SPEARFISH, S.D. – Snow may be on the ground, but the Black Hills State University softball team is in full swing as they prepare for the 2019 season.
 
"There is a different feel in practice, we are showing great focus on every aspect of the game," said head coach Lane Leedy about the upcoming season.  "Falling one game short of the RMAC tournament last year has motivated this group of young women to new heights."  
 
The Yellow Jackets look to improve from last season's performance after finishing 9-23 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, and 9-31 overall.  The Green and Gold set a new school record with nine conference wins, for the most conference victories in the school's program since joining the RMAC.
 
Under head coach Lane Leedy, entering her fifth season, Black Hills State welcomes back 16 returners, including a core group of veteran players.  The Yellow Jackets also return seven of nine starters, including Alex Wiley, Maddi Fidler, and Maddie London.  Wiley and Fidler were named RMAC Honorable Mention in their junior and freshman seasons, while London earned RMAC Player of the Week during week nine of conference play.
 
The Green and Gold are led by four seniors this season, with pitcher Alex Wiley, catcher Samantha Gill, second baseman Katelyn Odle, and outfielder Morgan Smith. 
 
"This senior class has embraced their leadership role and are ready to lead this program to new endeavors," said head coach Lane Leedy.  "As upperclassman they have garnered several conference athletic and academic awards. They are an incredibly hardworking group and I know they are ready to leave it all on the field."
 
Other returners include Makenzi Strong, Samantha Schoen, Kindall Bethke, Dominique DiManna, Crystal Koch, McKayla Perry, Darian Gottfried, and triplets Brittany, Breanne, and Bryce Henricksen.
 
The team introduced six student-athletes to the 2019 roster, along with a new graduate assistant.  Kylie Gross joined the coaching staff in the fall after finishing her collegiate career at the University of Toledo. 
 
Crystal Amaral and Kyndal Wallace highlight the newcomers to the pitching staff, while Hailey Franklin, Lizzy Johnson, Caitlyn Graves, and Seanna Simpson round out the freshman class.
 
"I have been so impressed with the extra work that they have put in outside of practice and in the weight room. You can see it in every practice and every individual meeting, and I believe that will be in direct correlation with the product we put on the field," said Leedy. 
 
Black Hills State was selected to finish 10^th in the RMAC Preseason Poll.  Dixie State was favored to finish first after receiving seven first place votes in their first season in the RMAC.  Colorado Mesa was selected second with six first place votes, followed by Colorado Christian in third.  Colorado School of Mines junior infielder, Clara Larson was selected the Preseason Player of the Year after last season's performance.  Larson ended the season with a .425 batting average and .839 slugging percentage.  Colorado Mesa's Kimbri Herring was elected as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year, after striking out 168 batters in 130 2/3 innings, collecting 22 wins and a 2.25 earned run average.
 
"January is always a grueling month, however as we approach the season the excitement continues to cultivate," noted Leedy.
 
The Yellow Jackets open the 2019 season in Minot, N.D., at the Minot State Dome invite on February 9 and 10.  BHSU will play at 9 a.m. against the University of Minnesota – Crookston, before taking on Minot State at 1 p.m. on opening day.  RMAC play will begin at home on February 23 and 24 for the Yellow Jackets, with a matchup against Colorado School of Mines.