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RTS has learned that longtime coaching stalwart and Northern California Legend Tim Kiernan will be named coach for the La Crosse Steam of the new Northwoods League. Kiernan coached Sacramento City College for 34 seasons amassing a 1141-273 record, while winning 22 conference championships and three CalJC State Titles. He also spent time coaching top squads on the club level and in the various incarnations of the women’s professional softball league.

The new summer collegiate softball league will launch this June with four teams in La Crosse, WI; Minot, ND; Madison, WI; and Mankato, MN. The Northwoods League is no stranger to collegiate summer competition, having fielded one of the top summer collegiate baseball leagues for over three decades.

The Southeastern Conference has released their Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Tennessee Lady Vols have been picked to win the conference barely edging out Georgia by one point. Both squads received six first-place votes, while Florida garnered one.

1. Tennessee (6) 137

2. Georgia (6) 136

3. LSU 106

4. Arkansas 103

5. Auburn 100

6. Alabama 88

7. Florida (1) 77

8. Texas A&M 75

9. South Carolina 68

10. Kentucky 53

11. Missouri 28

12. Ole Miss 24

13. Mississippi State 19

California Baptist has broken ground on a new softball clubhouse at John C. Funk Stadium. The 11,445-square-foot building is located between the softball and baseball facilities, and will service both programs. The facility will feature new locker rooms, sports medicine space, coaches’ offices, and a conference room. The structure will also feature balconies overlooking the field. Completion for the projected is slated for this fall.

Go to CBU Athletics Provides an Update on Baseball and Softball Clubhouse – CBU Athletics (cbulancers.com) for images.

Hall of Fame Coach Mike Candrea has been named Interim Athletic Director at the University of Arizona. The former Wildcat Head Coach steps-in for Dave Heeke who has resigned after serving in that capacity for seven years in Tucson. Candrea had a career coaching record of 1,674–433–2 while winning eight DI National Championships.

Former All-American Miranda Elish has been hired as interim head coach at Andrean High School in Indiana. The Crown Point native takes over after serving as Associate Head Coach in 2023 on the program’s state runner-up squad. The three-time Gatorade High School Player of the Year competed on the collegiate level at Oregon, Texas, and Oklahoma State.

Softball America has released their Division I Preseason Top 25. To no surprise the back-to-back-to-back defending National Champion Oklahoma Sooners sit atop.

1	Oklahoma	61-1
2	Tennessee	51-10
3	Florida State	58-11
4	Stanford	47-15
5	Clemson	49-12
6	Georgia	42-15
7	Texas	45-15-1
8	Arkansas	40-19
9	Duke	48-12
10	UCLA	52-7
11	Baylor	40-18
12	LSU	42-17
13	Utah	41-16
14	Oklahoma State	47-16
15	Nebraska	36-22
16	Oregon	38-17
17	South Carolina	40-22
18	Virginia Tech	39-20
19	Texas A&M	35-21
20	Auburn	43-19
21	Alabama	45-22
22	Washington	44-15
23	Louisiana	50-16
24	Florida	38-22
25	San Diego State	39-17

Rachel Balkovec is expected to be named farm director for the Miami Marlins. Balkovec, the first female to manage a minor league team, has worked in professional baseball the past decade. She spent the past two years managing the Tampa Tarpons, the New York Yankees’ Single-A affiliate. Balkovec played collegiate softball at the Creighton University, before transferring to the University of New Mexico where she was a catcher for the Lobos.

Cal Poly Humboldt has named Megan Corriea their new head coach. The Lumberjack Alum returns to the program after serving in the same capacity at Southwestern Oregon Community College since 2007. She compiled a record of 486-207 leading the Raccoons. Corriea was also an assistant at Cal Poly Humboldt from 2001-2003 under legendary head coach Frank Cheek.

RTS Dobbins’ Dandies presented USA Preps and Dobbins Softball Consulting & Development.

Longtime coach, consultant, and media personality Lee Dobbins will be onsite in Las Vegas, Nevada January 12-14 at the USA Preps Best of the Best Showcase event to evaluate and recognize standout Prospective Student-Athletes throughout the weekend as they and their teams excel on the field. Follow Rounding Third Softball and Dobbins Softball Consulting & Development on all Social Media platforms as we profile the next Collegiate Superstars!

Laura Heberling has been named the new pitching coach at Kansas. Heberling joins the Jayhawks after spending last season in the same role at Maryland. She spent 2020-2022 as associate head coach at Utah State. Heberling also served five seasons as head coach at USC-Beaufort.