ADRIAN, Mich. – The Siena Heights softball team begins the 2022 season with its annual Spring Break trip. This year, the Saints will travel down to Florida for the first 12 games of the season. The first games are against St. Thomas and Bethel (Ind.) on Saturday, March 5. SHU looks to improve upon the final placing in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) standings from a year ago.
The Saints were chosen eighth in the 2022 WHAC Softball Coaches Preseason Poll released on January 11, 2022—two spots down from where they finished in 2021.
LAST SEASON
A season ago, Siena Heights finished with a 16-14 overall record and a 7-9 mark in league play. The Saints missed the WHAC tournament after a 13-inning loss to UM-Dearborn in a continuation game that determined which team got the eighth and final spot in the bracket.
2022 SEASON
SHU is scheduled to compete in 48 games from March 4 to April 24, 2022. The Saints have 11 home double-headers on the docket, with the first happening on Saturday, March 19, against Trinity Christian. Any home games with live video streaming on the SHU Saints YouTube page or live stats will have links on the team's schedule page.
WHAC play opens at home against Lawrence Tech on Saturday, March 26.
THE TEAM
The Saints return several starters from the team last season, including second-team All-WHAC selections Sam Hill at third base and pitcher Jordan Green. The team also has senior pitcher Kelsey Uhl returning and four-year starter Lily Guerra. In addition, Courtnee Chappetta and Abby Fisher highlight the eight newcomers in the 2021 freshman class.
THE COACHING STAFF
Head Coach Laura Klutsarits enters her 17th season at Siena Heights. In her 22 years of coaching, she has coached eight All-Americans, 94 All-Conference Players, one conference player, one conference pitcher of the year, 90 Academic All-Americans, and 120 Academic All-Conference Players. She is assisted by the 2021 Easton/NFCA NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year, Becky Martinez who also enters her 17th season, Katie O'Hotzke in her eighth season, and Graduate Assistant Kristi Carlson in her second season.
