WELCOME TO LINFIELD UNIVERSITY
Casey Powell
COMMUNICATIONS
Kelly Bird, Conner Jensen, Joe Stuart
STATISTICS
Gavin Dalziel
PUBLIC
Steve Oleson
VIDEO WEBCASTS
Joe Stuart, Joel Nelson, Ethan Kline, Eric Albios
GAME PROGRAM
Kelly Bird, Conner Jensen, Felipe Unker
WILDCAT SPOTLIGHT
the wildcat who almost wasn’t
It took persistence to attract Claire Seats to Linfield, where she has developed into one of Division III’s most feared hitters
by amelia solt ’27
Even for those who live in the Pacific Northwest, Linfield University may not be a household name.
As a high school athlete growing up in Seattle, Claire Seats didn’t know anything about the small school with the powerhouse softball program. And when Wildcats coach Jackson Vaughan emailed Seats to begin the recruiting process, she ignored it because she wasn’t interested in playing at the Division III level.
Vaughan is by no means new to the recruiting game. He knew he wanted Seats’ talents. The veteran coach with over 800 career victories to his name followed up with a three-page email telling Seats about the virtues of the Linfield softball program. Eventually, he convinced Seats to visit the campus.
“I was very drawn to Linfield after reading about the team’s history of accomplishments,” says Seats. “It was clear to me this was a competitive program that contended for national championships.”
Vaughan’s follow-up proved crucial not only for him and the program – Seats is currently among the top 10 home run hitters in Division III – but also to her, reviving her love for the game that had begun to fade following her final club softball season.
“After I finished travel ball, I was feeling burnt out and was considering not playing softball in college,” she says, looking back. “But since coming to Linfield, this program has made me love softball again because of the balance between the relationships you build and the ability to compete at a high level.”
With Seats on the roster, Linfield is undoubtedly a better team than it would be without her. Her remarkable hitting has earned her NFCA All-America acclaim the past two seasons. Now a senior, she has come out swinging (literally) yet again.
Seats’ method of hitting differs from most batters. She doesn’t walk to the plate with the intention of pounding the ball with brute force. Instead, she takes a calm approach and just hits the ball, managing to muster power through pure technique.
“Claire generates so much power, but is super relaxed when she swings the bat,” says her longtime hitting coach Mark Anderton. “She is so dedicated to her skills. I’ve always said, ‘If you can hit, you can play.’”
Coaches such as Anderton, who played for the New Zealand National Team
and was crowned the New Zealand national batting champion in 1989, and Vaughan, who has guided the Linfield softball program to two Division III national championships, have greatly aided Seats in her journey to becoming a dominant hitter.
“Mark was a great coach for me during high school. He taught the importance of simplifying my swing and mentality,” she says. “I was able to take this into college where Jackson implemented a more mechanical approach that allowed me to fine-tune my swing at a higher level that I was not familiar with in high school.”
Her hitting, overall skills and successes on the softball field are incredibly important to Seats. But what’s more important to her is the relationships she has been able to form with teammates and the memories that will stick with her long after her playing days are over.
“Jackson always reminds us that after we graduate college, we won’t remember when we struck out or how many home runs we hit. We’ll remember the people we played with and the relationships we built,” Seats says. “The friendships and memories I’ve made since coming to Linfield will last me a lifetime. I’ll always be grateful that this softball team has brought me more than just the sport itself.”
Her relationships go beyond her teammates and coaches. Family members have been huge supporters of her softball career, namely her parents Brian and Annette, who follow the team wherever and whenever Linfield plays and are always among the first to arrive at the stadium each game.
Along with her parents, her grandmother, who passed away about four years ago, supported her to no end. Older sister Emily still follows all of her games, keeping
“My grandma was able to aid in my ability to play on competitive travel ball programs growing up, which helped me get to Linfield,” says Seats. “My parents and sister have always been there for me with nothing but positivity. My dad especially has believed in me since I was a little girl and was always there to take me to hitting lessons and push me to my fullest potential.”
