2017 Season Prospectus
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A historic playoff run to finish the 2016 season, has set the bar tremendously high for Lady Argo softball entering its second year as a member of the Cascade Collegiate Conference. Last season, led by a core of nine talented seniors, UGF rose above a pedestrian 22-16 regular season record to finish as the CCC Playoff Runner-Up and qualify for the NAIA Softball Opening Rounds for the first time in program history. The team then beat a Top-5 opponent for the first time ever, and reached the final of opening round.
With six players gone from that starting lineup, the 2017 squad will have a whole new look, but the depth of talent could be even better. Once again the team will be led by a large senior class of eight, including four starters.
Those seniors will be bolstered by a platoon of junior college transfers and a hand full of promising underclassman. The UGF junior class is made up of five transfers, four of whom played together at Western Nevada College last season. All four field playing juniors are projected to populate the starting lineup and the fifth, a right-handed pitcher, looks to be a key part of the rotation.
While so many new faces, particularly in crucial roles, can be a challenge to team chemistry, UGF Head Coach Joey Egan said the blending of personalities on the team has quelled those fears.
"This team has probably come together better than any other team I've had" said the six-year head coach. "They're working well together, they get along better than most teams and they're just gelling better than I think most teams do."
Along with talent, and chemistry, experience will be an important factor in the Lady Argo season. The 2016 season was the first as full members of the Cascade Conference for UGF, and playing regular season conference schedule against high caliber opponents was a new road to travel for the team. Now, Coach Egan has a better understanding of how to navigate the schedule, and the returning players know what to expect.
"Last year we didn't really know what we were getting into. This year we know the kind of opponents we're going up against and the quality players we'll have to face," Egan said. "So, there are no surprised going and I think our girls are really going in with their heads on straight and their mental approach is going to be the biggest thing."
The season starts on Saturday, February 18 in Aberdeen, South Dakota where the Lady Argos will play four games in two days inside a domed stadium at the Presentation College Dome Classic. Included among their opponents will be (21) Dickinson State, UGF's first test against a ranked foe.
The Starting Lineup
Pitcher: Shelby Abeyta | #29 | Sr.
There are four intriguing pitching options for Egan to choose from in 2017, but the only proven commodity will be senior Shelby Abeyta. Abeyta used a three-pitch arsenal to with six games for UGF in 2016 with a 4.67 ERA and 66 strikeouts. She pitched her best under pressure as a junior, putting in her best single game performance against (4) Campbellsville University in the NAIA Opening Rounds where she went all 7 innings allowing 4 hits, 1 earned run, and striking out 8 batters.
Behind Abeyta will be Western Nevada transfer Kristina George, who compiled a 3.47 ERA and a record of 28-16 at WNC, sophomore Brie Clifford, who started three games for UGF while battling injuries as a freshman, and redshirt-freshman Mikayla Deigan, a power hitter with a great change-up who will also get time at first base.
Catcher: Jocelyn Kaufman | #15 | Sr.
After starting all but two games at catcher for the Lady Argos in 2016, Kaufman's presence makes catcher the team's most stable position entering 2017. She is one of three team captains, after showing a superb ability to keep the team loose but focused doing its playoff run. Kaufman was fourth on the team in hitting percentage as a junior with a batting average of 0.289 and came through with runners on base, finishing second on the team with 21 RBI. Defensively, she finished second on the team with 158 putouts and had a fielding percentage of 0.994.
First Base: Jackie Thomas | #7 | Sr.
Thomas will get the first crack at what might be the most hotly contested spot on the field for UGF. The good news is that the senior is also team's primary backup at 2nd base and short stop. As a junior, Thomas played in 35 games, including 31 starts and is the only returning starter in the infield. The defensive end is where Thomas stands out. She led the team with 196 put outs and 14 double plays. She'll be pushed by two freshman on the hitting side where she finished her junior year with an average of 0.264, 23 hits, and 11 runs, and 8 RBI.
