MSUB SPORTS – The battery for the 2010-2019 all-decade softball team features the top pitchers and catchers to suit up for the Yellowjackets in the last 10 seasons.
 
The battery unit features five pitchers and three catchers, covering all three tiers of starters, bench players, and honorable mention selections.
 

Day	Release
Monday, November 2, 2020	Pitchers & Catchers
Tuesday, November 3, 2020	Infielders
Wednesday, November 4, 2020	Outfielders
Thursday, November 5, 2020	Lineups & Gold Glove Team
Friday, November 6, 2020	Full All-Decade Roster

 

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  Jessyka MacDonald
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Hometown: Billings, Montana
Playing Years: 2012-2015 (4 seasons)
 
Feature Story: Around The Horn, Jessyka MacDonald

One of the most dominant arms in program history, 'Mac' ranks in the Yellowjackets' top-10 in virtually every pitching category. Her 39 wins and 361 strikeouts are second-most all-time, her opponent batting average of .253 ranks third, career earned run average of 3.45 and 35 complete games rank fifth, and her 391 1/3 innings pitched rank sixth.
 
MacDonald was a two-time all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection including a first-team pick as a senior in 2015, when she led the Yellowjackets to their deepest playoff run of the decade. After pitching MSUB to the GNAC Championships title, MacDonald picked up two more victories at the NCAA regional championship and helped the 'Jackets get to the regional title game against Sonoma State University.
 
MacDonald's performance at the regional tournament was one of the most heroic individual efforts of the 2010s decade. After pitching MSUB to an opening-round win with a complete game, MacDonald threw 175 pitches over 11 2/3 innings while striking out eight batters in a gut-wrenching 5-4 defeat at the hands of Sonoma State. Facing a must-win affair later that same day, MacDonald threw a 100-pitch complete game as the 'Jackets knocked off No. 16 Humboldt State 5-2 to reach the regional title contest. In total, MacDonald threw 477 pitches for an average of 119.3 over the course of three days at the regional.
 
The Billings native's senior year was her finest, as she led the GNAC in appearances with 41 while ranking second in strikeouts with 136 and opposing batting average at .244, and third in ERA at 2.92 and innings pitched with 189 2/3. MacDonald was also a four-time GNAC Pitcher of the Week selection, and as a senior was named the MSUB Softball Player of the Year at the Buzzies.


 
MacDonald on her favorite MSUB memories: "My fondest memories were winning the GNAC my freshman year in 2012 as well as my senior year in 2015 and making it to the (regional) championship game. Also making forever friendships."
 
Lisa McKinney (MacDonald's Head Coach 2012-15): "We were very fortunate to keep Jessyka MacDonald in Billings. She was a strong pitcher from the day she stepped on campus. Her curve ball and rise ball kept the competition off balance. I remember asking her one time if she wanted to walk their best hitter to get to another that was struggling, or go right after her. And typical Mac response: "I'm going to get her out."
 
Bekah Gasner (MacDonald's Assistant Coach 2012-15): "I am glad this Billings player decided to stay home and play for MSUB. She grew into such a dominating pitcher throughout our conference and in the west region. Her pitches were sneaky and deceitful. If you didn't bite on her rise ball, you were going to strike out on her change up. If you got lucky and fouled a screw, you were doomed with a curve, or better yet, another rise. She had so much spin ball; she made batters look foolish. Mac dominated the mound and was a major factor in our postseason run in 2015."
 
Where is she now? Now Jessyka Hultgren, she resides in Laurel where she is a student-teacher while she works towards her master's degree in education at MSUB. She is also the junior varsity softball coach at Billings West High School and the softball coach at Ben Steele Middle School.
 

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Amanda Todd
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Hometown: Billings, Montana
Playing Years: 2011-2014 (4 seasons)
 
Another hometown hero, Todd was the ace of the Yellowjacket staff during the 2012 GNAC regular-season championship and NCAA playoff appearance. Todd posted a 3.39 ERA that season with team-highs of 86 2/3 innings pitched, 89 strikeouts, and eight complete games.
 
Todd was a three-time second-team all-GNAC selection during her MSUB career, and, like MacDonald, ranks in the top-10 in numerous career pitching categories. Her 7.22 strikeouts per 7-inning game are second-most, six shutouts are third, opponent batting average of .254 is fourth, 321 strikeouts are fifth, 3.87 ERA is sixth, 24 wins and 49 starts are eighth, and 311 1/3 innings pitched are 10th.
 
Todd was a three-time GNAC Pitcher of the Week selection, and she threw three scoreless innings in MSUB's regional playoff game against UC San Diego as a sophomore in 2012.
 
Todd on her MSUB career: "My fondest memories about my time at MSU Billings was surrounded by softball. Being a Yellowjacket is something I will cherish for the rest of my life."
 
