Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame
There may not be a team in the history of the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame that accomplished more – or is connected any closer – than the 2011 Linfield softball team.
Having finished as the national runner-up the season prior, the 2011 Wildcats held the No. 1 national ranking in the NFCA Top 25 poll throughout the entire season – at the time a first in the history of Division III softball.
Many of the 40 records this special group of players and coaches set during that season are downright mind-bogging:
Start with the Wildcats achieving a Division III record 51 victories on the way to claiming Linfield’s second national championship in five seasons. Linfield broke its own national record for home runs that season. The Wildcats hit an astounding 103 homers to surpass their one-year-old record of 78 set in 2010.
Says Wildcats outfielder Jaydee (Baxter) Romick: “This was a team motivated by hard losses, a common goal, and unmatched chemistry that kept us fighting for one another and the coveted NCAA title. 2011 is a year we will not soon forget, and the record books likely won’t either.”
Fellow outfielder Jordan Mixsell echoed Jaydee’s comments, saying “Our desire to win a national championship was never a secret. We talked about it, we trained for it and we expected it. In the end, it was the countless hours of preparation, belief in ourselves and each other, and unwavering support from our coaches, friends and families that helped us earn it.”
After winning the inaugural Northwest Conference Tournament with a spotless 3-0 record, the Wildcats advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs where they tore through the Pella, Iowa Regional by outscoring their four opponents 49-0. The Wildcats registered a team batting average of .505, hitting eight home runs in four playoff regional games.
Moving on to the NCAA Championships in Salem, Virginia, the Wildcats won six of seven games, outscoring the opposition 50-9. To claim the championship, the Wildcats had to win four consecutive elimination games, including three in one day. They rose to the occasion, outscoring their opponents 26-2 on that day.
Closing in on the national championship, Karleigh Prestianni led the way for Linfield with six home runs, 21 RBIs and a .567 batting average. Emilee Lepp hit .500 with 12 RBIs and a team-best nine stolen bases.
Linfield pitchers combined to post a 0.88 earned run average, holding opponents to a paltry .167 batting average. Claire Velaski went 6-1 in the postseason with a 0.67 ERA and 38 strikeouts. Lauren Harvey was 3-0 in five playoff appearances with a 0.74 ERA, 11 strikeouts and no walks. Defensively, the Wildcats committed only six errors in 11 playoff contests.
For the season, the 2011 Wildcats led the nation in batting average (.396), scoring (8.96 runs per game), and slugging percentage (.682).
First baseman Staci Doucette was one of the most feared hitters in the country, setting Linfield single-season records for batting average (.532), on-base percentage (.653), and walks (45) while contributing 21 home runs and 80 RBIs. Emily Keagbine capped off an outstanding career in impressive fashion, finishing fourth nationally with 17 home runs while hitting .434 with 60 RBIs while anchoring the infield at shortstop.
Lepp enjoyed one of the finest individual seasons in NCAA Division III history. She set school and NCAA records with 29 home runs, eclipsing the old mark of 24.
Outfielder Kayla Hubrich also enjoyed a career season, tying the Linfield single-season record for at-bats (201) while hitting .403 with four triples and 15 stolen bases.
Pitcher Claire Velaski established new single-season standards for pitching appearances (35) and wins (25). Lauren Harvey became the only pitcher in Linfield history with 10 or more decisions to complete a season with an unblemished record (16-0).
Lepp, Keagbine, Doucette, and Hubrich were all named first team NFCA All-Americans while Prestianni was accorded second team honors and Velaski was named a third team All-American. Lepp was also honored as the NWC Player of the Year and Honda NCAA Division III Player of the Year.
Looking back, Coach Jackson Vaughan says the 2011 team simply must be considered among the greatest teams in NCAA Division III softball history. “With our pitching depth, great defense, and ability to hit for power and average, it was one of the most talented teams I have seen during my coaching career. Combine that talent with the outstanding work ethic, great team chemistry, and full commitment to excellence this team displayed, and you have something very, very special.”
