Western Wayne Today

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) released its 2025 Softball Coaches Preseason Poll, placing Wayne State University sixth among eight teams. Saginaw Valley State secured the top spot with all seven possible first-place votes and 49 points. Grand Valley State, which shared the regular-season title with Saginaw Valley last year, received one first-place vote and finished second with 41 points. Ferris State and Purdue Northwest followed with 34 and 32 points, respectively.

Wayne State's softball team will be led by head coach Nicole Tines in her fourth year. The team returns with a mix of experience and new talent, including 12 returning letterwinners, six freshmen, and two transfers from Notre Dame College.

Senior designated player Rylie Josephson was recognized as a First Team All-GLIAC selection last season for her .396 batting average and .470 on-base percentage. Sophomore Logan Forman earned Honorable Mention All-GLIAC recognition after leading the team with 26 RBIs while batting .292.

Returning starters include senior outfielder Mady Ruczynski, who batted .280 last year, along with Maddie Hool at second base and Madison Martinez at third base. Other key returnees are Kennedy Cole, Lauren Fritz, Mia Hool, Molly Hool, and Jessie O'Donnell.

Newcomers include utility player Danielle Fick from Notre Dame College who adds versatility to the roster. Freshmen Hunter Near (shortstop), Abby Barnes (catcher/utility), Katelyn DeWitt (third baseman), Morgan Williams (first baseman/outfielder), Elly Koopman (pitcher), and Montgomery Pepin (pitcher) have been brought in to strengthen the lineup.

The pitching staff features returning sophomore Sydney Long and Hayden Batton, who missed last season due to injury. Transfer Grace Fisher has joined from Notre Dame College to bolster the pitching options available to Coach Tines.

The Warriors are set to start their season at the Lincoln Memorial Invitational in Harrogate, Tennessee on February 15-16.