Preseason conference softball poll released

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Just one day before the Simpson College softball team opens its 2023 season, the American Rivers Conference released the Preseason Softball Coaches Poll on Thursday.

The conference was extremely competitive last year, as evident by reigning co-champions Dubuque and Buena Vista being selected in sixth and eighth, respectively. Wartburg was selected first in the poll, earning seven of nine first-place votes to grab a total of 63 points. Coe received the other two votes, coming in second with 45 points. Central (38 points), Luther (36 points), and Loras (35 points) rounded out the top five. Nebraska Wesleyan came in seventh with 30 points, sandwiched between the aforementioned Dubuque (31 points) and Buena Vista (29 points), before the Storm rounded out the poll with 17 points.

Head coach Brent Matthias returns for his seventh season, after leading his team to an overall record of 19-18 last season, the most wins since the 2019 campaign, which included three victories over teams that were in the NCAA Tournament field. "We are really excited for 2023," said Matthias. "We believe we have a great incoming class that will mix nicely with our veteran players. We must compete at a high level every day because the American Rivers Conference is one of the toughest conferences top to bottom in the country."

The Storm have a wealth of returning talent and production, including senior Maddie Luderman. After a tremendous junior campaign, Luderman was named to the NFCA All-Region First Team and was selected to the All-A-R-C First Team. Luderman batted an impressive .375 and tied for the team lead with six home runs, driving in 27 total runs. In the conference, Luderman ranked in the top 10 in a multitude of hitting categories including batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits, and home runs. However, Luderman also excelled in the fielding aspect of her game, ranking eighth in the conference with a fielding percentage of .986.

Another all-conference performer returns for the Storm in Kate Kriegel. Kriegel was named to the All-A-R-C Second Team after an impressive freshman season, batting .346 with nine RBI's across 31 games. Kriegel was also a vital part of the Storm infield, recording a .922 fielding percentage on 102 total chances, garnering 51 putouts and 43 assists.

On the mound, the Storm pitching staff receives a boost with the return of Taryan Barrick-Wessels. Barrick-Wessels led the Storm pitching staff in innings thrown, earned run average, strikeouts, and wins. Additionally, the Ackley, Iowa product ranked in the top 10 in the conference in the innings thrown, earned run average, strikeouts, and opposing batting average.

The Storm will open its season in Texas with four games over two days. The Storm will face off with Hardin-Simmons in doubleheader action on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. and the second game to follow. On Saturday, the Storm face off with the University of Dallas in another doubleheader, with the first game beginning at noon.

The Storm will then have a few weeks off before traveling to Florida for the Clermont Games, where the team will play 12 games across a seven-day span. The Storm officially open its home schedule on the weekend of March 25-26, hosting Greenville for a doubleheader, before welcoming Monmouth (Ill.) for a Sunday doubleheader.

Conference play begins for the team with a trip to Nebraska Wesleyan on Apr. 4, while the first home conference games take place against Coe on Apr. 8. The A-R-C Tournament is scheduled from May 11-13.

2023 American Rivers Conference Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll
1. Wartburg (7) - 63 points
2. Coe (2) - 45 points
3. Central - 38 points
4. Luther - 36 points
5. Loras - 35 points
6. Dubuque - 31 points
7. Nebraska Wesleyan - 30 points
8. Buena Vista - 29 points
9. Simpson - 17 points