KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The 2021 Kalamazoo College softball team is scheduled to begin its season on Tuesday, March 23 in a doubleheader at Hope College. The Hornets' schedule features single and doubleheader games against a mix of MIAA member opponents. The Kalamazoo roster has nine returning members from the shortened 2020 season, including four seniors and five freshmen.
Key Dates
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The Hornets will open their season with a doubleheader at Hope College on March 23.
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The team hosts Saint Mary's and Adrian for a pair of games on March 27 for its home opener, followed up by a home doubleheader against Trine on March 31.
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Kalamazoo will play six games in an eight-day stretch on the road from April 3-10.
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The Hornets compete in a total of eight games at home in the month of April.
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The MIAA Tournament is set to begin on Thursday, May 6 and conclude on Friday, May 7.
Returning Statistical Leaders
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Sammi Luzadre and Keelin McManus return for their senior seasons on the mound. Luzadre led the Hornets in 2019 in wins, appearances, complete games and strikeouts, and McManus logged over 100 innings in the circle with 43 strikeouts.
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McManus was also second on the team in home runs and third on the team in RBIs, doubles and runs scored in 2019.
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Senior Nina Szalkiewicz logged 16 RBI and six doubles over 2019 and the shortened 2020 season.
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Junior outfielder Nikki Gorder tallied 27 hits in 2019 and scored 17 times with a .300 batting average.
Head Coach Kelli Duimstra
Coach Duimstra is set to begin her fourth season as the head coach of the Hornets. She joined the Hornet softball program with plenty of MIAA experience as she had served as the assistant coach at Hope College from 2014-17. Prior to her time coaching the Flying Dutch, Duimstra was an assistant coach at Hudsonville High School from 2010-14 and helped coach the team to two MHSAA State Championships. During her playing career at Hope, Duimstra was the MIAA's Most Valuable Player and was named first-team All-Region and first-team All-American following her senior year. Joining Duimstra's staff for the 2021 season is assistant coach Ashley Ables.
Quoting Coach Duimstra
"We're just focused on going out there and competing every single game. We're grateful to have the opportunity to play and we're excited about what this team can do and our potential. Winning is going to be a total team effort and every person on this team plays an important role. We're going to need everyone giving their best effort every day to be successful."