MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University softball team begins their season this week. In the past two seasons, the Blue Angels have finished with seven wins. This season, the Blue Angels have nine juniors and seniors brimming with experience as they also add depth throughout their line-up.
The Blue Angels are returning 12 student-athletes to the roster in 2020. With the addition of four new members to the team, the Blue Angels are starting the season with 16 players which is the deepest roster coach Perry has had at Mount Mary in his third season coaching the team.
One thing Mount Mary University Head Softball Coach Perry Clark noticed early in practice was "...our upperclassmen have really stepped up and worked hard to keep their starting spots from the talented underclassmen."
The team's pitching staff adds one new member, Kaitlyn Gilpin (Fr./Lyons, Ill.), along with the three returners: Adrianna Nester (Sr./Anaheim, Calif.), Hannah Harnsberger (Sr./Hillsboro, Ore.) and Hayley Smalley (Sr./Columbus, Ind.). Last season, the pitching staff maintained a 5.65 ERA and only allowed the opposition to hit three home runs all season long.
The compliment to the battery unit returns fully intact with Haley Johnson (Sr./Germantown, Wis.) and Taylor Hienbuecher (So./Sycamore, Ill.) backing up home plate. The dependable behind-the-dish duo let just 11 balls pass in 2019 after logging a combined 165 innings at catcher.
MMU returns their core from 2019. Three of MMU's top hitters in average return for 2020: outfielder Haley Jacquez (Sr./Oakley, Calif.) hit .347, catcher/infielder Taylor Hienbuecher hit .328, and middle-infielder Aislinn Strusz (So./Aurora, Ill.) finished with .310. Jacquez led the team in average, on-base percentage (.405) and total hits (25) last season. Strusz led the team with 15 RBIs and six stolen bases. Pitcher/Infielder Adrianna Nester returns this season after finishing second on the team in extra base hits.
The added depth around the roster helps many Blue Angels focus on their primary positions. Brianna Ecker (Fr./Fond du Lac, Wis.) adds experience in the infield along with Gilpan who will also help the interior defense. Freshman Alyssa Becker (Cudahy, Wis.) and transfer Jacklyn Mozdzen (Jr./Wautoma, Wis.) give the Blue Angels five full-time outfielders to work with in the coming season.
With the new additions to the team, coach Perry has stated, "...our #1 goal from the coaching staff is to communicate on and off the field." Coach added, "We strongly feel team unity starts with communication."
Along with some major changes, the Blue Angels have done their best to combat their annual problem of canceled games due to inclement Midwest weather. This season, the Blue Angels have put together a full schedule in hopes to keep their actual played games on par with national championship contenders. Before heading to Florida for the team's annual spring trip in mid-March, the Blue Angels have eight games scheduled in domes. In a majority of previous seasons, the spring trip marked the season opening for MMU Softball.
The season begins this Friday when the team heads to the Ambrose Dome in Davenport, Iowa for a doubleheader against host St. Ambrose (1-3). Coverage for all games this season will vary, check back to MtMaryAthletics.com for details, or follow the Blue Angels on social media. (Twitter, Facebook or Instagram)
