DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – In a typical year, the St. Scholastica softball season may still be happening. However, nothing has been typical for 2020 thus far and Head Coach
Rilee Dawson has already solidified her recruiting class for the 2021 season.
The Saints were 7-7 when the 2020 season was cut short due to COVID-19. CSS began the year with a pair of wins and also ended the year with a pair of extra-inning victories down in Florida. Sophomore
Olivia Howe (Scandia, Minn./Forest Lake HS) was 10th in NCAA Division III with 40 total bases in 14 games, while first-year pitcher
Haley Rosenthal (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) was fourth in the country with eight complete games. The team is expected to lose only two starters from this year's squad. With plenty of talent expected to return along with the names below expected to come in, the future is looking bright for CSS softball.
Aislind Dail, Sumner, Wash.
* 2x All League honorable Mention
* 10 HR last season
Dail: "I chose St. Scholastica because I feel the school would help me be successful in the classroom, in life and on the field. Ultimately, I saw how the girls respected the coaches and each other, and knew I wanted to be a part of that environment."
HC Dawson: "Aislind has the ability to be a very special player for us. She brings a laser focus to development and has an incredibly high ceiling. We look for her to be very sound defensively and add pop to the middle of our lineup."
Grace Hadlich, Mahtomedi HS
* 4-year varsity starter
* Team Captain
* All-Conference
* All-Section
* Participated in state tournament in 2016 & 2019
* 2019 .370 BA
Hadlich: "I chose CSS because of the amazing atmosphere of the team and students along with the outstanding academics."
HC Dawson: "Grace will be reunited with high school teammate
Haley Rosenthal (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) as she joins our program. She will bring a contagious energy combined with her talent and will look to have an immediate impact on our program."
Bailey Dunaski, Forest Lake HS
*.378 BA 2019 HS season
* 2018 State Tournament All-Tournament Team
* 2x All-Conference
* Participated in State Tournament 2018, 2019
* Voted team's hardest worker as a freshman and sophomore
Dunaski: "When I met the softball team and had my overnight at St. Scholastica, the girls were so kind and made it feel like home."
HC Dawson: "Bailey continues the streak of very talented Forest Lake softball players to join our program. We look forward to the passion Bailey will bring to our team as she roams the outfield for the next four years."
Hailey Neubauer, Woodbury HS
* 2x All-Section
* Lettered freshman through junior year
* Played club ball for alum Laura Heise
Neubauer: "I chose CSS because I liked the size of the campus and how it's a great community. They have great Education and Psychology programs, as well. Being able to play softball at the collegiate level is awesome and with a team that has such a family dynamic to it."
HC Dawson: "We are really excited to add Hailey to our pitching staff. Hailey excels on both sides of the plate and will add immediate power to our lineup at the plate. She lives and breathes softball and played club ball for alum Laura Heise ('06) so we know she will join us well prepared."
Avery Thompson, Austin HS
* 4-year varsity player, 3-year varsity starter
* Captain
* 4x Spotlight on Scholarship Award
Thompson: "I chose CSS because it had a great reputation for the program I wanted, the location is beautiful and I'm able to continue playing softball. I felt at home as soon as I got on campus."
HC Dawson: "Avery is a gritty player who lays it all on the line every time she steps on the field. I don't think there was I game I watched her play where she wasn't diving for a ball. She played travel ball for an elite club team and knows how to compete at a high level."
Emma Stanoch, Bemidji HS
* Played every inning sophomore and junior years
* 4-year varsity player
* Section Champs 2018, runner up 2019
* 5 HR last HS season
* '18-'19 Academic Gold All-State
* Team Captain
Stanoch: "I chose CSS because of the family atmosphere and the competitive spirit. It made me really excited to be a part of something that I can be proud of for years to come."
HC Dawson: "Emma brings a quiet competitiveness to our program. Emma comes from a successful high school program. She loves to play and has the growth mindset we look for in recruits."
Abbie Crawford, Cook County HS
* .424 HS BA
* Member of NHS
Crawford: "I chose CSS because the architecture is drop dead gorgeous, the Benedictine Values and the staff I have met so far are very helpful and welcoming. Duluth is a great city with a great view of Lake Superior, and most of all, the head softball coach opened my eyes to this beautiful campus."
HC Dawson: "Abbie is the type of player anyone would love to watch play. Her hustle stands out and she loves the game. We are excited to watch her develop over the next four years."
"I'm really excited about the future of St. Scholastica Softball with the addition of these players as they are poised to make a strong impact on our program," said Dawson. "They bring tremendous passion for the game. Off the field, they are fantastic people who will add to the culture of our program. We look forward to getting them on campus and integrated with our great group of current players!"
The Saints have won 20 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular season titles since 1997 and 14 postseason titles since 2000. CSS has also advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament six times, most recently 2017.
