Softball announces addition of 10 Nebraska natives as part of 12-member 2015-16 class

By on Nov. 24, 2014 in Softball

Softball announces addition of 10 Nebraska natives as part of 12-member 2015-16 class

SEWARD, Neb. – Second-year head coach Todd LaVelle and the Concordia University softball program have announced the additions of 12 recruits for a class with the bulk of its members set to enroll for the 2015-16 academic year. Ten of the 12 future Bulldogs hail from the state of Nebraska (view entire class list at bottom).

“As a second year of recruiting comes to a close, I’m feeling very blessed with not only the softball talent, but the wonderful young ladies that will represent the Bulldog softball team in our next academic year,” LaVelle said. “We will have a great mix of freshmen talent along with some season veterans. All of these young ladies have had a ton of success at their previous schools and I’m certainly optimistic that we can take their talents to greater heights at the collegiate level.”

Infielder Taylor Flodman, a native of Eagle, Neb., will arrive in Seward via NCAA Division II University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Flodman, who played for LaVelle at Lincoln North Star High School, saw action in 39 games at NCAA Division I Creighton University in 2012. She hit .271 with a home run and 13 RBIs in 48 at bats. She has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

As a star at the prep level, Flodman earned Super-State First-Team honors from the Lincoln Journal Star as both a junior and senior. She led the Heartland Conference with a .504 average, 65 hits, 49 runs and 16 doubles (all school records) as a senior. Flodman began her prep career at Waverly High School before finishing it at North Star.

Infielder Leah Kalkwarf of Millard South High School batted .507 as a senior on the way to earning first team all-state recognition (Omaha World-Herald) and first team placement on all-division and all-conference lists. Kalkwarf started all four years at the varsity level while leading Millard South to four-straight Nebraska Class A state titles (2011-14). She received some form of all-Metro accolades each season.

Jamie Lefebure, an infielder from Crete High School, is a three-time first team all-conference selection. She has been named all-state honorable mention three times by both the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald. During her four-year high school career, Lefebure batted .371 with 109 runs, 59 walks, 90 stolen bases, 104 hits, 17 doubles and two home runs.

LaVelle will also add another transfer in former Norris High School standout outfielder Makenna Tracy. In 28 games for the Bobcats in 2014, Tracy batted .393 with four home runs and 17 RBIs. She also slugged .689 and posted a .456 on-base percentage for a Peru State team that finished with an overall record of 30-24.

Flodman and Tracy will begin their Concordia careers during the 2015 spring semester. LaVelle plans to redshirt Flodman, while Tracy figures to compete for a starting outfield spot this spring.

After leading Concordia to its first-ever national tournament appearance in 2014, LaVelle believes the future is even brighter for a program that continues to bring in more talent. The 2015-16 recruiting class is mostly compete, though the possibility of adding one or two more student-athletes remains.

“I believe we have several recruits that will push for starting positions and be impact players right out of the gate, only making our team stronger as we prepare for another competitive year in the GPAC,” LaVelle said.

The 2014 Bulldogs went 32-16 overall and locked up an automatic bid to the national tournament by way of a runner-up GPAC tournament finish.

Softball recruiting class of 2015-16

  • OF Brittany Arent – Elkhorn High School (Neb.)
  • C Emmaley Benes – Raymond Central High School (Neb.)
  • IF Taylor Flodman – Transfer from University of Colorado Colorado Springs / Creighton University
  • IF Maddie Fousek – St. Paul High School (Neb.)
  • IF Krystal Haberman – Centennial High School (Neb.)
  • IF Leah Kalkwarf – Millard South High School (Neb.)
  • IF Mikaela Keen – Grand Island Northwest High School (Neb.)
  • IF Jamie Lefebure – Crete High School (Neb.)
  • OF Danielle Moore – Native of Napoleon, Ohio
  • IF Jill Nelsen – Native of Dell Rapids, S.D.
  • OF Megan Ruppert – McCook Community College (Neb.)
  • OF Makenna Tracy – Peru State College / Norris High School (Neb.)