Loyola Ramblers softball

For all Loyola University Chicago sports, see Loyola Ramblers.
Loyola Ramblers
UniversityLoyola University Chicago
Head coachAlicia Abbott (5th season)
ConferenceAtlantic 10
LocationChicago, IL
Home stadiumLoyola Softball Park
NicknameRamblers
ColorsMaroon and gold[1]
   
Regular Season Conference championships
2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2013

The Loyola Ramblers softball team represents Loyola University Chicago in the NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). From 1987 until 2013, the team was a member of the Horizon League (HL).[2] From 2014 until 2021, the team was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).[3] The Ramblers are currently led by head coach Alicia Abbott. The team plays its home games at Loyola Softball Park located on the university's campus.[4]

History

The Ramblers, despite winning the Horizon League regular season championship six times, have failed to win a conference tournament championship or qualify for the NCAA Division I softball tournament.[5]

Since forming a team in 1987, Loyola Chicago has won several different awards across conferences. The Ramblers won four Horizon League Coach of the Year awards, winning in 1993 with Terri Laux, 2001 with Stephenie Henderson, 2007 with Yvette Healy, and in 2011 with Missy Beseres-Dow. The team also won four HL Pitcher of the Year awards, winning in 2002 with Sarah Smith, in 2004 with Lindsey LaChiana, in 2007 with Amy Solava, and in 2012 with Brittany Gardner. Smith and LaChiana both shared their awards with UIC's Alison Aguilar in each respective season.[6][7] In 2014, Gardner was named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, earning the unique achievement of being named Pitcher of the Year in two different conferences across her career.[8][9]

On April 20, 2013, it was announced that Loyola Chicago would be switching conferences, joining the Missouri Valley Conference after 27 years in the Horizon League.[10] After a period of success in collegiate sports as a whole, it was announced on November 16, 2021, that the Ramblers would switch conferences again, this time joining the Atlantic 10 Conference.[11][12]

Coaching history

Years Coach Record %
1987–1996 Terri Laux 159–279 .363
1997–1999 Jon Cohn 51–95 .349
2000–2002 Stephenie Henderson 69–68 .504
2003–2004 Jamie Gillies 64–52 .552
2005–2010 Yvette Healy 131–172–1 .433
2011–2014 Missy Beseres-Dow 105–99 .515
2015–2019 Jeff Tylka 111–141 .440
2020–present Alicia Abbott 69–92 .429

Roster

2024 Loyola Ramblers roster
 

Pitchers

  • 16 – Andie Broniewicz – Junior
  • 6 – Bailey Johnson – Senior
  • 25 – Peyton Pepkowski – Junior

Catchers

  • 51 – Abbie Gregus – Sophomore

Outfielders

  • 15 – Katie Mitchell – Freshman
  • 14 – Riley Owens – Junior
  • 4 – Sophia Remsik – Senior
  • 2 – Sierra Sass – Sophomore
  • 13 – Teagan Sopczak – Senior
  

Infielders

  • 21 – Sydney Barnett – Junior
  • 5 – Bella Crimaldi – Junior
  • 9 – Skyler Croker – Freshman
  • 8 – Jocelyn Currie – Junior
  • 12 – Nat Lesnicki – Freshman
  • 23 – Hannah Nalley – Junior
  • 10 – Liz Sedakis – Freshman
  • 11 – Haley Wallace – Sophomore

Utility

  • 3 – Ava Bieneman – Junior
  • 19 – Maddy Hickey – Freshman
  
Reference:[13]

Season by season results

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Loyola Ramblers (Horizon League) (1987–2013)
1987 Terri Laux 8–21 5th
1988 Terri Laux 13–23 4th
1989 Terri Laux 4–42 7th
1990 Terri Laux 2–28 0–8 7th
1991 Terri Laux 12–33 3–9 6th
1992 Terri Laux 22–26 6–4 3rd
1993 Terri Laux 21–29 8–4 3rd
1994 Terri Laux 30–19 7–3 2nd
1995 Terri Laux 31–20 11–7 T–4th
1996 Terri Laux 16–38 6–8 T–3rd
1997 Jon Cohn 16–34 4–10 T–5th
1998 Jon Cohn 12–29 4–8 5th
1999 Jon Cohn 23–32 8–4 T–2nd
2000 Stephenie Henderson 25–21 8–4 3rd
2001 Stephenie Henderson 20–23 10–2 1st
2002 Stephenie Henderson 24–24 12–2 T–1st
2003 Jamie Gillies 33–23 16–5 1st
2004 Jamie Gillies 31–29 14–7 3rd
2005 Yvette Healy 18–37 8–9 4th
2006 Yvette Healy 20–41 10–10 T–4th
2007 Yvette Healy 21–21 14–5 1st
2008 Yvette Healy 22–25–1 12–7 4th
2009 Yvette Healy 28–24 14–10 4th
2010 Yvette Healy 22–24 10–12 7th
2011 Missy Beseres-Dow 26–26 16–7 1st
2012 Missy Beseres-Dow 26–23 15–8 2nd
2013 Missy Beseres-Dow 28–19 16–5 T–1st
Loyola Ramblers (Missouri Valley Conference) (2014–2022)
2014 Missy Beseres-Dow 25–31 11–15 7th
2015 Jeff Tylka 15–35 5–21 9th
2016 Jeff Tylka 21–28 5–19 10th
2017 Jeff Tylka 27–26 9–17 8th
2018 Jeff Tylka 23–27 9–16 9th
2019 Jeff Tylka 25–25 9–16 T–7th
2020 Alicia Abbott 12–9 0–0 N/A

Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 Alicia Abbott 13–20 8–16 9th
2022 Alicia Abbott 16–31 9–18 T–8th
Loyola Ramblers (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2023–present)
2023 Alicia Abbott 28–23 19–6 2nd
2024 Alicia Abbott 0–0 0–0
Total: 759–998–1 (.432)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[7][14][15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Loyola Chicago Athletics Style Guide (PDF). July 23, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  2. ^ "Loyola of Chicago joins Missouri Valley Conf". ESPN.com. April 19, 2013.
  3. ^ Sweeney, Kevin (November 16, 2021). "A-10 Makes Savvy Move in Adding Loyola Chicago". Sports Illustrated.
  4. ^ "Facilities". Loyola University Chicago Athletics.
  5. ^ "Loyola Blanks Detroit, 2-0, Claims Horizon League Title". Loyola University Chicago Athletics. May 8, 2011.
  6. ^ "Aguilar Named 2002 Horizon League Softball Co-Pitcher Of The Year". UIC Athletics. May 8, 2002.
  7. ^ a b "2022-23 #HLSB Record Book (PDF) - Horizon League" (PDF). horizonleague.org.
  8. ^ Southern, PETE SPITLER, The (April 18, 2013). "Spitler: Loyola should be able to compete in Valley". Southern Illinoisan.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Mazanke, Gardner Named Scholar-Athletes". mvc-sports.com. May 14, 2014.
  10. ^ Kilpatrick, Bryan (April 20, 2013). "Loyola-Chicago joins MVC". SBNation.com.
  11. ^ Hamilton, Brian. "Sandblasting the past, Loyola Chicago prepares for its Atlantic 10 makeover". The Athletic.
  12. ^ "Loyola Ramblers joining Atlantic 10 Conference in 2022". Chicago Tribune. November 16, 2021.
  13. ^ "2024 Softball Roster". Loyola University Chicago Athletics.
  14. ^ "MVC Softball records (as of 12/7/22)" (PDF). s3.amazonaws.com.
  15. ^ "2023 Softball Standings". atlantic10.com.