ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers softball team is looking to make some noise this year.
After a slow start last year, the Rangers again finished the season strong with an overall record of 17-33, going 16-28 in Great American Conference play as they finished one game away from the conference tournament for the second year in a row. They ended the year winning their last six out of ten games, defeating Southwestern Oklahoma State University (1-2), Henderson State (2-4), and Harding University (3-4).
This will start the beginning of Coach Jill Devries second full official season as head coach of the Rangers. Coach Devries believes that the team will see some new challenges this season with melding of old and new players, but she’s excited about the work ethic and positive attitude of this team.
That holds true both on and off the field.
This does nothing but fuel the Lady Rangers to prove that this team has the comradery to take them to the next level this season. Assistant Coach Allora Miller believes the new faces and older experience will help lead them to a successful season and reach their goal of making that elusive spot in the tournament.
The Rangers were ranked ninth in the preseason poll, due to their large freshman class, and only returning two regular season senior starters, in Morgan Kirk at shortstop and Karly Murray returning to the circle. The Rangers also have some returning experience with their other five seniors in Allison Wells, and Jalena Arthur in the circle, and Summer White, Ashlie Green, and Chesney Fouts bringing experience to the hitting line-up.
“All of the returners will play significant roles and I am excited to see their leadership come through with the young group we have,” Coach Devries said.
Defensively, Northwestern possess a much larger pitching staff then in years past with the help of Murray who pitched 196.2 innings last season and had a 3.88 earned run average. With the help of Pitching Coach Allora Miller, the Rangers are excited to have her leadership on the mound once again.
Allison Wells will also be returning with experience as she appeared in eight games for the Rangers last season. Freshman pitchers, Ariel Forsyth (Quinlan, Texas), Kat Wells (Sanger, Texas), and Alli Willis (Marietta, Okla.) will be impactful in the circle complimenting the senior experience.
“Our lineup is going to be a strong 1-9 this season with a good combination of power, speed, and consistency,” states Coach Webb-Devries. Morgan Kirk will headline the Rangers line-up as a lead-off option for her second and final season. She started 46 games last season and ended the year with a .297 batting average, which was third highest on the team.
A couple of talented newcomers will also provide some depth on both offense and defense in Morgan La Neve and Madison Friest. Both Friest, a freshman catcher out of Roland-Story, Iowa, and La Neve, a freshman third baseman with a good glove from Henderson, Nevada, have a good amount of power at the plate. Both will see lots of playing time and will bring new energy to the field Coach Devries believes.
Adding to the stellar freshman class are two freshman lefty power hitters in Caden Cunningham, centerfielder from Weatherford, Texas, and Jayden Flowers, first baseman from Yukon, Oklahoma, will add a change to the lineup making it hard for opposing pitcher to get into a rhythm.
The Rangers will get their season underway on the road at the Oklahoma Christian University Tournament in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Feb. 15-16. First pitch of the 2019 campaign at noon against Colorado Christian, played at University of Central Oklahoma, followed by a contest at 2 against UCO.
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