Chargers look to continue historic recent run with big 2025 campaign

The Hillsdale College softball team enters 2025 with some historic opportunities in play.

Coming off a 34 win season in 2024, the Chargers have a chance to extend a record-setting streak of consecutive 30-win seasons to five, while also contending for a fifth-straight top two G-MAC finish and the program’s fifth NCAA DII Tournament appearance in seven years.

With excellence on the line, Hillsdale has a team on paper that’s well-positioned to accomplish those goals, thanks to significant returning talent from the 2024 squad.

It starts in the circle for the Chargers with senior Joni Russell, a three-time All-G-MAC honoree and a 2023 All-American who’s already set the program and G-MAC career strikeouts record and has virtually every major career pitching record at Hillsdale in her sights. Russell is one of only three All-G-MAC honorees at the pitcher position returning in 2025 and gives Hillsdale a true ace and one of the best players in the country on the mound to build around.

While Russell returns, Hillsdale has a big hole to fill for the second-game starter in doubleheaders with the graduation of Erin Kapteyn, a repeat All-G-MAC honoree and one of the best pitchers in program history in her own right. The Chargers do return junior Mackenzi Maxson, who put up solid numbers as a relief pitcher last season and could be in line for a breakout year. Hillsdale added to its staff’s depth in the offseason by bringing in two talented transfers – Anistyn Foster from South Alabama and Gracelynn Kelly from Minnesota-Crookston – as well as freshman Grace Harris, all of whom will get opportunities to play early in the season.

Hillsdale has the makings of another strong pitching staff, but the biggest leap could come offensively, with several key starters returning. The headliner is junior Maggie Olaveson, who had a breakout campaign in 2024 that saw her hit .378 with 14 doubles and 13 home runs on the way to All-G-MAC and All-Region honors.

Olaveson will lead most opponents’ scouting reports, but she’s one of several dangerous players in Hillsdale’s lineup. Seniors Hannah Hoverman and Emma Vis also bring impressive power bats, combining for 14 home runs between the two of them in 2024. Hillsdale also has strong options to get on base at the top of the batting order – third-year veterans Taylor Lewis and Emma Sather both have base-stealing speed and are poised for breakout seasons, while sophomore Sydney Davis hit .341 with just eight strikeouts in 132 at bats in one of the most impressive freshman campaigns at Hillsdale in recent memory in 2024.

Hillsdale graduated three every-day players in the lineup from last season, opening opportunities for players who saw limited action in 2024. Two players with experience who are returning from injuries – senior Ashley Strick and Anna Chellman – should play a significant role, while sophomores Medleigh Danchak and Emili Blackie and junior Katie Matzat also are in the mix.

In addition to the returners, Hillsdale added four promising freshmen hitters who will strengthen the team in key areas, and who also will get the chance to contribute this season.

The 2025 season should be an interesting one for the G-MAC, as defending champion Trevecca Nazarene departed the league for the Gulf South in the offseason, and graduation and transfer losses hit many teams hard. Expect traditional contenders like Ohio Dominican, Northwood and Findlay to reload and remain in the title hunt, while the roster turnover across the league could open the door for teams with continuity and young talent, like Malone and Ashland, to make their way into the conversation.

It should make for a wide open race for both the regular season title and spots in the G-MAC Tourney in Akron, Ohio in May, and Hillsdale should be right in the thick of that race.

Hillsdale opens the 2025 softball season with a weeklong trip to Hawaii that includes eight games in five days, beginning with contests against regional foes Lewis and Ferris State in Honolulu on Feb. 3. The Chargers also will play in the Rosemont Dome Invite in late February and make their annual spring break Florida trip in mid-March. Hillsdale’s first home contest will be against conference foe Tiffin on Saturday, March 29 at 1 p.m. You can find the full schedule for the 2025 season here.