Hard-working Bredel starring with UF Softball

FINDLAY -- Becoming a powerhouse takes a lot of hard work. Annika Bredel knows all about what it takes to get herself and the University of Findlay softball team to the top. The senior is ending her collegiate career at UF with 30 home runs, 150 RBIs, 174 runs on 228 hits, and has started in 197 out of 198 games. She has led the team to two NCAA Division II tournament appearances which came in each of the last two seasons. Bredel is on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Player of the Year Watchlist for the second consecutive year, is leading the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in on base percentages at .537 along with OPS at 1.313. She is the G-MAC leader in runs scored with 56, second in hits (67), second in RBIs (47), second in home runs this season with 11, and third in stolen bases with 19. "It's no surprise about the big things," Oilers coach Danielle Lowe said. "With the stats, she has put in the hard work necessary to get to where she is." So how did UF end up with a talented softball player from Elyria Catholic? That part is a bit more complicated. "I was planning on going to community college and being close to home," Bredel said. "I initially told Coach (Lowe) no as far as playing collegiate softball. Then, I looked at it and realized just how strong the program that I wanted to study was and that got me interested." Additionally, with UF being a Division II school, they offered more financially to play collegiately on scholarships, and it was an offer that Bredel couldn't refuse. "I remember calling coach and asking her if the offer was still good," Bredel said. "I was blessed that she was willing to still give me a chance. She is a coach that cares about her athletes as well as their academics." With the support system back home of family and friends in Wellington, she made the leap to Findlay and dove in feet first to college life. Throughout the four years, Lowe has seen Bredel grow in multiple ways: Her leadership, her work ethic, and commitment to being the best in the field. "When you get a naturally talented player like Annika," Lowe said. "You are amazed at the amount of commitment, drive, and strong work ethic someone like her has. It trickles down to the team." The team, who has a fight mentality like no other, has come to rely on Bredel for inspiration. "She pushed her team to be the best," Lowe said. "She is humble, even with all the accolades, but if the team wants to do it, then they can with hard work." Lowe has been the coach at UF for 11 years, and has a career record of 378-308-2, and an Oiler coaching record of 280-128, along with a G-MAC record of 137-73. Over the years of coaching Bredel, Lowe has enjoyed watching Bredel overcome struggles and has loved seeing her top hitter grow so much as an athlete and person. One example of that growth was Bredel's sophomore year when they were at Trevecca Nazarene College on April 20, 2024.. In the top of the seventh inning with two outs, Lowe had pulled Bredel aside before she went to bat. "The fences aren't that tall there," Lowe recalls. "I told Annika, I don't care if we win or lose, but I want you to swing for the fences." Bredel did just that. She hit a home run to left field over the fence 20 feet, for three RBIs in the game, and drove in Alexys Antal and Jenna Poulson along with herself. Berdel flipped the script and got the win for the Oilers 4-3 when they had been down 1-3. Lowe acknowledges that when once Bredel got to the field and with her talent, there was one phrase she should not have said. "You have the green light." In the bottom of the seventh inning against Ashland University on April 26, 2025, the Oilers were tied 3-3. Bredel had doubled out to centerfield, and then stole third on a wild pitch. Before she went to bat, Lowe had uttered the phrase, and Bredel ran with it literally. "I ran as fast as I could to get to home plate when I saw the ball bounce," Bredel said. "AU threw the ball in to try and tag me out, but it bounced off the catcher and rolled out, and I jumped over the catcher, dove with my feet, and broke the tie to win it." "I remember the silence," Lowe said. "I thought to myself, 'how did she do that?' but I did give her the green light to go for it, and she did big time." This season, the Oilers currently are 39-12 overall with a G-MAC record of 18-6. After coming into the tournament as the fourth seed, UF won four straight games, and its first G-MAC title/The Oilers faced off against Hillsdale (29-18, 17-7) to start the G-MAC tournament. "With it being the first game of the tournament, we have to learn to trust the people around us," Bredel said before the game. "We have to fight and show up. We need to keep the fight mentality and take one thing at a time." As for Bredel, she will be graduating with a degree in Environmental Science on the second, and her future after graduation is a little uncertain. "I have had a couple of offers," Bredel said. "Though I am not sure which I will take, I'm blessed for all the support around me, and for the team and coach Lowe, along with all the memories and history here at UF."