KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The defending national champion Oregon Tech softball team will face Madonna (Mich.) in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament on Thursday, May 17th with the first pitch set for 3:30 p.m. The 32-team tournament will take place in Gulf Shores, Ala. from May 17-23.
Pool Bracket
Live Stats
Oregon Tech must win their four-team Pool over the first three days of play to advance to the eight-team double-elimination championship round beginning Monday, May 21st.
The No. 7 ranked Owls has been awarded the No. 1 seed in Pool G, after claiming the Cascade Collegiate Conference crown last week to improve their record to 39-7.
Joining the Owls in Pool G are the No. 4 seed Madonna (Mich.), No. 3 seed, St. Gregory’s (Okla.,) who the Owls will face Friday, May 18th at 10:00 a.m. and the No. 2 seed, Shorter (Ga.) to wrap up pool play on Saturday, May 19th at 12:30 p.m.
Madonna (33-12), the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Tournament champion, is making their fourth tournament appearance and is 5-5 in tournament play. St. Gregory’s (43-14) At Large No. 8 out of the Sooner Athletic Conference is 17-9 in tournament action in five appearances, while Shorter (46-11) At-Large No. 3 is one of six schools in the Tournament from the Southern States Athletic Conference and is 11-11 in six appearances at the national tournament.
Every game will be broadcasted live by in the Klamath Basin on KLAD 960 AM The Sports Legend or anywhere in the world at
http://socialstreamingplayer.crystalmedianetworks.com/radio/kladam Join Bobby Thompson and Ryan Goff for all the action live from Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Oregon Tech, the reigning NAIA Softball National Champions, take a 39-7 mark into national tournament play May 17-23 in Gulf Shores, Ala.  |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After earning the 2012 Cascade Conference Tournament Title with a pair of wins over Corban University, the Oregon Tech softball team will be heading into the NAIA National Championship with a 39-7 overall mark and the No. 7 ranking in the final regular-season NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, announced by the national office Tuesday.
The Owls will look to defend their 2011 national crown May 17 -23 in Gulf Shores, Ala. The pool play assignments and schedule will be announced on Wednesday by 3 p.m. CDT on www.NAIA.org.
The top-eight teams locked down their spots and only one newcomer was added to the mix. Overall, Concordia (Calif.) holds the top position for the sixth-consecutive week courtesy of all 19 first-place votes and 529 points.
For the seventh-straight week, Cal State San Marcos enjoys the No. 2 ranking with 512 points. Champions of the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament, No. 3 Oklahoma City posted 495 points. Central Baptist (Ark.) has hovered at the fourth spot for the last six weeks and tallied 465 points. No. 5 Lubbock Christian (Texas), who is tied with Concordia for the most wins in the NAIA (54), recorded 458 points.
Junior pitcher Taylor Schmidt. (photo by Kelly Caleb)  |
La GRANDE, Ore. –
Oregon Tech junior Taylor Schmidt was chosen as the 2012 Cascade Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Year. The Medford, Ore., native led the CCC with 25 wins, also tying an Oregon Tech record for wins in a season, versus just four losses and topped all hurlers with 35 appearances (19 starts) and 172 2/3 innings pitched.
Head Softball Coach Greg Stewart. (photo by Kelly Caleb  |
For the fifth time in his eight seasons leading the Oregon Tech Owls, Greg Stewart was chosen as CCC Coach of the Year by a vote of his peers. The Texas native has now led his team to 39 wins this season and earned back-to-back CCC tournament titles. The Owls are currently ranked No. 7 in the latest NAIA coach’s poll and return to the NAIA National Tournament as reigning champions where the Owls look to defend their 2011 NAIA crown.
Joining Schmidt as first-team all-conference selections are Ashleigh Larson, Shauna Collins and Kayde Schaefer. Larson and Collins are two-time selections. Jess Plummer, for the second consecutive season, was an honorable mention all-conference selection, while Schaefer and Larson, for the second-straight season, along with Janelle Cromie and Shauna Collins, earned Gold Glove selections.
2012 All-Cascade Collegiate Conference Softball Team and Honors
Player of the Year: Stephanie Nippert, OF, Jr., Corban
Pitcher of the Year: Taylor Schmidt, Jr., Oregon Tech
Co-Newcomers of the Year: Kate Santos, C, Fr., Concordia; Stephanie Vandenbusch, 3B/SS, Jr., Southern Oregon
Coach of the Year: Greg Stewart, Oregon Tech
| Name | School | Year | Pos. | Hometown |
| Kyndell Andrews | Concordia | Jr. | C | Puyallup, Wash. |
| Shauna Collins | Oregon Tech | So. | SS | Roseburg, Ore. |
| Rachel Conard | Corban | Jr. | C | Merlin, Ore. |
| Brooke Davis | NW Christian | Sr. | P/OF | Sherwood, Ore. |
| Sam Genskay | Concordia | Sr. | 2B | Oregon City, Ore. |
| Amy Greenough | Corban | Jr. | P | Portland, Ore. |
| Jordyn Kurtz | Southern Oregon | Sr. | P | Tacoma, Wash. |
| Ashleigh Larson | Oregon Tech | Sr. | 2B | Central Point, Ore. |
| Molly Mills | College of Idaho | Jr. | OF | Burley, Idaho |
| Katie Moy | Southern Oregon | Sr. | OF | Oceanside, Calif. |
| Stephanie Nippert | Corban | Jr. | CF | Rocklin, Calif. |
| Kate Santos | Concordia | Fr. | C | Gladstone, Ore. |
| Kayde Schaefer | Oregon Tech | Sr. | C | Beaverton, Ore. |
| Taylor Schmidt | Oregon Tech | Jr. | P | Medford, Ore. |
| Nikki Shumway | College of Idaho | Sr. | OF | Boise, Idaho |
| Nickayla Skinner | College of Idaho | So. | P | Mountain Home, Idaho |
| Gabby Stover | NW Christian | So. | C | Portland, Ore. |
| Stephanie Vandenbusch | Southern Oregon | Sr. | SS/3B | Freemont, Calif. |
Honorable Mention: Janelle Cromie, Oregon Tech; Sarah Jackson, Eastern Oregon; Laura Luther, Concordia; Jess Plummer, Oregon Tech; Chelsea Schriber, Corban; Julia Wilson, Southern Oregon.
2012 Gold Glove Award Winners
Pitcher: Nickayla Skinner, College of Idaho
Catcher: Kayde Schaeffer, Oregon Tech
First Base: Janelle Cromie, Oregon Tech
Second Base: Ashleigh Larson, Oregon Tech
Shortstop: Shauna Collins, Oregon Tech
Third Base: Megan Mazanec, Northwest Christian
Outfield: Stephanie Nippert, Corban
Outfield: Nikki Shumway, College of Idaho
Outfield: Brittany Chestnut, Corban