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The Saint Mary’s softball team enters the MIAC Conference Tournament with one of the most potent offenses in Division III, boasting the nation’s fifth-highest batting average.<\/p>\n
The Cardinals compiled a 35-5 overall record this season with a 20-2 mark against league opponents, building on last year’s program-record 44 wins that brought the team back to heights it had not reached in over two decades.<\/p>\n
Head coach John Tschida’s squad appears positioned to make another deep postseason run following their first World Series appearance since 2000 last season. The team’s offensive prowess has been a key factor in their continued success.<\/p>\n
Senior first baseman Peyton Berg, the program’s all-time leader in RBIs, credits attention to detail for the team’s offensive success.<\/p>\n
“The thing is not trying harder in your swing, but trying smarter and trying smarter with every single rep as well,” Berg said. “So I think that’s what makes us very strong hitters and we all coach each other as well. We have a very big team and sometimes coach or our assistant coaches can’t be on that one person. But when we focus on coaching each other and holding ourselves to that standard like I was talking about, it makes us such better hitters.”<\/p>\n
Despite last year’s historic World Series run, the Cardinals understand that past success does not guarantee future results. The team maintains its focus on daily improvement and preparation.<\/p>\n
“It’s kind of always been the same for us. It’s like, so whatever you did last year doesn’t matter,” Tschida said. “The rings, when we won a national championship ring, the rings are put away the next day and you’re ready to do a new one. But it’s really about our standards and practice. So irregardless of what happened yesterday or last week, it’s how we do today. So really putting an emphasis on each day, each drill, trying to dominate the time you have.”<\/p>\n
Saint Mary’s success this season has positioned them as a formidable opponent in both the MIAC tournament and the upcoming NCAA Division III National Tournament. The team’s combination of offensive firepower and championship experience makes them a serious contender for another deep postseason run.<\/p>\n
The Cardinals will begin their MIAC tournament journey on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. when they face the winner of the St. Catherine and Gustavus Adolphus matchup.<\/p>\n
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