Kansas City’s softball team has struggled so far this season.
The team currently sits at 4-28 on the season, 1-8 in conference play and last in the Summit League standings. The Roos are a far cry from the 28-31 record that it held last season.
This could be due to players such as star pitcher Camryn Stickel graduating and junior pitcher/first baseman Katie Noble being unable to pitch this season, which put the team in a tough spot.
Last spring, the Roos clinched third seed in the league going into conference championships and ended fourth in the league out of seven teams. This marked its best conference finish since 2021, which offered a glimpse of a promising future. However, this year has proven to be challenging.
“This season has been a little rough,” said senior outfielder Briona Woods. “We definitely are a younger team, so we are trying to figure out the chemistry between the upperclassmen and lowerclassmen.”
As the Roos continue to build team chemistry, the freshman focus on gaining experience navigating life on and off the field. The team is focused on growth, resilience and the journey to finishing off the season strong.
“We get a lot of things thrown at us that a lot of people outside don’t see,” said freshman pitcher Riley Bebb. “There’s a lot of adversity that isn’t seen and overcoming that as a team is something that we have done a really good job at doing together.”
During the double-header the team struggled offensively, ultimately losing the first game 15-0. Despite the tough start, KC showed flashes of solid defense early on. The crowd was impressed with a double play to get out of the third inning, but SDSU took control from there.
“I had to learn how to put on a presence and a persona,” said Bebb. “Today, you would have seen me come in the first inning and I wasn’t quite there, but I came out the second inning and I was like ‘hey, I got you guys.’”
Stepping into the second inning of the first game, Bebb held her own in the circle. Coming back more determined under pressure and working through tough innings with confidence.
“Our strengths are definitely that we have a little bit of everything,” said Woods. “We have some speed, we have some power, we have some really quick kids. We can lay down a bunt and get on to first base.”
As the team figures honing their dynamic, they recognize the value of their well-rounded skill set. Woods highlights the group’s versatility and ability to adapt during different game situations.
The coaching staff also brings a strong focus to the importance of the mental side of the game and encourages players to slow down, plant their feet, and stay present.
“It’s about keeping the game slow, taking it pitch by pitch, game by game, and not letting moments get too big,” said Assistant Coach Josie Tofpi. “Softball is a very fast paced sport, it’s about keeping it slow in our minds and just trusting ourselves and trusting our preparation and the process.”
jirbxh@umsystem.edu
