Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

Jess Ainley
Jess has been our manager for the past two years and a player for the two years before then. As a player and a manager, Jess has always been dedicated to the team, putting others before her and being helpful on and off the field. One example of her commitment to the team is when she is always ready and available to catch for outfielders or infielders during pre-game warm-up. Jess dedicates her time for the team to help every player get better. Her positive personality and dedication to the team has made her a joy to be around. We will miss her presence in the dugout next year and are excited to see what her future holds.

Katie Ehlenfeldt
Katie began her journey at Saint Mary’s as a women’s hockey player until deciding to join the fastpitch team. In her three years as a member of the team, Katie has played a monumental role as a pinch runner for the Cardinals. Her ability to be heads up on the bases coupled with her speed has allowed Katie to come into key situations and score runs in pivotal games. A situation that comes to mind is in the second game against Luther last year; Katie came into the game and scored the game-tying run from first. This past season, she suffered a setback with a knee injury, but persevered to continue to play a substantial role on this year’s team.  Katie’s bubbly, fun personality always lightens the mood in the dugout and at practices. She always knows how to keep the energy up for the team. She will be missed next season and we wish her the best in the future as a Graphic Designer!

Mariah Harper
Mariah decided to attend Saint Mary’s at the last possible minute: the week before classes began her freshman year. We are so thankful Mariah decided to attend Saint Mary’s. As a four-year starter and leader on the team, her presence was always known on and off the field, especially her bat. Mariah’s ability to bunt, slap, and hit away has made her a threat to opposing pitchers at the plate, even earning her MIAC Athlete of the week her senior season. One of her many shining moments this year was when she hit her first collegiate home run against Luther. Mariah’s leadership on and off the field has made her a team leader. Whether she is taking underclassmen under her wing and teaching them the Cardinal Fastpitch traditions or being a positive vocal voice during games, Mariah’s ability to teach and be an example for her teammates sets her apart. Whether she is starting in the field or the designated hitter, Mariah exudes a positivity, passion, and focus for all aspects of the game. The lineup will miss Mariah’s bat, but her peers and coaches will miss her passion and leadership for this team even more. Mariah has been an amazing player and will be tough to replace. We know she will do great things as a teacher in the future!

Katie Krull
Katie’s love for the game of softball and her teammates is infectious. For her first three seasons on the team, Katie was a two-sport athlete for both softball and tennis until ultimately deciding to play only softball this season. In her four years, Katie has been our power hitter, coming into key situations as a pinch hitter or a designated hitter. One example of her power this season was against John Carroll on our spring trip when she belted a grand slam home run to win the game. As an aspiring coach, Katie is always looking to learn more about the game and how to be a good coach for her travel team. The best way to describe Katie’s personality is caring; she will do anything for her teammates. We’ve really enjoyed getting to know her and will miss her cheering in the years to come! Katie will be missed and we wish her nothing but the best in her future.