Brian Seats sacrificed a lot in hopes that Claire could develop into a great softball player, says Anderton.
“Claire’s dad is by far her biggest fan and has always been 100% in support of her growth. He’s so proud of her.”
Nearing graduation in May, the marketing major plans to find a job within the financial advising industry. Given her work ethic, dedication and drive, Claire Seats will no doubt have little difficulty finding professional success beyond softball.
AROUND THE NATION
East Texas Baptist and Rowan lead an unchanged first 11 in the NFCA/GoRout Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll.
The defending national champion Tigers (28-2) light the way for a ninth week dating back to last season, while the Profs (30-0) continued their perfect start.
ETBU swept four conference games from Howard Payne over two days, while Rowan won a doubleheader from Stockton to be among four teams in the top 10 with 30 or more victories. Fifthranked Virginia Wesleyan (30-1-1), sixth-rated Texas Lutheran (31-1) and ninth-ranked Huntingdon (30-3) are the other three schools in that group. Linfield (24-2) remained in the No. 4 slot.
The first change in the rankings comes at No. 12, where Washington-St. Louis (23-5), which has won nine straight, jumped two places. No. 13 Case Western Reserve (19-8) also gained two spots, ahead of Gettysburg (27-4), which slipped one place after a split with Swarthmore.
Belhaven (26-7) and Moravian (22-4) each gained a spot, while Saint Mary’s (27-3), which is riding a 17-game win streak, parlayed an 8-0 week into a five-place surge to 17th. Meanwhile, Randolph-Macon (28-6) slipped six spots — from 12th to 18th — after a pair of losses.
Simpson (25-3) finally moved into the poll at No. 22 after receiving votes two of the last three weeks. The Storm promptly swept No. 19 Central (17-5) on Monday, hours after voters had cast their ballots.
Baldwin Wallace (19-2) makes its debut at No. 25 after another solid week. The only losses for the Yellow Jackets this season are to Wisconsin Lutheran on March 10 and Muskingum on Saturday.
AROUND THE NATION
8 jaceyleyvas
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.
OUTLAST OUTLIVE
We’re tough where it counts. From dominating wild trails to maneuvering rushing streams, roaming vast canyons and tackling remote peaks, our trucks prove their rugged capability over and over.
HEAD COACH JACKSON VAUGHAN
Jackson Vaughan has transformed the Linfield softball program into an annual national-championship contender during 23 seasons as coach. Vaughan has amassed a career record of 849-199-2, including a 52388 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, 10 regional titles and 16 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 12 of the last 16 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 25 years, helping the Wildcats amass a 198-34 record since 2000. Linfield qualified for the Division III playoffs 15 of the last 21 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.
TIANI WAYTON| 1
5-4 | Senior | OF
5-6 |
|
ashley sutton |16
5-8 | Senior | C Monroe, Oregon
dayberry | 22
5-10 | Sophomore | OF Redmond, Washington
Lexiss Antle| 28
5-7
MEET THE WILDCATS
Sydney ries | 3 5-9 | Senior | OF Moses Lake, Washington
cydney hess | 11 5-10 | Junior | 3B West Linn, Oregon
kaili saathoff| 17 6-0 | Senior | 1B Philomath, Oregon
sophie pappas | 30
5-5 | Freshman | 2B/SS Portland, Oregon
emily foytack | 12
5-8 | Freshman | C Longview, Washington
lauren beach | 18
5-8 | Freshman | OF/3B Lake Oswego, Oregon
KEIRA SULLIVAN | 24
5-9 | Freshman | 1B
MeAra Sain| 33 5-6 | Sophomore | OF/2B Eugene, Oregon
sierra mckenna| 19 5-4 | Freshman | C/1B Beaverton, Oregon
| 35 5-6 |
justice | 7 5-4 | Freshman | SS/2B McMinnville, Oregon
