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OUR SOFTBALL STAFF
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University of Minnesota
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2017 - Present
Contact Information
ERIKA SMYTH
OWNER + GENERAL MANAGER
Head of Hitting & Defensive Instruction
Erika found her home at Starters Sports Training as a club coach and instructor upon our Softball Department's creation in 2017. She is currently our Director of Softball at Starters Sports Training and the Minnesota Starters Softball Department as well as a member of the board at Starters Sports Training. Erika has over a decade of coaching and instruction experience and is the Head of Hitting & Defensive Instruction. Erika conducts our High Performance programs, College Offseason programs, personal lessons, and camps and clinics at Starters Sports Training.
A Washington state native, Erika was recruited by former Gopher Softball Head Coach Jessica Allister, and signed her NLI to play softball at the University of Minnesota where she was a four-year letter winner. Erika was a part of the historic class of 2015 that took Gopher Softball to their first Regional appearance in 10 years in 2013, first Big Ten Championship in 15 years in 2014, and the Gophers' first ever Regional Championship and Super Regional appearance in history in 2014. She ended her career having started 110 games at second base and posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 2014. She is the first and only player in Gopher Softball history to win back-to-back Teammate of the Year awards in 2014 and 2015 – the only award voted on by the players. Erika graduated in 2015 with her Bachelors in Business and Marketing and was a three-time Academic All Big Ten Award winner. As a Minnesota Starters coach, Erika has coached her teams to various championships in our short existence. None bigger than the 2019 Colorado Sparkler Championship, the Nation's biggest youth softball tournament. Erika now coaches teams at all age levels from 10U - 18U. Erika can also be heard as one of the voices for Gopher Softball as she is the NCAA softball color commentator for Gopher Softball home games on Big Ten Network+ and also had the opportunity to work alongside Mike Grimm to call the Gopher Softball games at the Women's College World Series on KFAN radio in Oklahoma City.
Erika was recently named the Prior Lake High School varsity head coach and will take over the Lakers Softball program the Spring of 2022.
University of Northern Iowa
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2019 - Present
Contact Information
BROOKE OTTERSTATTER
CLUB SOFTBALL COORDINATOR
Co-Head of Pitching Instruction + Youth Programming
Brooke is an Iowa native, who graduated from Columbus Catholic High School in 2015. After high school Brooke attended the University of Northern Iowa where she was named a team captain for three of her four years. In her junior season, she appeared in 32 games in the circle, making 25 starts. Set a career-high in innings with 155, more than her first two seasons combined. Won 14 games while striking out 74 batters. Pitched 12 complete games, four of which were shutouts. Had a 2.98 era over the course of the season. Struck out a career-high nine batters against NCAT. Tossed a two-hit shutout against NCAT. Led the Panthers in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched and complete games. During her senior season she appeared in 25 games in the circle for the Panthers. Pitching 69.2 innings going 5-4 with two saves. Threw seven innings in her second win of the season, walking two batters with three strikeouts..pitched three innings for her third victory of the season against Indiana State. Recorded four innings in a 11-3 victory over Valparaiso. While at UNI, Brooke was introduced to a new pitching tool called Rapsodo. During her senior season, she worked with the program throughout the year where she was able to track her velocity, spin efficiency and overall help her continue to excel as a pitcher.
Brooke has had her hand in coaching all age levels from 10U - 18U. She is the head of Pitching Instruction as well as all of Female Strength & Development. Brooke is additionally our Club Softball Coordinator and handles all Minnesota Starters club softball day-to-day operations.
University of Connecticut
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2018 - Present
MARYBETH OLSON
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Co-Head of Pitching Instruction & Strength and Development
Marybeth is a graduate of Chanhassen High School in 2017. In high school she was named captain of her basketball and softball teams, Gatorade Softball Player of the year, Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year and a state champion. Marybeth is currently a senior at the University of Connecticut where she is continuing her softball career and pursuing a degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Nutrition. She has a 2.21 career ERA, 299 strikeouts in 266 innings pitched. She went 10-0 with a 1.46 ERA before COVID cut their season short. She has 2 career no-hitters and a career high of 14 strikeouts against #24 ranked JMU. Marybeth has 5 years of coaching club ball and is currently in year four with Starters.
