College Softball: Raiders ready to make pitch for nationals (2024)

BRAINERD — An early start to the season hopefully translates into a late finish for the Central Lakes College Raiders.

CLC will open the season with two games in Rochester Regional Stadium and Bubble Field Saturday, Feb. 24. The Raiders will open against Iowa Lakes Community College before battling Rochester.

Then the Raiders will play eight games in five days in Clermont, Florida, before returning to its normal schedule of Minnesota softball.

With five sophom*ores returning, Raiders head coach Ray Austin is hoping for a good start to the season.

“They’ve all been through it before so their experience has been invaluable, especially with 12 incoming freshmen. They’ve taken a leadership role and been getting us through these long days of indoor practices.”

One of those returners is pitcher and first baseman Emma Tautges. Last season, Tautges led the team with a .476 batting average to go with a .509 on-base percentage and a .648 slugging percentage. She finished with 50 hits, six doubles and a team-high four home runs. She added 34 runs, 29 RBIs and two stolen bases.

From the circle, she finished 3-5 with one save. She owned a 3.45 ERA with 32 strikeouts and just six walks in 42.2 innings pitched.

Tautges will be joined by freshmen Kaitlyn Geschwill and McKenna Miller in the circle.

“Emma really put in the time during the offseason,” Austin said. “She’s been in the weight room. She got stronger. She’s throwing the ball harder. Balls and strikes were never an issue. She’s always around the plate. She doesn’t walk a lot of kids so we’re looking for her to be as good or better than last year.

“McKenna played on the same club team as Kaitlyn. She didn’t pitch a lot for that team, but we’re going to find her innings. She’s around the plate. She has multiple pitches. She’s going to be a great person to have to give the other two a break every now and then.”

Geschwill comes in owning most if not all of the pitching records at Pequot Lakes High School. She pitched the Patriots to the Class 2A state tournament last spring.

“She throws the ball really well,” Austin said. “She’s polished and has multiple pitches. She’s been in many big games. Pitching is going to be something we’re going to use to our advantage this year.”

CLC has five catchers on the roster, who will also play other positions. Sophom*ores Morgan Majerus and Gabrielle Dulas return

Majerus hit .289 with a .388 on-base percentage and a .410 slugging percentage. She finished with 24 hits, two doubles and two home runs, 17 runs and 14 RBIs.

Dulas hit .286 with a .380 on-base percentage and a .429 slugging percentage. She finished with 24 hits, 26 RBIs and 23 runs.

“Morgan has been fighting through injuries that lingered through the volleyball season,” Austin said. “Her back has been bugging her. She just got the go-ahead to resume practice. She played a lot of outfield for us last year. She’s valuable behind the plate, but she may see some more time in the outfield just so we can make sure to keep her bat around.

“Gabrielle caught every other game for us last year. Super high softball IQ. She knows the game really well. She throws well and receives well. She calls a great game. We have an embarrassment of riches with all of our catchers. She hit the ball a ton for us last year.”

Freshmen catchers will be Mercedes Schulz, Molly Leners and Sophia Mattson from Brainerd, who caught Tautges two years ago. Mattson was the starting catcher on the Brainerd High School team’s Class 4A State runner-up team.

“Mercedes had an accident at home and broke some bones in her foot so she just had surgery,” Austin said. “We’re hoping to have her back sometime before our conference season starts. She’s a player who can play anywhere. She can play second for us and a really versatile player.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

“Molly played at Upsala last year, which was another state tournament team. She did all of the catching for them. She’s taking some reps back there, but then she’s also in the outfield. She has a strong bat. She was a middle-of-the-lineup type kid for her high school team and did really well.

“Sophia was a two-year starter at Brainerd and she’s another kid who receives and throws well and calls a good game. She didn’t bat a lot in high school, but she’s looking really good in practice.”

Sophia Laube was the surprise of last year’s team. She hit .333 with a .435 on-base percentage and .436 slugging percentage. She scored 13 runs and drove in 10 more. She led the team with six stolen bases.

Laube was a track and field athlete in high school, but decided to join the softball team last year.

“She ended up hitting the ball really well last year,” Austin said. “She’s super fast. She has an above-average arm and can go get anything in the gaps. Hailey Wright from Pillager, started a lot of games for us last year. She’s a solid outfielder.”