Lisa McKinney (Todd's Head Coach 2011-14): "Todd really became a corner piece of our team. She did an excellent job of taking the team on her shoulders. The great thing about Todd was the higher the pressure the better she did. I can't count the number of times bases were loaded with no outs and she struck out the side!"
 
Bekah Gasner (Todd's Assistant Coach 2011-14): "When Todd was recruited, she wasn't necessarily recruited as a pitcher. But the team needed her to pitch, so she did, no questions asked! She worked incredibly hard to learn the new demands of pitching at the DII level, and she excelled. She threw hard and was so effective with the pitches she had. Her mound presence was intimidating, and teams hated facing her. She thrived in challenging situations and was so fun to watch."
 
Where is she now? Todd resides in Billings, where she is a school counselor at Meadowlark Elementary School.
 

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Kelly Parsons
Position: Catcher
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Playing Years: 2008-2011 (4 seasons)
 
Feature Story: MSUB's Kelly Parsons A Pain To Opposing Pitchers (Joe Kusek/Billings Gazette - April 21, 2011)

Freshly inducted into the MSUB Hall of Fame in 2020, the final two seasons of Parsons' legendary career came at the turn of the decade. Parsons was a three-time first-team all-GNAC pick her sophomore through senior seasons, after earning second-team all-conference and GNAC Freshman of the Year in 2008.
 
A .319 career hitter, Parsons' power made her one of the most feared hitters in the league. She belted 35 home runs – second most in program history, and drove in 130 over her four seasons. Parsons also logged 27 doubles and scored 78 runs while playing in 190 games.
 
In addition to her offensive excellence, Parsons was a weapon for the 'Jackets behind the plate. Her 44 runners caught stealing and 10 runners picked off are both most in program history.
 
Parsons was a key figure on the team's 2012 regular-season championship and NCAA regional team, and she was also a first-team all-region selection. She earned academic all-GNAC all three seasons she was eligible.


 
Parsons on her MSUB career: "When I think of my time at MSUB, I think of the experiences and relationships that shaped who I am today. The lessons I learned continue to influence the way I manage my career, how I interact with my family, and trickle into every other aspect of my life. The people I met at MSUB continue to enrich my life to this day."
 
Lisa McKinney (Parsons' Head Coach 2011-12): "Kelly was a great leader for our team. She always seemed to come up with the hit when we needed it. She knew how to talk with her pitchers to keep them calm during a game. Kelly set the expectation bar when it came to catchers."
 
Bekah Gasner (Parsons' Teammate 2008-09, Assistant Coach 2010-11): "There are a few from the all-decade team that I had the chance to play with, and Kelly was one of them. She came into the program as a fearless freshman and grew into a great leader behind the plate. She was a pitcher's catcher; she knew each of her pitchers well – knew how to call their best games, and she knew how to keep them in line. I loved playing with her and as a coach, loved coaching pitchers knowing that her and I were always on the same page."
 
Where is she now? Parsons resides in Seattle, where she is the director of customer experience for SEIU 775 Benefits Group.


 

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Megan Dettling
Position: Pitcher/Designated Hitter
Hometown: Sparks, Nevada
Playing Years: 2015-2018 (4 seasons)
 
Feature Story: Sparks Shining Bright As Yellowjacket Softball Pipeline

A talented dual threat, Dettling had streaks of excellence throughout her career both as a pitcher in the circle and as a power hitter at the plate. Dettling was a key contributor as a freshman in 2015 on the regional playoff team, appearing in 19 games and earning three wins as a pitcher.
 
Overall in her career Dettling tallied a 5.37 ERA, finished third in appearances with 93, fourth in strikeouts with 329, fifth in innings pitched with 403, sixth in strikeouts per 7-inning game with 5.71 and complete games with 33, and seventh in wins with 25.
 
Offensively, Dettling also recorded a career batting average of .328 with 20 home runs and 84 RBIs, while ranking eighth all-time in slugging at .555.
 
Among her top performances, Dettling had a pair of record-breaking games – one on each side of the plate – both coming on the same date in different seasons. On February 8, 2017 as a sophomore, Dettling broke the school record and tied the GNAC record with three home runs against UC Colorado Springs. Dettling had four RBIs and scored four runs and the 'Jackets needed every bit of it, winning the contest 7-6. Dettling also had four strikeouts in the complete-game win in the circle.
 
Exactly one year later, on February 8, 2018, Dettling had one of the greatest pitching performances in school and conference history. In a 1-0 win over Chadron State, Dettling tossed a two-hit shutout and broke the school and conference records with 18 strikeouts. Sitting tied for the GNAC all-time record with one out left to get, Dettling ended the game with the record-breaking 18th punch out.


 
Beyond the field, Dettling was a four-year member of the MSUB Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and served as SAAC president her senior year in 2017-18.
 
