Softball gearing up for first games

It’s softball season!

South Dakota is set to compete in its first tournament of 2024 Feb. 9-11 at the University of Georgia in Athens. The Coyotes open against Purdue at 1 p.m. (ET) Friday before squaring off against preseason No. 6 Georgia at 6 p.m. (ET). A second game with Purdue and two games against Murray State are also on the slate in week one.

The Coyotes enter season eight under coach Robert Wagner, who won national championships with Arizona State in 2008 and 2011. His 2024 roster features 10 returners and 10 newcomers. Together, they will try to become the first South Dakota team to win a Summit League title.

Important pieces return in starting pitchers Clara Edwards and Kori Wedeking. The duo combined for 23 of South Dakota’s 24 wins in the circle last year and all but 33 innings. Sophomore Madi Mangulis is back and healthy for year two and freshman McKenna Young is a talent from Brodhead, Wisconsin, ready to bolster the rotation.

All-Summit performers return in right fielder Gabby Moser and infielders Tatum Villotta and Delaney White, but there are big shoes to fill. Third baseman and Summit League Player of the Year Aleesia Sainz has graduated as has center fielder Courtney Wilson. Both have been staples in Wagner’s lineup the last four years.

South Dakota hit 24 home runs last year and stole 31 bases. The returning players combined for four home runs and 11 steals so there is power and speed to replace. The fall and winter workouts gave Wagner a chance to season the raw talent on this team and he and his staff are anxious to see how much fruit that will produce.

Wagner was willing to share some secrets ahead of first pitch. Villotta, who played second base as a freshman and shortstop last year as a sophomore, is moving back to second base in year three. That moves White into a more permanent position at first base after splitting time between second and first a year ago. Rylie Jones, who hit leadoff and played shortstop for new USD assistant coach Shannon Pivovar at Sioux Falls last year, will take over at short. Alexis Lusk, a highly touted freshman from Texas, is competing for a spot at third base.

Two outfield positions are available and one of the newcomers in the running is Autumn Iversen, a freshman from Wahoo, Nebraska, who pitched and played a lot of infield while belting a school-record 47 home runs for her Wahoo Warriors.

“There’s a lot that goes into replacing Courtney in center,” said Wagner. “You need speed to run down balls, the athletic ability to take good angles, a good arm and some leadership qualities. Autumn has all those skills, and with what we have in our infield, this is the best fit and she was willing to make the transition.

“We’re certainly not closing the door on her playing in the infield or even pitching at some point, but our focus this offseason has been on getting her acclimated to playing out there on the grass.”

Wagner also needs a new catching crew and has three worthy candidates to choose from. Klara Cejkova-Kolaci (CHE-ko-vuh ko-LOT-see) is a veteran with two years at the junior college level and one at the Division II level. Tahjzha (TAH-juh) Botts played two seasons at Iowa Western before arriving in Vermillion. Freshman Abi Brown is a two-time all-state performer who broke career home run records at Bennington High School.

“They are a blue-collar group that isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to be there and lead our team,” said Wagner. “All three have been outstanding teammates who have shown tremendous growth and grit and it’s been great working with them.

“It can be grueling back there for catchers, and for one person to catch 56 games plus is quite a challenge.”

The roster is nearly half upper- and underclassmen, but just three players – Moser, Edwards and Villotta – have been with the program for more than two seasons. For Pivovar, an outstanding collegiate player in her own right who enters the fold with head coaching experience, this group of women has impressed in its ability to adapt to change, receive feedback and use it to strive to be better. All good things with so many unknowns heading into 2024.

South Dakota boasts six seniors including Alecea Mendoza, who started 21 games in the outfield last year, and Alexia Terrazas, who also made starts in the outfield and played in 29 games in all. That position group adds sophomore and Creighton transfer Maddox Boston, who also has collegiate experience at shortstop. Alyssa Thorson was an NFCA All-American and golden glove recipient at Iowa Lakes last year. Freshman Emmie Wills is an all-state outfielder from Papillion, Nebraska.

Senior infielder Alivia Conte made some terrific plays at second base during the Summit League Tournament run last year and can play several positions around the infield. Sophomore Brylee Hempey earned five starts as a freshman and was one of the team’s top pinch runners.

A fun schedule awaits with trips to Georgia, Texas and South Carolina at the start. The Coyotes will make a spring break run through Tennessee and Kentucky. The Summit League slate starts with a bang as the Coyotes face rival South Dakota State at home March 23-24.