Do not be fooled by the cold weather and snow on the ground, Maverick softball season is well underway.
This year’s softball team will look quite different than what fans might remember from last year’s 45-9 squad. South Central Region Pitcher of the Year Paige Adair, second-team All-Region pitcher Ellie Smith, second-team All-RMAC third-baseman Nicole Christensen and second-team All-RMAC outfielder Lauren Wedman all graduated last offseason.
“Half of our team is new. Usually, you don’t have that big of a turnaround, but we have a lot of good, young players. With a whole new pitching staff, yes, it’s a different dynamic. It’s nice because you have that great hitting team behind you and a great defensive identity. […] Most of our starting position players, besides pitchers, are still there,” head coach Mercedes Bohte said.
The Mavericks, however, are returning sophomore first-team All-RMAC infielder Maya Arrieta and first-team redshirt senior outfielder Brandi Haller. Colorado Mesa University (CMU) was picked second in the RMAC coaches’ softball poll heading into this season, only trailing Colorado Christian University.
Additionally, the team added three transfer players. Sophomore pitcher Stella Turner and junior pitcher Hannah Sattler came from Santiago Canyon College and Southern Nazarene University, respectively.
Sattler has served as CMU’s “ace” pitcher this year, posting a 2.96 earned-run-average (ERA), 11 strikeouts, and 1-2 win-loss record.
“She’s done really well for us, throwing a couple different complete games. Sometimes, it’s on the losing end of the game, but she’s done really well and kept teams off balance. I think we’ll see a lot of good things from her this year,” Bohte said.
Graduate student Miranda Pruitt comes into the program after a seasoned career at DI Tarleton State University in Texas. Pruitt hit a .250 average, recorded eight home runs and posted a .977 fielding percentage in her last season for the Texan Riders.
“The girls here are great. We have such a better chemistry with a smaller team. We’re able to get to know each other a little bit better. My last team at Tarleton was 31 girls and only nine can play the field. But here, everybody knows you’re gonna play the field. Everybody believes in each other. We all have confidence in each other.” Pruitt said.
One thing that comes across when talking to players and coaches, is the genuine bond the teammates have with one another.
“In comparison to the other programs that I have been a part of, CMU softball has a special bond […] You know how everyone should be approached when it comes to their specific personality. My favorite part is the constant laughter and jokes within this group of girls. [The upperclassmen] have all helped to integrate the new players. They saw how the veterans do things and adapted quickly,” Haller said
The Mavericks started their season with two wins on Feb. 3 against Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay, but dropped a string of close games to finish their non-RMAC play.
“Well, preseason didn’t go the way we wanted. You only get two weeks. If you win a bunch and you play ranked teams, it really helps you in regional rankings. If you don’t, then it really doesn’t matter. You just have to win the conference tournament, which was nice that we get that automatic bid. This is the next chapter. First chapter is done. Remember what was good, what was bad and we need to keep working hard,” Bohte said.
The rest of the Mavericks’ opponents come from the RMAC. Fans can support the defending six-time conference champions with a home-opening series against Fort Lewis College starting on Sunday Feb. 19, and then again for a weekend series against Black Hills State University on Feb. 25 and 26.
