The Mavericks look to be stronger offensively and defensively heading into the 2022 season.
After finishing the season losing in the regional tournament but winning the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) tournament, the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Softball team is feeling confident about the success they can have this season.
“After seeing how we performed the last season, I think everybody is super excited going into the season and we know what we can do based off of last season and how well we played. I think everybody’s just looking forward to getting the opportunity to be on the field again and work towards going further than last year,” redshirt junior outfielder Lauren Wedman said.
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the team will get an opportunity to start their season with their preseason tournaments. The tournaments allow the Mavericks to see some teams they do not face on a regular basis, and it is a good opportunity for the team to see where they are before heading into conference play at the end of February.
Tournament play gives the team a sneak peak into the dynamics of different teams outside of the RMAC so once postseason play begins, they can tap into the dynamics they found through the first two weekends of the season.
The Mavericks veteran presence is spread throughout the whole team, giving them depth and experience all over the field.
The Mavericks bring back all three pitchers from last year including redshirt senior Paige Adair and redshirt juniors Shea Mauser and Ellie Smith. The three pitchers on the Maverick staff know what to expect from each other and have had each other’s backs for the past three seasons.
“We are all really different and it’s fun to support each other because we are a staff. It’s not just one of us doing all the pitching but being that we are all older and we have all played in the RMAC three or four years now, we know exactly what to expect and the highs and lows of pitching. Just knowing I have those two right next to me to pick me up and I’ll do the same for them is a good feeling,” Adair said.
Smith had a strong season last year in the circle proving that she was a force in the field and at the plate. While she was able to strike out 63 batters with a 2.19 earned run average. She was able to also contribute offensively as well. Smith finished the 2021 season with a .444 batting average while producing 68 hits and 80 runs batted in.
Someone to watch this season is sophomore catcher Ally Distler.
As a freshman last season, Distler proved to be versatile by being able to play shortstop and catcher. She became CMU’s primary catcher early on in the season and grew throughout the season.
The Mavericks welcomed a new freshman class and multiple transfers to their roster that are ready to get on the field and help the team to where they want to be in the upcoming season.
CMU saw a coaching change during the offseason as well that had Mercedes Bohte promoted to head coach after she took over as the interim head coach in the middle of last season.
The Mavericks look to start out strong when they head to Irvine, Calif. to compete in the Concordia Kickoff Classic. The team will play San Francisco State University on Feb. 4 at 12:15 p.m to start off the season.
