ST. PAUL -- A lot that comes along with sports like softball is often unpredictable due to the nature of the games, and, well, nature. However, for the 2022 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) softball season, one thing is guaranteed – a new champion will be crowned this spring, and the conference coaches predict it will be a tight race to the finish in May.
Just four points separated the top three teams in the 2022 UMAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll released Wednesday. Bethany Lutheran College was tabbed for the top spot with 45 points and three first place votes. The University of Northwestern also earned three top nods from the coaches with 42 total points, while 2021 UMAC tournament champion University of Wisconsin-Superior took third with 41 points and two top votes.
Bethany Lutheran was second a year ago and is well positioned to return to the top of the league since last winning in 2019. Two-time All-UMAC First Team infielder and 2019 Rookie of the year Zoe Kinakin returns after batting .426 with 31 runs batted in (RBI) to lead the Vikings in 2021. All-Defensive selection Eden Ambrose returns to the outfield to help Kinakin anchor a strong senior class for the Vikings who return their top seven hitters and one starting pitcher.
Several UMAC teams open up non-conference competition beginning Friday with dome tournament play, while the UMAC conference season is slated to begin Saturday April 2. With eight conference teams this season, the UMAC schedule consists of 21 games per institution with each team competing in a doubleheader and then all teams coming together for two weekends to play a single round of additional games.
The UMAC conference tournament is scheduled to Thursday-Saturday, May 5-7 at the site of the No. 1 seed. The winner will earn the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament.
2022 UMAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Pl. |
School |
Pts. |
| 1. |
Bethany Lutheran |
45 (3) |
| 2. |
Northwestern |
42 (3) |
| 3. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
41 (2) |
| 4. |
Northland |
30 |
| 5. |
Martin Luther |
23 |
| 6. |
Minnesota Morris |
22 |
| 7. |
Crown |
12 |
| 8. |
North Central |
9 |
Bethany Lutheran College
Head Coach Dan Nessler | 6th season|
2021 Season
12-4 UMAC, 21-17 | 2nd |
Postseason: Defeated Northland 8-0 (5 innings) in UMAC quarterfinal, defeated St. Scholastica 11-8 in UMAC quarterfinal, lost 6-4 to UW-Superior (9 innings) in UMAC semifinal
Top Returners
- Zoe Kinakin, Sr., IF |Two-time first-team All-UMAC| 2019 UMAC Rookie of the Year | .426 batting average, 31 RBIs, 1.000 fielding percentage|
- Katelyn Halbach, Jr., OF | .364 batting average, 13 stolen bases, 22 RBIs |
- Eden Ambrose, Sr., OF| UMAC All-Defensive |.323 batting average, 11 stolen bases, 14 RBIs |
Need to Know
The top seven hitters and one starting pitcher return for the Vikings.
