Mines at Midwestern State, Friday, 2:30 p.m. CST [Live Stats]
Mines vs. Southwestern Oklahoma, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. CST [Live Stats]
Mines vs. Missouri S&T, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CST [Live Stats]
Mines vs. Newman, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. CST [Live Stats]
Mines vs. Southwest Baptist, Sunday, 12 p.m. CST [Live Stats]
 

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THE MIDWESTERN STATE ROUND ROBIN [Tournament Central]
Mines opens 2017 in Wichita Falls, Texas this weekend with five games at the Midwestern State Round Robin. Mines will begin with the hosts on Friday at 2:30 p.m. CST at Mustangs Park before heading to the Sunrise Optimist Complex to play Southwestern Oklahoma Saturday at 9:30 a.m. CST and then back to Mustangs Park for a game versus Missouri S&T at 2:30 p.m. CST. On Sunday, both of Mines' games will be at Sunrise Optimist against Newman (9:30 a.m. CST) and Southwest Baptist (12 p.m. CST). General admission tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for seniors, students, and active military.

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT
Last season, Mines made its first RMAC Tournament appearance since 2013, appearing as the fifth seed and winning its opening-round game over Regis. The 2017 Oredigger squad brings back every contributer from that team, and still has only one senior - centerfielder Paige Noehring - on the roster. Mines was 20-24 overall and 17-17 in RMAC play, a dramatic improvement from an 11-38/9-26 record in 2015.

MINES EIGHTH IN PRESEASON POLL
Mines has been selected eighth in the RMAC preseason poll with 63 points. Colorado Mesa is the favorite, followed by MSU Denver and Chadron State. Last year, Mines was picked 11th in the preseason poll but exceeded expectations to end up fifth in the final standings at 17-17 in league play.

I'M THE CAPTAIN NOW
Mines head coach Leah Glasgow has named senior Paige Noehring and sophomore Boston Ludlow as captains for the 2017 season.

IN THE CIRCLE
Last season, Mines relied on the rotation of Hallie Smith and Maddie Rogers in the circle, and will do so again this year along with the addition of freshman and Texas all-state hurler Claire Stringfellow. Smith, a junior, was the staff ace earning Second-Team All-RMAC honors, notching a 3.24 ERA in 34 appearances with a 14-13 record and three saves. She ranked in the RMAC top 10 in virtually every category, including third in shutouts (4) and fifth in strikeouts (123). Rogers appeared in 24 games as a freshman with a 6-11 record and 5.94 ERA, but settled in to have a terrific second half of the season with a 4.42 ERA over her final 12 appearances of 2016.

AT THE PLATE
Mines brings back every piece of its lineup from 2016, led by all-RMAC speedsters Brielle Asato and Paige Noehring. Asato led everyday players with a .390 average, anchoring the bottom of the order with 39 hits, 23 runs, and a team-best 16-for-16 stolen base clip. Noehring mixed speed and power from the lead-off spot with a .358/.376/.489 slash line that included team highs in hits (49), runs (30) and total bases (67).

The power in the middle of the lineup came thanks to catcher Kara Jones (.350/.409/.483), who drove in a team-best 28 with 11 doubles, shortstop Katie Leiker (.350/.424/.513) who smacked three home runs and 19 RBI, and all-RMAC outfielder/DP Sonoma Toot (.321/.405/.519), who led Mines with five home runs, 32 runs scored, 31 RBI, 16 walks, and 16 extra-base hits.

Leftfielder Dani Valerio hit .330 and was third on the team with 29 runs to earn all-RMAC honors as a freshman, while Ludlow, Mines' everyday first baseman, drove in 26 and scored 24 runs batting .286. Pua Fujinaga played all over the infield and hit .246 with 18 runs and 10 RBI as a sophomore, while rightfielder Kara Walling looks to bounce back from an injury-shortened season that saw her hit .324 in 26 appearances. Loren Dempsey made 31 starts as a freshman at either catcher or DP and hit .220 with 13 RBI, while Amanda Etcheverry started 14 times in 22 appearances to bat .226.

NEW FACES
Mines adds six freshmen to an already-young roster this year. The Orediggers welcome utility players Stefanie Brunello and Taylor Klauser, outfielder Kelsey Buechler, infielders CJ Bewley, Clara Larson, and Stefanie Brunello, and pitcher Claire Stringfellow.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will visit California for doubleheaders with Cal Baptist and Concordia on Feb. 18 and 20, before debuting at home Feb. 25 and 26 for a four-game series with Fort Lewis.