Thunder Picked to Repeat as MIAA Champions

FREELAND, Mich.-- The Trine softball team has been picked to repeat as MIAA champions in the conference preseason poll, released Wednesday.

The Thunder earned eight of nine first-place votes, with the other first-place vote going to Hope. Coaches could not vote for their own team. Trine is coming off a season in which the Thunder won a school-record 43 games on their way to the first National Championship appearance in school-history. Trine has won the last three MIAA regular-season titles, having won 46-consecutive MIAA regular-season games- a conference record. The Thunder have appeared in the NCAA Regionals each of the last eight years. The team produced an All-American, two Academic All-Americans, five NFCA All-Region and eight All-MIAA performers last season.

The bulk of Trine's firepower is back as the team loses just two starters from last year's squad. Headlining the returners are All-American center fielder Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) and Academic All-American pitcher Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton).

The Thunder will be looking to replace two starting infielders lost to graduation. Kendra Marshall (Leesburg, Ind./Warsaw) and Jamie Schnarr (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering) return to anchor the corner infield spots, while Catherine Porter (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Canton) returns after handling the bulk of the backstop duties as a freshman.

Leah Hall (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) and Kaitlyn Clark (Mount Juliet, Tenn./Wilson Central) return alongside Searles in the outfield. Searles in the NCAA's active leader in career triples, and could threaten the all-time national career record this year. Clark swatted a team-best 16 home runs last season. Rachel Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover) rounds out the key returning bats for Trine.

Fuller anchors the pitching staff after winning MIAA Pitcher of the Year honors last season. The senior's accomplishments  also included the first perfect game in school-history, as well as a no-hitter. Justine Robles (Long Beach, Calif./ Lake Wood) also returns after emerging as a solid no. 2 arm behind Fuller last season.

Trine opens the season Sunday, Mar. 1 at the Dot Richardson Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. The complete season schedule can be found HERE.

The results of the MIAA Preseason Poll can be found below.