest Conference selects Colton Ouellette for Baseball Pitcher of the Week recognition
KEEPING TABS ON THE WILDCATS
can’t attend the game? catch the action on lsn
The Linfield Sports Network continues to bring fans live action of all home Linfield softball games in 2026. Fans can enjoy live video webcasts and play-by-play commentary on their computer, tablet, mobile device or Smart TV.
Live coverage begins 10 minutes prior to the start of each game. Broadcasts include a complete postgame wrap-up with analysis and statistical breakdown.
LSN broadcasts are under the direction of Joe Stuart, the athletic department’s Broadcast Operations Coordinator. In his sixth year in the position, Stuart oversees all technical production and management of LSN broadcasts as well as providing play-by-play
commentary on football, basketball, baseball and softball webcasting in addition to assisting with other athletics communications needs.
A trio of Linfield students all contribute to the on-air production. Junior Maddie Funk assists with camera work while handling the role of play-by-play announcer for women’s lacrosse.
Sophomore Tyler Shuter returns to the camera crew for his second season of Linfield softball.
Senior Eric Albios is back as webcast director, blending all camera angles, audio sources and commercial elements into a professionally produced program.
LSN broadcasts can be accessed at golinfieldwildcats.com/watch.
All Linfield Sports Network webcasts are now carried on FloSports, a conference-wide pay-to-watch platform
Linfield University has joined together with its eight fellow Northwest Conference institutions in support of a new partnership with streaming provider FloSports to offer live and on-demand video coverage of nearly every athletic event Linfield participates in
An annual subscription costs $107.88 ($8.99 per month). A monthly subscription runs $19.99.
Linfield students, faculty and staff with linfield.edu email addresses will enjoy discounted rates of $71.88 per year ($5.99/ month) or $9.99 if purchased monthly.
Schools are expected to receive annual investments from FloSports to build and expand broadcast capabilities and make other investments within the athletic department. Linfield personnel will continue to staff and operate all home broadcasts.
FloSports subscribers will have the capability to access more than 40,000 events nationwide spanning 25 different sports.
FloSports expects to deliver live and on-demand coverage of Linfield events across 15 different sports: Football, volleyball,
WATCHING flosports MADE EASY
$107.88 ANNUALLY $19.99
men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s wrestling, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, baseball, softball, and women’s lacrosse. Northwest Conference Championship events in all sports except golf and cross country will also be streamed as part of the annual agreement.
The NWC joins several of its regular non-conference opponents in partnering with FloSports, the industry leader and primary media rights partner for Division III conferences.
Each year, FloSports will provide a global platform to live stream over 800 regular-season and postseason events.
ethan kline
Joe Stuart maddie funk
Eric Albios
LINFIELD ALL-AMERICANS
NAME YEAR HONOR
Katie Harding 1997 NAIA Second Team
Shelly Steinke 2006 NFCA Third Team
Jenny Marshall 2007 NFCA First Team
Stephanie Rice 2007 NFCA Third Team
Jenny Marshall 2008 NFCA First Team
Stephanie Rice 2008 NFCA First Team
Brittany Miller 2008 NFCA Second Team
Brittany Miller 2009 NFCA First Team
Staci Doucette 2009 NFCA First Team
Alex Hartmann 2009 NFCA Third Team
Emily Keagbine 2009 NFCA Third Team
Staci Doucette 2010 NFCA First Team
Karleigh Prestianni 2010 NFCA First Team
Alex Hartmann 2010 NFCA Third Team
Emily Keagbine 2010 NFCA Third Team
Staci Doucette 2011 NFCA First Team
NAME YEAR HONOR
Emilee Lepp 2011 NFCA First Team
Emily Keagbine 2011 NFCA First Team
Kayla Hubrich 2011 NFCA First Team
Karleigh Prestianni 2011 NFCA Second Team
Claire Velaski 2011 NFCA Third Team
Emilee Lepp 2012 NFCA First Team
Karleigh Prestianni 2012 NFCA First Team
Staci Doucette 2012 NFCA First Team
Karina Paavola 2012 NFCA Third Team
Karleigh Prestianni 2013 NFCA First Team
Lisa Yamamoto 2013 NFCA First Team
Erin Carson 2013 NFCA Second Team
Ashley Garcia 2014 NFCA First Team
Karina Paavola 2014 NFCA Third Team
Melanie Oord 2016 NFCA Second Team
Cheyenne Fletcher 2017 NFCA Second Team
NAME YEAR HONOR
Melanie Oord 2018 NFCA Third Team
Makenna Clizer 2019 NFCA Third Team
Katie Phillips 2022 NFCA First Team
Tayah Kelley 2022 NFCA Second Team
Katie Phillips 2023 NFCA First Team
Tayah Kelley 2023 NFCA First Team
Claire Seats 2023 NFCA Second Team
Kaili Saathoff 2023 NFCA Second Team
Tayah Kelley 2024 NFCA First Team
Brynn Nelson 2024 NFCA First Team
Claire Seats 2024 NFCA First Team
Kaili Saathoff 2024 NFCA Second Team
Tyler McNeley 2024 NFCA Third Team
Claire Seats 2025 NFCA First Team
Brynn Nelson 2025 NFCA Second Team
Jacey Leyvas 2025 NFCA Second Team
Ashlyn Aven 2025 NFCA Second Team
SEASON-BY-SEASON
YEAR COACH OVERALL NWC NWC FINISH NAIA
1958 Barbara Olsen
1959 Barbara Olsen 1960 Barbara Olsen 1961 Barbara Olsen 1962 Barbara Olsen
1963 Barbara Olsen 1964 Barbara Olsen 1965 Barbara Olsen 2nd
1st
2nd
5th
1975 Ed Willig 2-4
1976 Nick Santangelo
1977 Dave Cargni
1978 Dave Cargni 1981 Ethel Gregory 9-6 5-3
Jane McIlroy 3-12
Jane Wahl 18-15 11-6 16-9
Jane Wahl 13-18 4-11 1985 Joanne English 14-13 4-4 12-11 1986 Joanne English 20-15 7-1 1st 14-4 1987 Joanne English 14-16 6-11 3rd 16-11
1988 Joanne English 25-16 10-4 17-7
1989 Joanne English 21-19 7-9 2nd 17-9 1990 Becky Heidesch 22-18 8-8 3rd 16-8
Becky Heidesch 22-14 5-9 4th 14-5
Linda Kilgore 17-16-1 6-10 3rd 11-4-1
Laura Kenow 15-14 7-7 3rd 8-4
Laura Kenow 18-13 10-6 3rd
Laura Kenow 21-12 16-4 2nd 1997 Laura Kenow 23-18 14-6 2nd
1998 Laura Kenow 20-22-1 14-9-1 3rd NCAA
1999 Laura Kenow 20-17 17-7 3rd
2000 Laura Kenow 24-10 14-7 4th
2001 Laura Kenow 24-17 14-7 2nd
2002 Jackson Vaughan 21-17 13-8 3rd
Jackson Vaughan 39-8-1 25-3 1st
Jackson Vaughan 12-2 4-0 DNF
Vaughan 38-9 22-6 2nd
THE TOPCAT CLUB
The Linfield University TopCat Club serves as a support organization to the 23 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.