| 20 5-7 | Junior | 3B/C
Kailua, Hawaii
peyton
brynn nelson|9
Senior
2B Bonney Lake, Washington
Natalie brinda | 13 5-8 | Junior | SS Portland, Oregon
annika
jacey leyvas | 8 5-6 | Senior | 1B Redlands, California
sophia vandersommen|15 5-6 | Senior | OF Tigard, Oregon
ally downing | 21 5-5 | Freshman | OF Gresham, Oregon
ashlyn aven
Yelm, Washington
Tyler mcneley | 26 5-10 | Sophomore | P Lakeview, Oregon
lacey vasas | 23 5-4 | Freshman | P/UT Salem, Oregon
KYla Cross | 4 5-4 | Sophomore | OF Bonney Lake, Washington
claire seats | 5 5-7 | Senior | OF Seattle, Washington
Martinez, California
tyler warden | 25 5-10 | Grad Student | P Monroe, Oregon
Hadley Dunham |14 5-6| Sophomore | OF Walla Walla, Washington
| Sophomore | 2B/UT Gaston, Oregon
nayeli hart | 44 5-5 | Freshman | P Jefferson, Oregon
breanna bartek
Freshman | OF San Jose, California
Kaia Young | 27 5-5 | Freshman | C/OF Portland, Oregon
LINFIELD WILDCATS
HEAD COACH: Jackson Vaughan (24th year)
ASSISTANT COACHES: Jamie Vasas, Amanda Knopf, Jordan Bennett, Emily Allen
STUDENT MANAGERS: Brady Crenshaw, Jackson Pfeifer
LEWIS & CLARK PIONEERS
LINFIELD VERSUS LEWIS & CLARK
series BREAKDOWN
THE RECORDS
Linfield (24-2, 14-0 NWC) and Lewis & Clark (22-4, 14-2 NWC) stand as the top two teams in the conference and this weekend’s clash has major conference implications on which team might host the NWC tournament.
LINFIELD AT A GLANCE
The Wildcats are led by sophomore phenom Tyler McNeley on the mound as she is fresh off Linfield’s first full perfect game in 16 years. She leads the conference in wins (14) and strikeouts (93) while registering a team-low ERA of 2.38. Claire Seats leads the way offensively, ranking second in the country with 12 home runs on the season and fifth nationally in RBI at 43. As a team, the ‘Cats rank second in the nation with a .420 team batting average, highlighting their ability to turn a game quickly. Meara Sain, Jacey Leyvas, Seats, Brynn Nelson and Ashlyn Aven round out the Linfield quintet that are batting over .430 this year and each have multiple home runs on the season.
LEWIS & CLARK AT A GLANCE
The Pioneers lean heavily on their pitching staff with Maggie O’Leary totaling 82.1 innings pitched and Charlize Pope registering 61.1 innings. O’Leary comes in with 71 strikeouts on the season and an impressive 2.98 ERA while Pope supports a 3.77 ERA and 32 strikeouts. Makena Dahir boasts a .442 average at the plate and has 34 hits to go along with 23 runs in 2025. Sam Gildersleeve leads the way in runs with 31 while also hitting a team-high four homers and logging a .738 slug percentage. 10 different players have double digit runs scored as a team, the Pios average 7.89 runs per game.
SERIES HISTORY
Linfield holds a jaw-dropping 109-9 series lead, including victories in the previous 18 straight contests versus Lewis & Clark. When playing at home at Del Smith Stadium, the Wildcats have won 53 of 57 meetings with the Pioneers.
27 kaia young
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 2025. Fans can enjoy live and on-demand video webcasts and playby-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 broadcasts are under the direction of the Athletics Broadcast Operations Coordinator Joe Stuart.
In his third 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 webcasts in addition to overseeing streaming efforts for volleyball, tennis and soccer.
All LSN broadcasts, both live and on demand, can be accessed by way of golinfieldwildcats.com/watch or through the Linfield Athletics app on mobile, tablet or smart TVs.
A Heritage of Confident Service
Macy & Son is in the business of helping people and meeting the individual needs of McMinnville area families for five generations.
