Photo by Luke Zayas/True To The Cru
BELTON-Following on the heels of a historic season that ended in an NCAA Tournament Regional Final appearance naturally creates lofty expectations in the season to come. And for the UMHB softball team, that appears to be a challenge the Crusaders are ready to take head-on entering the 2024 campaign.
UMHB’s season-opener is set for Friday afternoon in Houston, with a doubleheader at St. Thomas. The Celts faced The Cru twice in the NCAA Tournament last spring, with UMHB winning both matchups. They also split a doubleheader on the opening weekend of the season in Belton.
“We had one of the best fall [semesters] that we’ve had since I’ve been a coach here as far as kids coming in and being prepared,” UMHB head coach Melissa Mojica, who begins her fourth season at the helm of the program, and ninth total in Belton.
“We keep stats in the fall, and scrimmage a lot. The offensive stats were really good. We were a little nervous about pitching, and then we had our scrimmage against Hill College and a Buzz 16U Elite team and our pitchers did great. I was overall very happy with the fall.”
Mojica’s assessment is especially notable considering UMHB is a team with a number of new faces set to contribute this season. Starting pitchers Grason Long and Kami Flores, arguably one of the most dynamic pitching rotations in the country last season, both graduated, as did starting catcher Blakely Niles. Centerfielder Lexi Harris, who leaves UMHB with the second-most stolen bases in a career (51) and third-most runs scored (123), also graduated off last year’s squad, amongst other key offensive contributors.
But 15 newcomers are on the roster in 2024, including junior college transfers Eileigh Whyte (Hill College), Chloee Mason (Blinn Junior College), and Bailey Frenzel (Angelina College). Whyte and Mason, both pitchers, have strong foundations of collegiate experience in the circle already, with plenty of innings already under their belts. And Frenzel, an infielder, was an All-America selection as well as the Region XIV Player of the Year as a freshman two years ago at Angelina.
Those are just three of the new faces with potential for big impacts in UMHB’s quest for a third-straight 30-win season.
“Lots of depth on our team this year,” Mojica added. “I feel very confident that we filled all positions. Our team looks different with 15 new kids, but we’re definitely talented and going to compete well.”
The measuring stick will be seen almost immediately, with Mojica’s squad facing a pair of 2023 NCAA Tournament teams out of the gate, starting with St. Thomas on Friday, and followed by a doubleheader against often-highly-ranked Texas Lutheran in Belton on Feb. 10. Then comes a home doubleheader against Southwestern followed by the toughest stretch of them all: The NFCA Leadoff Classic.
UMHB earned the opportunity to compete at the Classic this season, as the Crusaders head to Columbus, Georgia for what is considered by many to be the most prestigious early-season tournament in Division III softball. The resumes of the six teams UMHB is scheduled to face over the three-day span held a combined winning percentage of .717 in 2023, and both Randolph-Macon and Concordia (Wis.) reached the NCAA Tournament Super Regionals last May.
“Our non-conference games are very challenging,” Mojica said. “That’s the kind of competition we have to play. You’re talking about the leadoff classic, which is mostly Top 25 teams. You start looking at their schedules from last year, and all of them are very talented. It’s going to be a fun trip to go out there and compete and know that we can play with these teams.”
The chance to be part of an event of that caliber is a credit to the UMHB administration, Mojica said.
“We’re really blessed to be at UMHB and for them to allow us to attend this tournament,” she noted. “It gives great recognition to Mary Hardin-Baylor and puts us at the top there. It helps our softball program tremendously to go out and showcase what we have.”
The Crusaders were picked first in last Wednesday’s ASC Preseason Poll, a ranking compiled by votes from league head coaches and sports information directors. UMHB and ETBU each earned exactly nine first-place votes, with The Cru edging the Tigers by four points.
But it will not only be competitive at the top of the league this season. Both LeTourneau and McMurry are knocking on the door to strong years, after taking steps forward last season. And Hardin-Simmons is always a challenger as well.
“After the leadoff classic, we fly back on Monday, and start conference play on Friday,” Mojica said. “We start with McMurry, who was a huge struggle for us last year. That is one weekend we are looking forward to, getting out there in Abilene and playing them.
“Our conference will be extremely tough. Everybody is better. There will be lots of teams in our conference this year that could be ranked or will at least be getting votes and that’s exciting to be a part of.”
UMHB will certainly be one of those teams in the Top 25 early in the season, with the NFCA’s Preseason Poll set to be released on Feb. 6. But rankings, numbers, and projections aside, there is plenty of confidence on this team and belief in the roster that has been assembled.
Leading the returning group is a trio of position players who were selected to the ASC’s Preseason Watch List a week ago, with senior outfielder Bailey Eggleston, junior shortstop Lindsey Polleschultz, and sophomore infielder Bryton Wright. All three were central pieces of the lineup last season, and alongside Allyse Castillo, are the only returners who started at least 18 games in 2023. However, sophomore Taylor Henken came up with a pair of key hits in the NCAA Tournament, and Kylie Green and Tori Skinner both made strides last season, which adds to the returning production as well.
There will also be plenty of attention on the circle. Whyte and Mason, the two junior college transfers, complement each other with their pitching styles. Whyte, in fact, pitched against UMHB in a scrimmage last preseason, and had success, which is notable considering UMHB led the ASC in hits in 2023. As a sophomore at Hill College, Whyte started 21 games and appeared in 31, allowing a 3.59 ERA over 179.1 innings. Her strikeout-to-walk ratio was 170-to-26. Mason posted a 2.78 ERA in 123.1 innings for Blinn last spring, and struck out 83 batters in 24 appearances.
Additionally, ETBU transfer Carmen Vela, freshmen Ella Gamblin and Reese Albrecht, and returning sophomore Hannah McCallister highlight the pitching staff for The Cru. Like every other position, UMHB has significant depth with a variety of capable arms.
“In the fall we would go week-to-week where the pitchers felt like they were struggling because they were giving up a lot of hits,” Mojica said. “But they adjusted also. I tried to remind them, ‘You’re facing some really good hitters. You’re challenging them, they’re challenging you. Let’s just keep moving.’
“Eileigh is a lefty, so that brings something different. With Chloee Mason, she’s a righty and will work hard on the outside. Eileigh will work more on the inside, so they help each other out. With Carmen, the freshmen that are getting better every day, and Hannah, I think we’ll be good in the circle. We have a lot of options and a lot of backup there.”
UMHB opens its 2024 campaign at St. Thomas at 1 p.m. on Friday in Houston, with a second game to follow at 3 p.m. The Crusaders went 3-1 against the Celts last season, and are looking to open the season with a win for the fifth-straight year.