Dettling on her fondest MSUB memories: "Spending time with my teammates in our hotel rooms and on the bus. I enjoyed playing softball with my teammates. Making lots of memories with teammates and other MSUB athletes. Being a part of something bigger than just my sport; being a part of SAAC changed my outlook towards all sports. Another thing is the big games we played on our home field were amazing."
 
Lisa McKinney (Dettling's Head Coach 2015): "Megan came to MSUB as a strong, hard throwing pitcher with the potential to shut teams down. Getting to watch her transform from her freshman year to her senior year was quite a treat. Her record 18-strikeout game shows what she was truly capable of on the mound. Following her freshman year she became an offensive threat as well, helping her own cause several times."
 
Bekah Gasner (Dettling's Assistant Coach 2015, Head Coach 2016): "Megan was such a hard worker. She was a threat on the mound and in the box. Not many pitchers can do both at this level, and she thrived. My favorite memory was being able to text her after a game to congratulate her on the record breaking, 18-strikeout game. Her hard work both physically and mentally really paid off in that game. It was such an incredible accomplishment, something I knew she was capable of the whole time."
 
Where is she now? Dettling resides in her home town of Sparks, Nevada where she is pursuing a career in law enforcement.


 

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Kasie Conder
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Hometown: Hamilton, Montana
Playing Years: 2009-2012 (4 seasons)
 
Feature Story: Conder Ready For Final Pitch (Joe Kusek/Billings Gazette - May 1, 2012)

While Conder's career occurred primarily during the 2010s decade, her most important contribution came during her freshman year in 2009 during the Yellowjackets' NCAA regional run. She was the GNAC Freshman of the Year, a first-team all-league pick, and a second-team all-region selection after leading the GNAC in saves with four and holding a stellar 1.52 ERA.
 
Conder's final three seasons with the 'Jackets didn't match her freshman output, but they were still good enough to etch her name into the school record books. Her 2.86 career ERA is No. 2 all-time, while she ranks first in saves with eight and games finished with 36, third in strikeouts per 7-inning game with 6.54, fourth in wins with 34, fifth in opponent batting average at .258, sixth in strikeouts with 309, and seventh in appearances with 74, innings with 330 2/3, and complete games with 31.
 
Conder was a four-time GNAC Pitcher of the Week, and a three-time academic all-conference selection as well.

Conder on her MSUB career: "My fondest memory from my time at MSUB is becoming conference champs in 2009. I was never good at throwing to first base from the pitcher's mound; however, I remember the last game we played at home that year. It was the top of the 7th inning, we had one out, and the batter hit a dribbler to me. I picked it up and successfully threw it to first base for the second out. Leslie (Davis) and I had huge smiles and just high fived (it ended up being the picture on the newspaper the next day). The next better struck out and we won the championship. I will never forget that moment."

Lisa McKinney (Conder's Head Coach 2011-12): "Kasie was one of the first pitchers in this decade to be a local kid from Montana that came in and dominated. She had a strong freshman season, being named freshman of the year. Throughout her career she continued to pitch well for us and find a way to let her offense come in and win the ball game."

Bekah Gasner (Conder's Teammate 2009, Assistant Coach 2010-12): "Kasie Conder was a one-of-a-kind pitcher. Her speed itself was intimidating, but when paired with her rise ball, she was at times, untouchable. She was a very dominating pitcher, even as a freshman. Her change up was deceiving, and she could throw it in any situation. She did a great job keeping hitters off balance."

Where is she now? Now Kasie Huether, she lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where she is a stay-at-home mother of three.

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Brittney Sanders
Position: Catcher
Hometown: Kelso, Washington
Playing Years: 2012-2015 (4 seasons)
 
Feature Story: Around The Horn: Brittney Sanders

A four-year star behind the plate, Sanders handled MSUB's pitching staff and played a role on each of the team's regional appearances during the decade. Sanders earned all-GNAC recognition three times including a pair of first-team all-conference selections.
 
Sanders' top offensive season came in 2014, when she batted .353 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs to go along with 10 doubles. She was one of the most important players on the 2015 regional runner-up squad, as she started all 52 games behind the plate while maintaining a .302 batting average.
 
Sanders is 14th in school history with a .332 career batting average, while slugging .484 and getting on base at a clip of .380. Her 32 career doubles are tied for third most, and her 89 RBIs are 11th most in school history. Defensively, Sanders was among the elite as her .984 career fielding percentage is No. 3 in school history. She also ranks second in runners caught stealing with 29, fifth in stolen base percentage at .766, and sixth in putouts with 672.
 
Sanders on her MSUB career: "My fondest memories were winning the GNAC and competing in regionals in 2012 and 2015. There is nothing that compares to the feeling of being a part of such great teams. I would also say in general meeting my fiancé who was a baseball player and all my best friends at MSUB that I still stay connected with."


