ST. PAUL, Minn. – While the conditions outside remain snowy and cold, the Concordia Golden Bear softball team opens up their season this week as they travel north to St. Cloud for the Kelly Laas Memorial Invitational for five games.
 
With a lot of new faces on the field for Concordia, the team will look re-establish themselves as an NSIC contender. Head coach Bob Bartel stated, "We hope to be playing meaningful games late in the year, battling for a spot near the top of the league."
 
Early returns have been positive throughout the fall and the early part of the spring as the team has prepared for the start of the season. With seven freshmen, five sophomores, four juniors and just one senior, the team will rely on quite a few younger players to play key roles from the start. "It's been refreshing having seven new faces along with some young faces from last year and it has created an upbeat environment where they have been very willing to learn and they are anxious to play," Bartel said about the youth of his squad.
 
Picked to finished ninth in the NSIC, league coaches envision the Golden Bears fighting for a spot in the middle of the conference in a deep league. "It's a tough conference up and down," Bartel said about the depth of the league. "The upper level teams are always tough and the teams that have been finishing towards the bottom have also been improving year after year which means there are no days off in conference play."
 
A few of the major reasons why the Golden Bears could improve on that mark include solid defense in the infield, speed in the lineup and a positive, hard-working attitude as a team. Bartel has been especially pleased with the team environment so far, stating, "Our team has come to practice with a fantastic attitude. They come every day to work hard with smiles on their faces and ask a lot of questions to make sure they are doing things the right way which has been a huge positive."
 
One position that will feature quite a bit of experience is the pitching staff. Concordia returns both pitchers from last season's team in senior Stephanie Kappes and sophomore Linzy Heim while adding freshman Haley Schanks to the mix. All three will be counted on quite often as the Golden Bears will look to mix-and-match with their three options.
 
Kappes led the team with 40 appearances, 33 starts, with a team-best 11 wins as she struck out 159 batters in 223.1 innings of work last season. She enters her senior season with 94 career appearances under her belt as she ranks fourth on the all-time list in strikeouts (333) and fifth in innings pitched (485.2). "Steph will be the anchor of our rotation this season. Coming off a disappointing season, she is chomping at the bit to get back at it and have a strong senior year," said Bartel.
 
Heim was thrown into the fire as a freshman last season as she made 26 appearances, including 20 starts, while collecting nine wins and throwing 132.2 innings in her first experience at the collegiate level. Bartel said of Heim, "Heim got a lot of work as a freshman and has added to her pitch selection heading into her sophomore season which will help her develop moving forward."
 
In addition to the two returners, Haley Schanks will have an opportunity to get some work in her first season with the Golden Bears. "We believe we have a diamond in the rough that throws a nice rise ball and a great change-up and is working hard to develop a drop ball," said Bartel of the freshman.
 
Behind the plate, sophomore Elena Koncar returns as the everyday catcher for Concordia. She caught nearly every game in which she was healthy last season, making 48 starts at the catcher position on the year. Koncar tied for fourth on the team with four homers while finishing with a .342 slugging percentage. Bartel said, "Koncar is vastly improved behind the plate and eager to prove that she can have a better offensive year as well."
 
Koncar will be backed up by freshman Lizzy Swenson when she needs a day off.
 
In the infield, the Golden Bears are especially young as they plan to use three freshmen and three sophomores at the four positions.
 
Liz Jarosz, a sophomore, returns to her spot at first base after leading the team with eight home runs and finishing second with 42 RBI in 53 games. She will once again be slotted into the cleanup spot in the lineup this season. "We're looking for Liz to improve her average and we expect her to continue to knock in big runs for us from the fourth spot in the lineup," said Bartel.
 
Second base brings a new face to the lineup as freshman Nicole Thompson is penciled in as the starter at this point. Thompson profiles as a strong defensive presence at the keystone that will add some speed to the top of the order for the Golden Bears. "She is a player that brings excitement to the team and knows how to play, and we look forward to seeing what she can do in her four years here," Bartel pointed out about the first-year second baseman.
 
Across the diamond at the shortstop position, Navarae Honoroff will be back in a starting role as a sophomore. Honoroff flashed some potential with the bat, hitting .322 with nine extra base hits for a .456 slugging percentage in 31 starts. Bartel stated, "Navarae improved defensively as the season went on last year before a season-ending injury cut her season short. She had a consistent approach at the plate and we hope to see improvement on both sides of the ball in her second season."
 
At the hot corner, another freshman will be given an opportunity to claim a starting role in Lizzy Swenson. Swenson, also the backup catcher, is transitioning to a new position as she moves over to third base for the Golden Bears. "Lizzy is adjusting well to the position and brings a solid glove as well as a consistent bat to the lineup," said Bartel.
 
Swenson isn't the only freshman in the mix at third base as Amber Galloway will also be fighting for playing time. Bartel pointed out, "Galloway is maybe the hardest worker on the team and will also potentially be counted on as a pinch hitter as well."
 
Sophomore Emily Shinn provides a solid utility option that can fill in at any position in the infield as she has shown a good glove and solid contact hitting when given the chance. Shinn made 39 appearances, 24 starts, across the infield for the Golden Bears last season while hitting .243.
 
In the outfield, the Golden Bears will feature a bit more experience as the three projected starters are juniors with starting experience.
 
Teona Zepeda is coming off a season in which she was named All-NSIC Second Team. Zepeda ranked third on the team with a .339 average and led the team with a .421 on-base percentage at the top of the order for CU. On the basepaths, she swiped 24 bases in 25 attempts. "Zepeda will once again be in the leadoff spot for us and we will look for her to continue to get better this year," said Bartel of the left fielder
 
Jamie Fleischhacker will make the transition from her natural position at third base out to center field this season to help stabilize the outfield. Fleischhacker enters her third season with a career .249 batting average and 35 RBI along with an impressive .350 on-base percentage. "We think she can be outstanding in the outfield and she seems to enjoy it out there," Bartel pointed out about the position change.
 
Kelly McKenzie is expected to get the first crack at right field after hitting .276 with nine steals in nine attempts in 39 games last season while picking up 25 starts. McKenzie reached base at a .344 clip and scored 14 runs in 96 plate appearances. "We believe that Kelly can help us both on the defensive side and in the lineup," said Bartel.
 
Sarah Kivisto, a freshman, is also competing for the starting spot in right field. "Kivisto is a fast, left-handed bat with some great bat speed that could help our team," pointed out Bartel.
 
Freshmen Nicolle Sparks and Lauren Bartel will also be in the mix in the outfield as all three will also be candidates in the DP spot or in pinch-hitting roles.
 
Junior Frankie Munkwitz brings veteran leadership to the squad and will be in the mix at the DP spot as well as a pinch-hitter as a team leader.
 
Competition in the DP spot will be strong as Linzy Heim is currently slated as the starter while fellow pitcher Haley Schanks is also being considered in that role in addition to the players mentioned above.
 
The Golden Bears kick things off with an 8 a.m. game against Missouri Western State and follow it up with a pair of late games against Emporia State at 7 p.m. and Central Missouri at 9 p.m. on Thursday. CU is right back at it on Friday with a match-up with Nebraska-Kearney at 10 a.m. and Fort Hays State at 12:30 p.m. to close out their slate of games at the event. Live stats will be available for all the games.