THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… The Upper Iowa University softball team is away from home at the Lewis Flyer Dome Invitational for a four-game weekday slate. On Thursday, Feb. 23, the Peacocks see Saginaw Valley State University at 11 a.m. and Purdue University Northwest at 3:30 p.m. On Friday, Feb. 24, UIU plays the University of Wisconsin-Parkside at 9 a.m. and Ursuline College at 11 a.m.

2022 IN REVIEW… The Peacocks finished the 2022 season with a 24-28 record and notched seventh in the NSIC with a 14-15 mark. They recorded a record-setting year, earning their first NSIC postseason berth since 2019. UIU won their first NSIC Tournament game since winning the NSIC Championship in 2016 by beating Wayne State College in their opening game before falling on day two of the double-elimination tournament. They were led by 5th year-senior Katie Crogan who received a slew of honors. She was named D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year and NSIC Player of the Year. She left Upper Iowa as the program's career leader in hits (253), doubles (54), home runs (45), runs scored (141), and runs batted in (203).

NSIC PLAYERS TO WATCH… Delaney Vetter, a transfer pitcher, and Ari Charles, a returning outfielder, were selected as NSIC Players to Watch for the upcoming season. Vetter comes to Upper Iowa after competing at Ellsworth Community College for two years. Last season as a Panther, she pitched 123.1 innings and tallied an 8-16 record.  Vetter recorded an ERA of 6.19 and tossed 161 strikeouts. Charles returns for her third season with the Peacocks. In the spring of '22, the Hixton, Wis. native played in 51 games and made 49 starts. She hit .286 and recorded 40 hits, including four doubles and two triples. Charles led the team going a perfect 9/9 on stolen base attempts last season. She finished the year with a .976 fielding percentage.

NSIC PRESEASON POLL…The Northern Sun Conference released the 2023 NSIC Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll and the Peacocks were picked 10th. For the fourth consecutive season, Augustana University was chosen as the favorite in the NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll. This marks the fifth time (2012, 2020, 2021 & 2022) that the Vikings have been selected by the coaches to win the league. The Vikings amassed 217 points and 10 first place votes (coaches cannot rank their own team). Minnesota State was second with 208 points and three first place votes while St. Cloud State and Winona State tied for third with 187 points (with SCSU picking up three first place votes). 

NEW HEADS AT THE HELM… Head Coach Laura North heads into her debut season with the Upper Iowa softball program.  Prior to this position, North was the head softball coach at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa from 2014 through 2018. Most recently, she was the President of the Oskaloosa Indoor Sports Complex and the founder of Diamond Life, LLC. Joining North this season to head up the program is Assistant Coach Erin Kuba. Most recently, Kuba was with the softball program at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho.

WELCOME TO THE SUNSHINE STATE… Looking ahead to next weekend, the Peacocks travel to Leesburg, Fla. for The Spring Games. They see two games per day from Mar. 5-10, taking a break from competition on Wednesday. They face Walsh University and Ferris State on Sunday,  Kentucky Wesleyan and Lewis University on Monday and Holy Family University and Lynn University on Tuesday. After their break on Wednesday, they resume play with The College of Saint Rose and Grand Valley State University on Thursday. The Peacocks wrap up the weekend with University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and American International College on Friday.