Following the university softball team’s first Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) title in almost three decades, the team is looking at a bolstered roster.
This year, the team approaches the next game season with a major increase in members, with 10 returning players and 14 new players. Over half of the current team consists of new athletes.
Softball coach Anna Kirk and assistant coach Bayli Dennison worked hard to gather this year’s team. “[Dennison] and I went recruiting really hard, especially all summer and into fall,” Kirk said. “We had a lot of athletes committed within the new class, and the OAC was the cherry on top for them to hop into this fall eager and ready to go.”
Now heading into the new ball season with the previous title of champions, the team has the motivation and aspirations to defend their title and achieve more victories big and small.
Addi Parker, a third-year at the university, is eager to step up to pitch into the new team dynamic as an upperclassmen. “I think the big thing is building the culture of the team,” Parker said, “continuing to build with a lot of new faces since they don’t know the ropes and everything yet — build, compete and do it right.”
With their previous championship win, the bar is set at an all-time high for this incoming team. Of course, there’s a lot of work to do, but their attitude while they practice and compete will make or break the team.
Alongside Parker is fourth-year Megan Parry, who is ready to welcome in the new players with the leadership and kindness shown by the five students who graduated before her in the spring. “I had such a great class ahead of me last year … they were able to instill and teach me a lot of things that I can hopefully transfer to the younger underclassmen as they come through,” Parry said.
“There’s a lot of high morale going on,” Parry said. “All of the returners have the same expectation as we did last year, and if we can transfer that to the players coming in, I feel like that’s going to push us even further. We have so much talent this year.”
Dennison’s job is to oversee the team’s ethic through their pitching and catching, so she is looking forward to building a great future for players, such as Parker and Perry, who both pitch and catch on the team.
“I think the biggest thing about the pitching and catching world is that it’s just hard. These players really tend to be the highlight on the field whether they’re doing things right or wrong,” Dennison said. “I always like to push for the side of fun … make sure you have fun, leave it all out there and play with your heart.”
At the same time, Kirk looks toward a future with even more victories for the team to celebrate together before they move on to post-grad lives.
“We would love for the team to make it to the tournament again. If you make it to the tournament, anything’s possible,” Kirk said, “but one game at a time, one practice at a time … My number one goal of why I took the job is to be able to help [the girls] with their most vulnerable time as they turn into young women.”
With all hands on deck, new and old, the softball team’s future is filled with synergy, positivity and, hopefully, many more wins to bring home to campus.
As a tight-knit team, as well as recent champions, the softball team has a total of 24 players who are raring to go when the weather warms up again.
But for them, the excitement begins even before then. On Sept. 26 at 1 p.m., the softball team will be honored with a ring ceremony during the volleyball game against Muskingum University.
This celebration will be the team’s first step into a hopeful and strong 2026-27 season.
Just as Kirk said herself, each small victory is one step closer to another big win and possibly another OAC title. This will be their first victory for this season, and many more should follow in this strong and exciting team.
