by Athletic Communications
The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers softball program is excited for their season to begin in the upcoming weeks.
With their season opener taking place on their own field Wednesday, February 12th, the Rangers will enter their 2020 season with home-field advantage.
The Rangers are coming off a tough season with an overall record of 9-43, and a 9-35 Great American Conference mark, but no matter the record the entire team believed that last year was an amazing learning opportunity.
Head Coach Jill DeVries stated “I am really excited for this season to get started. We have such a great group of hardworking young women who are ready to leave everything out on the field.”
Many of the returners have a new outlook and have stepped up as leaders to do nothing but improve on all aspects of their game.
Part of that leadership includes two seniors in Alexus Bailey and Taylor Zanca who both bring extreme enthusiasm and athletic ability to the team.
Bailey stepped up last season in left field as a junior and DeVries sees her being a huge difference maker to winning games this season.
Zanca was a red-shirt transfer from Oklahoma Baptist last season and has yet to wear the red and black in a game but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t bring her own spark to the team. She will be most impactful with a big bat at the pate but will see time at both first and in the circle defensively for the Rangers.
This will be DeVries third year as the Rangers head coach, excluding her one-year stint as interim in 2017. DeVries has an overall record of 25-66 as a head coach. She is assisted by Allora Miller who is in the fourth season as the pitching coach for the Rangers.
Despite losing six seniors to graduation, the Red-and-Black are returning many of their young starters from last season including Abby Detar in right field, Lindsey McElroy in center Morgan La Neve at third. Another big-time returner is Kalie Johnson who had a fantastic season last year at second base and earned herself an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection as a freshman.
All the afore mentioned players are only sophomores and show how talented this young team is. Others including Jayden Flowers and Bailee Whitener are also returners who saw some playing time last season and add depth to the Ranger line-up.
The Rangers also added five junior college transfers and eight freshmen that will also impact the team.
“The junior college transfers bring a lot of experience and maturity to the team” states DeVries.
One of those is Coffeyville transfer Brianna Wisby who compliments returner Johnson in the middle of the infield and brings plenty of experience to the lineup.
Two of the eight incoming freshman includes pitchers Hannah Howell and Kameron Ryer who will be seeing monumental time in the circle for the Red-and-Black. DeVries and Miller are both excited for their youth and energy they bring to the field.
“This season is expected to be our best season yet. This team is a great group of girls who work so well together and are working harder than ever to make this season a good one.”
The Lady Rangers will play Newman University to start off their season after their season opener against Southwest Baptist got postponed. They will play Newman on Feb. 12 for a doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m..