MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University softball team returns this season following a record setting performance in 2017. With a new head coach at the helm and a reshuffled roster, the Blue Angels look to continue their success with the new look in 2018.
The records and accolades from 2017 are plentiful (Blue Angels Softball 2017 Recap). Most notably, the Blue Angels set the program's single season record for wins with their 14-21 finish. In addition, the team sent a myriad of Blue Angels to the Association of Division III Independents All-Association teams.
This season MMU looks to continue where they left off in 2017, albeit with a new look. New Mount Mary University Head Softball Coach Perry Clark joins the club after spending 18 seasons at Waubonsee Community College in the same position.
"Here, we're here to win." New Mount Mary Head Softball Coach Perry Clark stated when asked his coaching goals for this season, "…that's my goal. I'm going out to win every game we possibly can. That's the mindset going into play. Not just to have a good performance, but to win that game."
"For my players I really want them to understand the system. Things that we worked on really well in practice; just so we are more comfortable with it." (Coach Clark Interview)
In his near two decades at WCC, Coach Clark filled up the school's trophy case with a number of awards and honors. Not only was the eight-time Illinois Skyway Conference Coach of the Year helping his players make the conference's yearly team, but the coach made the Region IV tournament 19 times in his tenure including five Region IV Championships.
Coach Clark will see the Blue Angels return seven members from last year's roster. Amelia Flint (Sr./Whitefish Bay, Wis.) returns to the squad after representing Mount Mary on last year's AD3I All-Association team.
Flint was an active defender in 2017 and played a bulk of her defensive innings in the outfield. The speedy Flint finished the season with a .981 fielding percentage and grabbed 49 putouts in her various starts. Showing her dependability on offense, the outfield finished the season hitting a .309 batting average and .420 OBP.
The Blue Angels also return their two starting pitchers from last season. Hannah Harnsberger (So./Hillsboro, Ore.) took the circle for 97.2 of the total 210.0 innings played by MMU in 2017. Harnsberger finished with an 8-11 record, nine complete games, 6.16 ERA and 32 strikeouts.
Adrianna Nester (So./Anaheim, Calif.) pitched for 61.1 innings in 2017 and led the Blue Angels with a 5.48 ERA and 36 strikeouts. Nester returns with Harnsberger with a lot more collegiate experience and more time working with one of last year's catchers, Haley Johnson (So./Germantown, Wis.), who is returning for 2018.
Of the returning varsity players, infielders Haley Jacquez (So./Oakley, Calif.) and Payton Hintz (Sr./Almond, Wis.) return, both finished last season with fielding percentages north of .900. Jacquez was a recurrent member of the "web-gem" club playing all over the middle infield. Hintz returns for her fourth season after playing most of her collegiate career at third base. Hintz earned an AD3I All-Association team honor in her freshman season for her work at third base. (Full Roster)
Tomorrow marks the beginning of a long stretch of softball for the Blue Angels. Their longtime rival Alverno College will host MMU Fri. Mar. 23 for a doubleheader starting at 2:30 pm. Then the Blue Angels will head down 92nd street to take on Wisconsin Lutheran College for a pair of games on Saturday before traveling to Clermont, Fla. for six games against a slew of NCAA teams. (Full Schedule)
Live stats will be available for both doubleheaders against WLC and Alverno. Live coverage will vary throughout the week as the Blue Angels battle in Florida, stay tuned to mtmaryathletics.com for updates.