Two other young players will likely see time at first base. When she isn't pitching, Deigan could slide into the spot at times to her power hitting into the lineup. Also for offensive reasons, but for percentage instead of power, freshman Hanna Tarum will also get time at first. Tarum also has some power but was the team's most consistent hitter during fall ball scrimmages.
Second Base: Gabby Canibeyaz | #6 | Jr.
The first of the Western Nevada College transfers, Canibeyaz is a high-pressure player with a strong swing and a good eye. She only struck out five times 120 at bats in her sophomore year at WNC and hit a walk-off single against No. 3 College of Southern Idaho to give the Wildcats their biggest win of the season. As an infielder, Canibeyaz comes in with a built in chemistry with her double-play partner, Kaylee Jaussi who also played at Western Nevada.
Third Base: Kylie Gonzales | #12 | Jr.
The one transfer that isn't from Western Nevada, Gonzales was a South Region All-Star and NFCA All-American for the Clackamas Community College Cougars. As a freshman at CCC, she hit .379 with 24 RBI and 8 home runs. Gonzales has already taken over part of the leadership role in the infield after winter practices. Not only is she a solid fielder, but she'll bring some necessary power to the batting order with UGF's 2016 home run leader, Alex Lowry having graduated.
Shortstop: Kaylee Jaussi | #2 | Jr.
Jaussi has big shoes to fill at shortstop, replacing graduated Mindy Larson who followed up her college career with a season of professional ball Sweeden. Larson is now on the coach staff and has plenty to work with in the transfer infielder. Jaussi is a natural defender with a strong, accurate arm and outstanding range. As WNC's leadoff hitter, Jaussi was named First Team All-SWAC and to the SWAC All-Tournament Team with a 0.323 average as a freshman and 0.278 average as a sophomore. She is a consummate leadoff that finds ways to get on base.
Left Field: Bailey Henderson | #14 | Jr. / Paige Bodner | #10 | Sr.
Henderson, another Western Nevada product, will start in the outfield when she isn't giving Kaufman a break at catcher. Her hitting ability and rocket arm demander her presence in the lineup one way or another. She was WNC's 2016 Offensive Player of the Year, hitting 0.348 with 54 lits, 36 RBI, 31 runs, and 4 home runs.
When Henderson is playing catcher, senior Paige Bodner will in at left field. Bodner was a valuable utility player as a junior, filling in defensive at multiple positions. She played in 27 games and started five, finishing the year with a perfect fielding percentage.
Center Field: Morgan Robinson | #11 | Sr.
Another of UGF's captains, Robinson started 35 games in 2017. She had 35 putouts playing throughout the outfield and had a perfect fielding percentage. In limited plate appearance, Robinson had 10 hits, 11 runs, and 4 RBI. She also was one of the team's best base runners, finishing second on the team with 4 steals.
Right Field: Hali Gruntowicz | #19 | Sr.
Gruntowicz might be UGF's best returning player after being named Second Team All-CCC as a junior. While switching between first base and the outfield, Gruntowicz was the Lady Argo's best hitter, leading the team with a 0.316 average, with a 0.418 slugging percentage. Despite missing six games, she was third on the team with 20 RBI. She also showed the clutch gene, hitting a walk-off single in extra innings against Carroll College to clinch a playoff berth, driving in the winning run in the top of the seventh against Southern Oregon in the CCC playoffs, and hitting her first home run of the year for a grand slam in the NAIA Opening Round Final against Morningside College.
Team Information
               2016 Record: 27-20 (12-12)
               Program Record: 160-170
               Conference Finish: 3rd in CCC East / CCC Playoffs Runner-Up
               National Finish: NAIA Opening Round Morningside Bracket Runner-Up
               Starters Returning/Lost: 3/6
               Cascade Conference Preseason Ranking: 6th
               Head Coach: Joey Egan (6th season; 107-99 record)
               Assistant Coaches: Brittani Bush, Kayeley Lyons, Mindy Larson
