The Winonan caught up with junior pitcher Jordyn Kleman and asked about her journey to becoming a pitcher here at Winona State, and how this softball team as a whole continues to have a strong year.

On her choice to go to Winona, it was the closeness to home that brought her in.

“I’m from La Crosse, so Winona was right up the river, it’s nice to be close to home,” Kleman said.

She was also aware of how good Winona State’s program was and said the coaches were “really awesome” and did a great job helping her feel welcomed.

Being a DII athlete and the softball team having a 45-5 record, Kleman obviously has had a lot of success as a player.  The Winonan asked if she still got pregame butterflies?

“I still get butterflies before every game, it’s not so much when we are already there warming up and doing our thing, it’s on the bus right before we get there,” Kleman said.

With Sunday’s victories over Minot State the Winona State softball team has won 30 games in a row and secured another conference title.

The Winonan asked Kleman if she herself or the team as a whole had any pregame rituals or superstitions they did before every game during this run?

“As a team we are pretty superstitious, we all kind of do weird stuff, but personally it’s just doing the same routine every day,” Kleman said.

She talked about how the coach will come out and hand her the ball while telling her whose catching, which it’s been Rylee Stout this year, then the team will meet in the dugout before doing their normal warm ups.

“For me, one of my weird superstitions is each inning I’ll go out there, throw my warm up pitches, then the team will all come together into a huddle.  When we break the huddle, I walk over to second base take a deep breath, then I’m ready to throw my pitches,” Kleman said.

Kleman’s pre-pitch routine must be working as she’s won NSIC Pitcher of the week five times this year. So, the Winonan had to ask when Kleman realized her arm was so lethal?

She laughed and credited a lot of her success to the all-around effort and skill of the team.

Going 30-0 in conference games, the softball team looks to continue their high level of play heading into the NSIC tournament which begins Thursday, May 2 in Rochester.