2023 Softball Season Preview
26-23 (18-14 Heart, 5th)
Starters returning/lost: 7/2 fielders; 2/3 pitchers
Letterwinners returning/lost: 17/???
Notable returners:
Valeria Quiroga, Sr., San Benito, Texas
(Second-Team All-America, .430 BA, 11 HR, 45 RBIs)
Abby Wilson, Jr., Calgary, Alberta
(Second team all-Heart, .325 BA, 27 R)
Chelsey Huff, So., Douds, Iowa
(Honorable-mention all-Heart, 11-3 record, 3.39 ERA, 107 1/3 IP, 96 K)
Charley Geguzis, Jr., Williamsburg, Iowa
(Letterwinner, .247 BA, 27 R)
Notable losses:
Lexi Resa
(Second-team all-Heart)
Peyton Parker
(Three-time letterwinner)
Jayde Tucker
(Two-time letterwinner)
Notable newcomers:
Karah Dunham, Jr., Weston, Mo.
Bailee Rinn, Fr., Omaha, Neb.
A strong nucleus of returning players look to guide the Statesmen softball team to another winning season with the confidence of finishing as one of the top teams in the Heart of America Athletic Conference as William Penn enters the 2023 season.
William Penn, guided by Mike Christner in his 22nd season, is coming off a 26-23 season a year ago (18-14 Heart) that ended with a run to the Heart Tournament.
Valeria Quiroga (Jr., Brownsville, Texas, Sociology) will lead her squad onto the diamond after garnering a pair of Second-Team All-America laurels in 2022.
Pitcher
Chelsey Huff (So., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science) will be handed the reins of staff ace this year in only her second season. In her freshman campaign, she recorded an 11-3 record with a 3.39 ERA, while striking out 96 hitters.
The trio of Ashton Brown (Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) and junior college transfers Karah Dunham (Jr., Weston, Mo., Human Services and Psychology) and Emily Bryant (Jr., University Place, Wash., Nursing) will also add depth to the core rotation.
Brown went 2-5 last year with a 5.58 ERA and 24 strikeouts.
Catcher
Sarah Gallivan (Sr., Round Lake, Ill., Secondary Education) looks to take over the duties behind the place this year. In limited action, she tallied 10 hits and posted a .975 fielding percentage.
Gabby Adame (So., Las Vegas, Nevada, Psychology and Human Resources) will look to back up Gallivan in her first year in the navy and gold.
First Base
Caitlyn Foster (So., Livermore, Calif., Elementary Education) will look to vie for some time at first base.
Fellow returners Shiloh Cunningham (Sr., Lynnville, Sully, Biology) and Amber Kurtz (So., Savannah, Ten., Political Science) are expected to back up Foster and be key pieces to the depth of the position.
Second Base
Nayely Martinez (Jr., Carson, Calif., Business Management) continues to be a mainstay at second base after hitting .289 last spring.
Shortstop
Alongside Martinez, Charley Geguzis (Jr., Williamsburg, Iowa, Business Management) makes up the other half a terrific double-play duo. She hit .247 in 2022 with 36 hits, 11 RBIs, and 27 runs scored.
Ella Pierce (So., McClelland, Iowa, Business Management), who played in a few games last year, has garnered the title of backup for both Martinez and Geguzis after gaining another year of experience.
Third Base
Quiroga will likely see most of her time at the hot corner, but may also man first base if the situation necessitates. She was the team's best hitter a year ago, posting an impressive .430 average with 11 home runs, 45 RBIs, and 23 runs scored. Opposing teams continue to stay away from her out of respect, though, as she drew 42 walks in her 121 at bats last season.
If Quiroga does move over to first base, the Statesmen are slated to have Amber Shotts (Fr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Mathematics) fill in for her at third.
Left Field
Christner has brought in some new blood in the outfield as Bailee Rinn (Fr., Omaha, Neb., Biology) will look to start in left field.
Transfer Hannah Gibson (Jr., Pleasantville, Iowa) will be second in line to Rinn, while providing some leadership to the younger outfielder.
Center Field
Senior Abby Wilson (Jr., Calgary, Alberta, Biology) will be back in center field for WPU, taking on more of leadership role in her final year. She enjoyed a successful campaign at the plate, hitting .352 with 27 runs scored. Wilson stole five bases a year ago as well.
Right Field
Joining Wilson from Canada, Allyson Stewart (Sr., Delta, B.C., Nursing) will be in right field for William Penn, splitting time with Kianna Young (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev., Exercise Science).
Schedule
William Penn opens up the season on the road Saturday, facing Avila in non-conference action. The navy and gold finally open their home slate on March 22 against Culvler-Stockton.
Conference
The league schedule will consist of 38 games with the top eight teams meeting in the Heart Tournament from May 5-8 in Cedar Rapids. WPU is picked fifth in the 14-team league, while Central Methodist is slotted to win the conference.
