A youthful Southeastern softball lineup picked up valuable experience a year ago and looks to take the next step forward in 2026.
Coach Mackenzie Sher welcomes back a load of experience, including two of her top three hitters as well as leading pitcher to lead the way against another rugged schedule that is slated to begin this weekend at the D2 First Pitch Invitational in Conroe, Texas.
“We beat three Top 25 teams and most of our lineup was freshmen and sophomores a year ago,” Sher commented. “We are really excited going into this year. Youth got us a little last year. But they have a year of experience and it’s a very talented group. I am excited to get going and see what we can do.”
That returning experience will be led by returning All-Conference performers in Iliana Olivares and India McMurray as well as pitching stalwart Trinity Oden.
Olivares posted a team-leading .367 batting average that included 20 doubles, four homers and 30 runs batted in while McMurray belted a team-high 14 home runs and 37 driven in while hitting .341 at the plate.
Oden meanwhile is coming off a freshman campaign in which she struck out 115 batters in 102-plus innings with an 8-5 record and 3.68 earned run average.
She should have plenty of help with a pitching staff that Sher is extremely high on, includ- ing juniors Emily Simmons and Alyson Malone. Simmons led the team with 124-plus innings a year ago, sporting a 12-8 record and 3.88 ERA while fanning 110 batters. Malone added a 4-6 record in the circle in 57 innings and posted a 3.78 ERA.
Senior Bailey Kite also returns and will join freshman Lindsey Dubberly in likely getting some time in the circle early.
“Trinity performed really well in some big games last year and I think all of them have worked hard to take it to the next level,” Sher said. “Malone shut down some big games as a reliever. With lineups we face in the GAC it’s tough for one pitcher to get through a lineup multiple times and be effective. We are using more of a staff mind set but it depends how we piece it together. We’ll see how it shakes out.”
Sher also pointed to returning catchers Laci Larsen, a sophomore, and Kasey Simmons, a junior, as key cogs in the lineup. Larsen hit .260 with six extra base hits and 19 RBI while Simmons added a .225 average at the plate.
The Savage Storm will rely on a host of versatile defenders that could play multiple positions while finding a spot in the lineup.
That group includes Jazzy Rios, who hit .303 a year ago with 11 batted in, along with Susan Edwards and her .283 average, six doubles and 12 RBI.
Key newcomers include Colbert native and Tarleton State transfer Keegan Rowland as well as freshman Anley Hewitt.
“We’ve got a lot of versatility,” Sher added. “We recruited some athletic kids that can play multiple positions. The more you have like that, the better the chance to be more creative. If you can hit, you’re going to find a way into the lineup.”
With top-ranked University of Texas at Tyler and 13th rated Angelo State in the early weekend slate the Savage Storm will definitely figure out where they stand.
Sher believes team chemistry will be the biggest strength for a unit that feels like they definitely have something to prove after opening the season tabbed fifth in the conference.
“I have never been around a team with as good of chemistry as this one in my 11 years of coaching,” she commented. “We have done a lot of team bonding and it’s a different environment to be around with them. It’s an absolute blessing “We have the 11th toughest Division II schedule according to Massey Ratings. We have the motivation to show what we can do against those teams. That first weekend is a gauntlet. We may take some bumps along the way but learn from it in big moments. If we can continue to lean on each other it will make a big difference come conference time.”