Sharon
Emma
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE
softball STANDINGS
Desirae Hatfield (Willamette)
Jordyn
RECENT HONORS
Tyler McNeley earns praise as the NWC’s Pitcher of the Week following Linfield’s first perfect game since 2009
On the heels of her perfect game on Sunday against the Pacific Boxers, Linfield softball pitcher Tyler McNeley has been named the Northwest Conference Pitcher StudentAthlete of the Week .
Last Saturday, the sophomore from Lakeview allowed five hits over 12 innings pitched while walking just one batter. On Sunday, McNeley tossed 10 strikeouts, one short of tying her career-high while tossing Linfield’s first complete seven-inning perfect game in 16 years.
The Wildcats put up 45 runs over four games against the Boxers and allowed just one run defensively.
McNeley is putting together an impressive sophomore season after winning National Freshman of the Year a season ago. She has amassed a 14-1 record in 2025 to go along with 93 strikeouts and a 2.38 ERA while making a solid case for the National Player of the Year award.
LATEST ATHLETICS NEWS
Hawaaboo repeats at NWC hepathlon champion, Huson places 7th in NWC decathlon competition
Linfield’s Kira Hawaaboo broke her own school record while successfully repeating as heptathlon champion Tuesday at the Northwest Conference Multi-Event Championships. Hawaaboo finished the two-day, seven-event competition with career-best 4,840 points, outpacing 10 challengers.
Hawaaboo began the second day of competition trailing George Fox’s Jenna Huntsman by five points but surpassed her conference rival on Day 2, winning both the long jump (and the javelin. She also placed fourth in the 800-meter run.
The junior from Enumclaw, Washington, positioned herself nicely for an automatic invitation to compete in the heptathlon at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships, May 23-26, in Geneva, Ohio. Her school-record 4,840 points ranked third among Division III heptathletes this spring. Hawaaboo is also likely to be a leading contender in the women’s long jump, where she currently ranks eighth nationally.
On the men’s side, Linfield’s Durham Huson scored 5,375 points over the two days in the 10-event decathlon to place seventh among 11 entrants. The sophomore from Hillsboro, Oregon, achieved new personal records in four events, including two new bests on Day 2 in the pole vault and the shot put. He came tantalizing close to surpassing his previous all-time best point total of 5,404.
1975 Ed Willig 2-4
1976 Nick Santangelo
1977 Dave Cargni 1978 Dave Cargni
SEASON-BY-SEASON
Laura Kenow 15-14 7-7 3rd 8-4
Laura Kenow 24-20 9-7 3rd 8-4
Laura Kenow 18-13 10-6 3rd 1996 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
2003 Jackson Vaughan 27-11 21-5 2nd 2004 Jackson Vaughan 37-9 26-2 1st
Joanne English 20-15 7-1 1st 14-4
Joanne English 14-16 6-11 3rd 16-11
26-2 1st
Jackson Vaughan 51-3 27-1 1st
Jackson Vaughan 34-9 25-3 1st
Jackson Vaughan 32-16 18-10 2nd tie
Jackson Vaughan 32-10 21-7 2nd 2018 Jackson Vaughan 39-10 24-4 1st tie 2019 Jackson Vaughan 39-8-1 25-3 1st
2020 Jackson Vaughan 12-2 4-0 DNF
2021 Jackson Vaughan 38-9 22-6 2nd 2022 Jackson Vaughan 38-9 25-3 1st
2023 Jackson Vaughan 46-6 27-1 1st 7th 2024 Jackson Vaughan 50-4 28-0 1st 3rd
PROUD PARTNER OF LINFIELD ATHLETICS
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
NAME YEAR HONOR
Staci Doucette 2011 NFCA First Team
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
NAME YEAR HONOR
Melanie Oord 2016 NFCA Second Team
Cheyenne Fletcher 2017 NFCA Second Team
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
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.
To learn more about giving opportunities, please visit the TopCat Club website at www.linfieldtopcat.com