 
Lisa McKinney (Sanders' Head Coach 2012-15): "Brittney was a special catcher for our program, maturing into a leader from her freshman to sophomore year. You don't see many freshmen that come back their sophomore year ready to lead a team. She held herself and her teammates accountable each and every day. All the while she was throwing runners out, getting solid hits, helping guide the pitchers, and finding ways to score runs for her team."
 
Bekah Gasner (Sanders' Assistant Coach 2012-15): "One of the best leaders behind the plate to go through the program. She worked hard as a freshman to gain the team's trust, and once she gained that trust, she never lost it. The defense stayed calm when she called the shots. She was competitive and fearless. Pitchers relied on her confidence, and the team relied on her intensity."
 
Where is she now? Sanders lives in Portland, Oregon, where she is a company store manager at Starbucks. She is engaged to former MSUB baseball pitcher Bobby Ragasa.
 

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Maddy Lincoln
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
Hometown: Olympia, Washington
Playing Years: 2017-2020 (4 seasons)
 
The lone lefty to earn all-decade recognition, Lincoln was a force in the circle during her four seasons with the 'Jackets. Lincoln recorded eight wins and 12 complete games as a freshman in 2017, and never looked back after being selected as the MSUB Freshman of the Year at the Buzzies.
 
Lincoln ranks second all-time at MSUB in appearances with 101, complete games with 48, innings pitched with 480 2/3, and starts with 74, fourth in shutouts with five, fifth in fewest walks per seven innings at 2.32, sixth in wins with 26, eighth in strikeouts with 287, and 10th in career ERA at 4.33.
 
Lincoln was an honorable mention all-conference pick as a sophomore in 2018, the same year she earned a GNAC Pitcher of the Week award and Desert Stinger all-tournament selection. In addition to her pitching excellence, Lincoln was a three-time academic all-GNAC pick as well.

Lincoln on her MSUB career: "I have a ton of memories spanning the four years I spent at MSUB but one of my favorites and probably the one that impacted me the most is how the upperclassmen on my team welcomed me my freshman year. I remember being so nervous showing up to the dorms to move and when my mom and I pulled up almost the whole team was there to help. They welcomed me and introduced themselves, then helped me take all my over-packed bins up to my door room. Right away they were so nice and made me feel comfortable. From that moment forward I knew I picked the right school and the right team. My freshman year those same upperclassmen continued to be awesome leaders, on and off the field."

Lisa McKinney (Lincoln's Head Coach 2020): "Maddy is the only lefty pitcher that I know of throughout the decade and I remember how excited we were to get a lefty like Maddy. She came in as a raw pitcher but was eager to learn and showed her growth on the mound over the years. Even when fighting through injuries she gave it all she had and wanted to put the team on her shoulders. Her resilience and can-do attitude made her one of the greats."

Bekah Gasner: "I'm so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of Maddy's recruiting process. She was such a great fit for MSUB softball. She was a dominating left-handed pitcher who excelled at keeping the ball low in the zone. She was such a great teammate and fun person to be around. I wish we would have been able to see what her true senior year looked like. But despite the season being cut short, she had a great career at MSUB."

Where is she now? Lincoln lives in her hometown of Olympia, Washington where she is student teaching in a local third-grade classroom.

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Nicole Wilkerson
Position: Catcher
Hometown: Lincoln, California
Playing Years: 2012-2013 (2 seasons)
 
A two-year star behind the plate, Wilkerson had a pair of strong seasons for the 'Jackets after transferring from Southwestern Oregon Community College in time for the 2013 season. Wilkerson earned first-team all-GNAC as a junior in 2012, and was the primary backstop during the team's regional run. Wilkerson batted .351 while starting 33 games behind the plate that season, a big factor in her career .317 batting average. She also homered seven times and drove in 33 runs in her two seasons with the 'Jackets.
 
Lisa McKinney (Wilkerson's Head Coach 2012-13): "Nicole 'Bear' was a true pitcher's catcher. She understood what every pitcher needed from her and she was excellent with communicating that to them. She was strong behind the plate as a catcher and at the plate as a hitter. Her calm and collected attitude was what our defense needed to see at the hardest of times."
 
Bekah Gasner (Wilkerson's Assistant Coach 2012-13): "Bear worked unbelievably hard behind the plate. She had a strong group of pitchers to handle, each with a different arsenal of pitches to know and understand. She knew how to work hard for each of them and get the job done."
 

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About the MSUB All-Decade Team Project
The top student-athletes from each of Montana State University Billings' current varsity athletic teams from 2010-2019 have been selected, and 14 all-decade teams will be revealed throughout the course of the fall of 2020. Each sport's all-decade team is comprised of the top-performing student-athletes, with weight given to individual athletic achievement and accolades, team achievement, academic achievement, as well as community service. For more information on MSUB's all-decade project, and to view each sport's all-decade teams, view the all-decade project webpage online here.