Marybeth is pursuing her CSCS and will be working directly with softball athletes within our Minnesota Starters program and at Starters Sports Training. Although she specializes in pitching, Marybeth will be vital in educating all instructors for all specialties on biomechanics/body movement patterns.
SOFTBALL INSTRUCTORS
University of Minnesota - Duluth
HANNAH SCHMOLL
Hitting, Slapping & Outfield Instructor
Hannah graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 2014 playing softball, hockey, and soccer. After High School, she continued her collegiate softball career at the University of Minnesota Duluth majoring in Psychology and minor in Public Health Education and Promotions. She was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs with career batting average of 0.386, 150 career stolen bases. She found much success at UMD, being named: All-NSIC First Team (2015, 2018) All-NSIC Second Team (2016, 2017) All-Central Region team (2015, 2018), NSIC Gold Glove (2017,2018) 2018 Division II Collegiate Commissioners Association All-American second team (2018). She helped lead the Bulldogs to 2 NCAA tournament berths, 2018 helped the Bulldogs make the Super Regional tournament, the furthest a UMD team has ever been.
Hannah is the head coach of our 16U National - Schmotter team.
Crown College
LIS KING
Pitching & Hitting Instructor
Lis is from Buffalo, Minnesota where she attended and played softball for Buffalo High School. During her two years as a Varsity starter, she achieved 2 All-Conference mentions. Lis’ offense her senior season helped the Bison to the program’s 1st appearance in the High School State Tournament.
She continued her education and softball career at Crown College in Saint Bonifacious, Minnesota. She pursued a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She was a Pitcher and First Basemen for the Crown College Storm. Within the 3 years she played for the Storm, She pitched 404.4 innings with 195 strikeouts. She also lead the Storm with 104 career hits, 23 career home-runs, and 78 career RBI’s. With a record breaking junior season, she was awarded the 2018 UMAC Player of the Year, 2018 All-Conference First Team Selection, and was listed on the NFCA All-Midwest 3rd Team. She currently holds over 20 Softball Records for the Storm, while also maintaining 1 Conference Record for the Most Single Season Home-runs.
Post college, Lis found her way back into the softball community as a Coach. She currently coaches at Orono High School as an Assistant Varsity Coach is the head coach of our 16U Gold team.
MISSY LOOMIS
Pitching Instructor
University of St. Thomas
Bemidji State University
ASHLEY HEROLD
Hitting Instructor
Ashley is a Shakopee High School graduate. She was a four time letter winner in both softball and basketball. Ashley is currently in her second year at Bemidji State. One of four Beavers to appear in all 22 games before the 2020 season was shortened due to COVID-19... Posted a .200 batting average with 10 hits in 50 at-bats... Recorded two doubles, six RBI and scored seven runs... Stole one base... Led the team with 136 putouts and posted a .986 fielding percentage.
Ashley is additionally our 14U Gold Co-Head Coach.
MORGAN BENEDICT
Hitting & Catching Instructor
Bemidji State University
TORI WIETGREFE
Hitting Instructor
SYDNEY SCHWARTZ
Pitching & Hitting Instructor
Sydney is a senior at Chanhassen High School and is continuing her softball and academic career at the University of Minnesota. For the 2021 high school season, she was named the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year, First-Team All-State, and First-Team All-Metro (2019, 2021), All-Section, and All-Conference. Last season Sydney posted a .567 batting average with 11 homeruns. She also posted a 21-2 record with 153 innings pitched and 295 strikeouts with only 26 walks. She has been coaching & instructing pitching and hitting for 2+ years.
University of Minnesota
TIM HOLZHUETER
Club Softball Coach
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University of Wisconsin - Stout
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MICHAEL CASALENDA
Club Softball Coach