ST. PAUL, Minn. - Concordia's homecoming weekend has an additional feature on tap for 2009, a softball alumni game pitting the record-setting members of the 2005 squad against the sluggers of the current Golden Bear roster.  The 7-inning game will be held at 10:30 on Saturday, October 3 at Dunning Field, just before the 12 Noon start time of the homecoming football game at the new Sea Foam Stadium.

"I can't wait to see everyone, it's going to bring back some great memories," said CU head coach Bob Bartel, who took over coaching duties from Tom Rubbelke in 2005.  Bartel will skipper the 2009 squad in the alumni game, while a pitch has been made for Rubbelke, CU's Director of Athletics, to make an appearance in the dugout for the 2005 team.

The 2005 Golden Bear softball team won a school record 44 games on their way to the program's first and only North Central Region Championship and a berth at the NCAA Elite Eight.  They won the third NSIC title in school history after going 12-2 in the league and took 25 of 26 games as they headed into the Elite Eight.  To date, 14 of the 16 members from the 2005 roster have already committed to play in the alumni game this October.

"I am extremely pleased with the response I have received from the 2005 team.  They were all very excited when I phoned them with the idea of getting back together on the field," said Bartel.  "My hope is that the families of the 2005 team can attend and renew old friendships, as well."

The alumni game will pit one of the best offensive teams in school history against one of the best defensive teams.  The 2005 squad holds the record with a .970 season fielding average and made its name known from inside the circle, where they shutout opponents a record 24 times.  Kristen Schmidt, then a junior at CU, won a school record 27 games for the Golden Bears and put up a 1.18 ERA.  Holding every pitching record in the books, Schmidt currently serves as an assistant coach at Concordia and will utilize her knowledge of current players to give her team an edge.

The 2005 Golden Bears had five All-NSIC First Team selections, including All-American Schmidt and Amanda Yurek, who holds the CU career record for hits (229).  Jennifer Pozzani had a team high .355 batting average during the monumental season.

The current Concordia squad counters with an offense that broke every team record in 2009, putting up a .305 batting average, a .358 on-base percentage and a .434 slugging percentage.  They broke nearly every team and individual record for triples in 2009, hitting 19 on the year, including nine from then-freshman Jamie Lindboe.  Anna Bjorlin, who will be a senior in 2009-10, guided the offense with a .360 batting average and 63 hits on the year.  The Golden Bears have a multitude of highly touted young players and look forward to meeting and challenging the powers of the Golden Bear past.