- DMACC returns four starters from last season
- Three pitchers also return but have limited experience
- Several incoming freshmen are expected to play key roles
The DMACC softball team will open the 2024-25 spring season February 14 in the SCC Turf Tournament at West Burlington. The Bears will face Rock Valley Community College (RVCC) and Illinois Central College (ICC) in tournament play.
DMACC is coming off a 47-11 record in 2024 that included a second-place finish in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC), a Region XI-B championship, a Northwest Plains B District championship and its tenth consecutive appearance in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Softball World Series.
"We're excited," said DMACC softball coach Bob Ligouri, who begins his 13th season as the DMACC softball coach. "I think we have an exciting team and we're excited to see where we can end up. We have some good, experienced kids coming back and we have a really, really good freshman class. Our challenge is mixing the two."
The Bears lost five starters from last season, including All-American pitcher Courtney Donahue, and return four starters who are expected to provide leadership this season. They include first baseman Hilary Wilson of Solon, outfielder Breanna Caffery of Bettendorf, catcher/designated hitter Josie McCuddin of Truro and catcher/designated hitter Delaney Milanowski of Spring Green, Wis.
Wilson, who has signed a national letter of intent to attend Bradley University (BU) next season, hit .482 with 53 runs batted in and Caffery, who also has committed to BU, batted .405 with 40 runs scored. McCuddin hit. .387 with 40 RBIs and Milanowski batted .360 with 49 RBIs.
Sophomore outfielder Mia Walker of Fonda and sophomore pitcher Macy Blomgren of Waukee, who started on occasion last season, also return.
Pitchers returning with Blomgren are Maura Chalupa of Muscatine and Ellie Flanagan of Coggon. Blomgren was 4-0 with two saves last season and Flanagan was 1-1 with a pair of saves.
"We have a real good sophomore class and the thing that is encouraging to us is that they've all come back with a positive attitude and are working really hard," Ligouri said.
Incoming freshman pitchers include Madison Kluever of Goose Lake, Kierra Jungers of Fonda, Jacki Baas of Bondurant, Brooklyn Baumgardner of Slater and Abby Hiatt of Missouri Valley. All five were all-state selections in high school.
Ligouri said every pitcher on the staff will get ample opportunities in the circle during the early portion of the season.
"Our plan is to not have just one pitcher to throw every inning of every game," Ligouri said. "We're going to spread it out and utilize all of their strengths."
McCuddin, Milanowski and Trewin are vying for the starting job at catcher and designated hitter and are solid players according to Ligouri.
Wilson, who played shortstop last season and was named to the all-region team, is being moved to first base this year and she will be backed by freshmen Reese Burke of Grimes and Mo Purdy of Des Moines.
"We had a vacancy at first base and Wilson is a great leader and has great hands," Ligouri said. "We knew we were going to be playing a lot of freshmen and we wanted to make sure we had someone at first base who could really play well. We're still working Hilary out at shortstop and some infield spots but we felt like (moving Wilson to first base) made our team really tight because both (freshmen Erin Ades of Boone and Morgan Neuroth of LeGrand are really good defensively. (The move) allows us to get the best players on our team playing."
Freshmen Ella Husak of Polk City and Baylor Gregory of Papillion, Neb., are the candidates at second base and Ades and Neuroth are ying to start at shortstop. Ades, Neuroth and freshman Macee Reilling of Dallas Center are being looked at for third base as is Kluever.
Outfielders include Caffery in center with Walker, freshman Bri Tigges of Urbandale and freshman Jasey Anderson of Estherville getting looks in left and right field. Ligouri said Tigges, an all-state shortstop in high school, is being moved to the outfield because of her arm strength and athleticism.
"We probably have as athletically deep an outfield as we've had in several years," Ligouri said. "Neuroth and Gregory can also play the outfield if needed."
Ligouri said freshmen Lauren Sandvold of Cedar Falls and Ella Sand of Redfield will miss the entire season because of injuries.
The Bears will face a tough schedule as they usually do. DMACC and RVCC have met in the Softball College World Series a few times and the Bears will see Jones College (JC), the No. 4 team in the NJCAA Division II preseason poll, in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., later this month. And, Kirkwood Community College, a member of the ICCAC along with DMACC is also on the schedule along with a number of other good Division I and II programs. KCC us ranked second in the NJCAA Division II preseason poll.
"I've really put a challenge to our team the first three or four weeks but I think we'll meet that challenge," Ligouri said.
Ligouri said his top concerns entering the season are the schedule and the many newcomers on the team.
"I think we are meshing well but our newcomers have got to be able to play with confidence and play without fear," Ligouri said. "We've been talking about just going out and having fun and playing and not worry about making mistakes and being fearful of anything that happens. We've got a lot of physical talent and if we're able to just stay in the moment and not get too worried about things I think we have a good chance to be a good solid team."
Following the SSC Turf Tournament, DMACC will play in the NFCA Leadoff Classic Feb. 21 to 23 and will play games in Booneville, Miss., Branson, Mo., Kansas and Nebraska before opening the home season March 20 against Marshalltown Community College (MCC).