Season Preview: Softball seeks OAC Tournament title defense, 14th successive OAC upper-division finish in 2019

By Blake Moore

ADA — The Ohio Northern softball program will look to defend its 2018 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament title and post its 14th consecutive OAC upper-division finish during the 2019 campaign under third-year head coach Jackie Price.

Last season, the Polar Bears posted a 32-11 overall record and a 13-5 mark in conference action to tie for second in the final league standings. Northern proceeded to the OAC Tournament, knocking off Heidelberg and #21 Otterbein twice to claim the program's sixth postseason crown and earn the OAC's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

In the national tournament, ONU advanced to the seventh and final game in the regional round, falling to Case Western Reserve 5-1 to conclude the season.

"Last year, we had a really strong season," Price noted. "I think many people may have counted us out heading in to the postseason. However, we ended on a very high note, winning the OAC Tournament as the three seed and moving on to the regional championships."

This season, Ohio Northern will field a young, inexperienced roster, but the coaching staff and players are optimistic they can achieve success in 2019.

Coach Price and her staff will welcome back six lettermen, including four All-Conference honorees, from the 2018 squad. Meanwhile, the Polar Bears add 11 freshmen student-athletes, who will be called upon to play significant roles during their first collegiate campaigns.

"There have been a lot of positives in our early-season practices," Price remarked. "Our core returners are all impactful players, and they have done an excellent job leading our freshmen. We have a really good freshman class this season. Our coaching staff looks forward to what the players bring to the team and how they perform on the field."

The following is a breakdown of the 2019 Ohio Northern softball team, according to position:

Infield 

The Ohio Northern infield will be the most experienced and talented group returning for the Polar Bears this season. Price and her staff welcome back four letterwinners and three All-OAC honorees from the 2018 season.

Junior Brady Guest (Convoy/Crestview) will be a top option at the corner infield slots after garnering All-OAC First-Team honors last season.

The Convoy product started 35 games at first base and third base, led the team with five home runs, and finished second on the team with a .371 batting average and 28 RBI. She also compiled a team-best 15-game hit streak and registered an impressive .418 batting average with runners in scoring position.

Senior infielder Hailee Loughman (Brookville) and junior catcher/infielder Gabby Stewart (Union, Ky./St. Henry) also return after receiving All-OAC Second-Team kudos one season ago.

Loughman started 32 games and appeared in 35 total contests during the 2018 season, primarily at the corner infield positions. She finished the season with a .302 batting average, 32 base hits, 22 RBI, and four home runs.

The fourth-year infielder currently ranks ninth on the program's all-time home run listing with 11 big flys during her career. She has also been named Academic All-OAC and All-Conference twice, having earned Honorable mention status in 2017.

Meanwhile, Stewart appeared in 41 games as a sophomore, serving as the team's catcher and designated player. Last season, she led the Polar Bears with 16 doubles and 38 RBI and tied with Guest for second on the team in batting average. She was also named Academic All-Conference and tabbed to the OAC All-Tournament Team in 2018.

Stewart will enter the season needing just eight base hits to join the program's 100-Hit Club.

Junior infielder Jordan Cloonan (Kirtland/Cornerstone Christian) is a two-time letterwinner at shortstop for Ohio Northern. In two season, she has started 48 games in 53 appearances, recording 20 hits on a .198 career batting average.

"Defensively, we have our two corner infielders returning with Brady and Hailee coming back. They can control the infield and communicate well, which should help our younger athletes who will play up the middle," Price noted. "We will definitely have a few people playing different positions, but we will see how that unfolds throughout the season."

Outfield

Junior Alicia Swierz (Deerfield/Southeast) will return as the lone letterwinner for the Polar Bears in the outfield for the 2019 season.

Swierz was named to the NCAA Division III Notre Dame All-Regional Tournament Team and the Academic All-OAC honors list after appearing in 42 contests last season. The junior started 37 games in left field and one game in right field to record a .296 batting average, 19 RBI, and one home run.

In her two seasons at ONU, Swierz has produced 40 total hits, 30 runs, 11 extra-base hits, and 23 RBI.

"This season, we should be solid in the outfield once again," Price stated. "Alicia, our lone returner, will do an excellent job in the outfield. She is a great leader and will guide our freshmen that may take over the remaining roles."  

Pitching

Senior Kaitlin Surdej (Lancaster, N.Y./Central) is the top returner in the circle for the Polar Bears after she garnered All-OAC Honorable Mention accolades last season.

In 2018, she pitched in 20 contests with 19 starts, posting a 12-7 overall record and 75 strikeouts. The senior from Lancaster, N.Y. also sported a 2.73 ERA in her 120.1 innings worked.

Surdej currently ranks fourth in program history with 245 career strikeouts and ninth all-time with 358.1 innings pitched. She owns a 32-22 record, a 2.79 ERA, and a no-hitter in her three-year career.

"Our battery is really strong with Kaitlin pitching and Gabby catching. They both did a tremendous job for our team last season," Coach Price stated. "We will also have three freshmen pitchers, who will each have the opportunity to throw for us this season. Each pitcher brings something unique to our team, especially with their different pitches and speeds." 

Schedule

The Polar Bears will raise the curtain on the 2019 season with 12 total contests at the Sunkissed Games in Plant City, Florida over a seven-day span. ONU will face off against St. John Fisher (N.Y.) in the opener slated for 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 3.

"Spring Break provides many playing opportunities in a week's time," Price explained. "They are games that you know will be played due to the nicer weather. This year, Spring Break will show the coaching staff who will step up on the team."

After returning home, Ohio Northern will play four consecutive doubleheaders at the ONU Softball Field, beginning Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m. against Alma (Mich.). Heidelberg will visit Ada the following weekend to open the conference schedule March 23 before the home stand ends with matchups against Trine (Ind.) on March 25 and Wooster on March 28.

The nonconference schedule also includes doubleheaders at Anderson (Ind.) on April 24 and against Transylvania on April 28 for Senior Day.

"Our nonconference games will be tough, giving us several tests before we head into the conference schedule. However, these games will allow us to see where we currently stand and where we need to be as a program."

In the conference schedule, ONU will additionally host doubleheaders against Wilmington, Baldwin Wallace, John Carroll, and Marietta. Meanwhile, the team is slated for away dates with Capital, Mount Union, Otterbein, and Muskingum.

The four-team OAC Tournament will be held May 3-5 at the regular season champion's home venue.

"As for the OAC, there have been several coaching changes, and some strong players have left due to graduation," Price stated. "We are excited about what we can accomplish in the conference this year. Right now, there is no dominant team in the league, making every game count."