New look Lady Tiger softball team hoping for a return to the national tourney

Winning has not been an issue for the Cowley College softball team; advancing to the national tournament has been another story. After coming close to winning the region title in recent years, Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt believes she has a team that can make it back to the nationals in Oxford, AL.

Cowley has had back-to-back 40-plus win seasons, yet the Lady Tigers have not made it to the NJCAA Division II National Championships since placing fifth in the 2018 season.

At one point last season, Cowley was 14-0 in the Jayhawk Conference. However, the Lady Tigers lost seven of its final 10 games.

Cowley College head coach Jenny Hoyt, who enters her 11^th season in charge, added some talented freshmen and transfers to the roster.

Krisyana Pellet, Ezra Arredondo, Aubrey Williams, and Arkansas City native Taverli Tennant, who spent last season as a member of the Oregon State University softball team, are transfers that Hoyt has added to the squad.

Freshmen on the roster are pitchers Lauren Howerton, Gracy Smith, Madison Baker, and Dacey Morris. Outfielder Bre Curry rounds out the newcomers on the team.

"I feel good about the freshmen and transfers we have added to the returning players," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said.

Mikah Vann returns to anchor the pitching staff after finishing her freshman season with a record of 21-7.

"Mikah's leadership and experience will be beneficial to us," Hoyt said. "Aubrey Williams, a transfer from Northern Oklahoma College-Enid, and Ezra Arredondo from Paris Junior College, will add to our pitching staff and help Mikah feel not so much pressure."

Krisyana Pellet is another transfer from NOC-Enid who will likely handle the majority of the catching duties for the Lady Tigers.

"She does a great job of not only calling pitches but also handling traffic on the basepaths," Hoyt said.

Two-sport standout Jamie Molina returns after batting .365 with eight home runs and 63 runs batted in as a freshman.

"Jamie will be a huge factor for us in the field and at the plate," Hoyt said.

Second baseman Kanon Goji (.396 average, 31 RBI, and 15 stolen bases) also returns as she and Vann were named Second Team all-conference selections as freshmen.

"Kanon is one of the most talented infielders we have, and she should be more comfortable after having spent a year in the U.S.," Hoyt said.

Harper Hancock (.346 average, two home runs, 24 RBI) was named an Honorable Mention all-conference selection in 2024, and Paige Scanlin (.331 average, three home runs, 30 RBI) and Raelynn Sandlin (.302 average, three home runs, 20 RBI) also gained a ton of experience as freshmen on the team.

Alissa Nuno rounds out the returning players. Nuno batted .408 with a .558 on-base percentage in limited action as a freshman. 

Cowley will open the season on the road at Seminole State College on Wednesday, February 5.

'We will play a tough non-conference schedule to prepare us for conference play," Hoyt said.

The Lady Tigers will play its home opener on February 12 and will go on to play 22 conference games.

"We need to stick to our culture and have the vision of where we want to end our season at," Hoyt said. "We need to be able to overcome any challenges we face throughout the season and maintain our goal of wanting to finish the season at the national tournament in Alabama."