Wright drove in 11 RBIs and scored 10 times herself. She finished with a .234 average.

Majerus and Leners will get time in the outfield along with fellow freshman Emily Johnson. Grace Maciej is a freshman who was serving in the National Guard, but will get time in the outfield.

When Tautges isn’t pitching she’ll man the first base bag along with Isabelle Pennertz. The freshman from Litchfield also played on CLC’s volleyball team.

“They’re both tall, like 5-foot-10, 5-11 so that gives our infielders a really good target,” Austin said. “They both scoop the ball well and are always looking for the secondary pay after the out, as well.”

Second base will have a familiar name to it as Natalie Kossan is the third Kossan girl to play for Austin. She’ll be backed up by Olivia Holmgren.

“Natalie is the third sister to come through and she’s been doing the camps and the fall leagues since she’s been able to,” Austin said. “She’s very familiar with the program and the drills. She’s also familiar with the expectations of the program. She’s a freshman, but in a lot of ways she has more experience than some of the sophom*ores.”

Freshman Emma Simon will handle the shortstop duties along with Geschwill and rounding out the diamond will be freshman Josie Witter from Medford and Dulas.

“In years past, we’ve never had this high of a number or have had the dept that we have,” Austin said. “I can make the case that we have two starters defensively at every position. Depth is going to be an advantage we’re going to be able to use. If a player is having an off day we can pinch-hit or make defensive replacements as needed.

“With fastpitch softball, everything starts in the circle and we have three quality pitchers. I think all three of them are going to contribute. We’re hitting the ball really well in the cage. The ball is jumping off their bats. Knowing the strike zone and knowing the situations will be important, but I’m excited to see what kind of offensive output we have this year. Throwing four kids together in the infield is always a challenge, but we need to find the right four that will be solid defensively.”

JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 218-855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop .

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Head coach: Ray Austin, eighth season

Career record: 134-90

2023 record: 15-16 overall, 7-1 division

Returning players: Morgan Majerus, Gabrielle Dulas, Emma Tautges, Hailey Wright, Sophia Laube

Assistant coach: Carlie Sweet, Sydnee Johnson, Lisa Luehrs

Sophom*ores: Morgan Majerus (outfield, catcher), Gabrielle Dulas (catcher, infield), Emma Tautges (infield, pitcher), Hailey Wright (outfield), Sophia Laube (outfield)

Freshman: Sophia Mattson (catcher), Josie Witter (infield), Kaitlyn Geschwill (infield, pitcher), McKenna Miller (outfield, pitcher), Natalie Kossan (infield), Mercedes Schulz (infield, catcher), Molly Leners (outfield, catcher), Isabelle Pennertz (infield), Emma Simon (infield), Emily Johnson (outfield), Grace Maciej (utility), Olivia Holmgren (second base)

Saturday, Feb. 24: vs Iowa Lakes Community College at Rochester 2 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 24: vs. Rochester Community and Technical at Rochester 4 p.m.

March 9: vs. Mid Michigan College at Clermont, Florida, 11:30 a.m.

March 9: vs. Rochester Community and Technical at Clermont, Florida, 1:30 p.m.

March 10: vs. Triton Collegetat Clermont, Florida, 11:30 a.m.

March 10: vs. Cuyahoga Community College at Clermont, Florida, 2 p.m.

March 12: vs. Lakeland Community College at Clermont, Florida, 12:45 p.m.

March 12: vs. Mott Community College at Clermont, Florida, 3 p.m.

March 13: vs. Lake Michigan College at Clermont, Florida, 9 a.m.

March 13: vs. Parkland College at Clermont, Florida, 11:30 a.m

March 23: vs. Hibbing at Blaine National Sports Center noon (2)

March 24: vs. North Dakota State College of Science at Blaine National Sports Center 4 p.m. (2)

March 29: at Rochester Crossover Tournament TBA

March 30: at Rochester Crossover Tournament TBA

April 6: hosts Northland noon (2)

April 7: at Mesabi Range noon (2)

April 14: hosts Vermilion noon (2)

April 17: at Northland 3 p.m. (2)

April 19: at Dakota County Technical 3 p.m. (2)

April 20: at St. Cloud Technical noon (2)

April 21: at Rainy River noon (2)

April 27: at Vermilion noon (2)

April 28: hosts Mesabi Range noon (2)

May 4: hosts Hibbing noon (2)