Saints Softball Fired Up To Defend Conference and NAIA Regional Titles
SAN ANTONIO (Jan. 25, 2024) – Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), the reigning Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) softball regular-season and tournament champions are primed and ready to get on the field for the team's 15th season on Feb. 2.
2023 recap
The RRAC champs, which marked a best-ever 51-8 overall record and 28-0 conference record, won the NAIA Regional Tournament last May. The Saints became the first team to make it to the NAIA Softball World Series. "It was a historic ride," Head Coach Bruce Lenington commented. "It was a great experience for all of us involved. I think what that team accomplished is that it provided all the teams to follow that we can do it here."
The Saints won 35 straight games from Feb. 25-May 5. They began the season ranked No. 15, then improved to No. 7, then No. 2 for four consecutive weeks. Team records they set in 2023 include overall record, conference record, away wins, postseason record, runs, doubles, homers, RBIs, slugging percentage, walks, hit by pitch, on-base percentage, fielding percentage, ERA and strikeouts.
2024 projections
The Saints have brought in an excellent group of young players. "Where we go from that is going to be up to us," Lenington said.
Preseason ranking
The NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll placed the Saints at No. 7 out of 25 programs in 2024. "Our job this year is to try to maintain that and stay within the top 10."
The Saints have also been picked to finish first in the RRAC Preseason Poll. Picked second is the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV), and third is Texas A&M University – San Antonio (A&M San Antonio). Picked third is Louisiana Christian University (LCU), followed by LSU-Alexandria (LSUA), Texas A&M University – Texarkana (TAMUT), Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA), University of the Southwest (USW), Jarvis Christian University (JCU), Texas College (TC) and Huston-Tillotson University (HTU).
Nonconference schedule (numbers after school indicate series record).
The Saints start the season on the road in Alexandria, La., for a tournament sponsored by Louisiana Christian University (LCU). On Feb. 2, the women will face NAIA No. 8 Central Methodist University (1-1) and Missouri Baptist University. On Feb. 3, they will face Central Christian University. They will return home to host Central Washington University Feb. 6-7. From Feb. 9-11, the team will host the OLLU Saints Classic and will play Avila University (0-1) and NCAA D3 Sul Ross State University (0-2). Also participating in the tournament is Texas A&M University – San Antonio. OLLU will then host the NAIA No. 6 University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (2-2) on Feb. 17. They will travel to Oklahoma City, Okla., for the Red Dirt Classic from March 1-2. The Saints return home to face NCAA D3 Schreiner University(18-2) on March 5. On March 12, the Saints will host Doane University (3-0) for a doubleheader.
Conference schedule
The conference schedule consists of doubleheaders spread throughout the spring. OLLU opens conference competition at home against A&M San Antonio (13-2) on Feb. 24, TC (34-3) on March 8, and JCU (17-4) on March 9. They head to Hobbs, N.M., to play USW on March 15 and return to host HTU on March 19. The Saints also host LCU on March 22, XULA on March 23, and UHV on March 28. They will play HTU is in Austin on April 2, and LSU-Alexandria is in Alexandria, La., on April 5. They will visit TAMUT on April 6 and host USW (42-13) on April 13. The Saints will host A&M San Antonio on April 20 and UHV (23-30) in Victoria on April 23.
The Saints will get set for the RRAC Championship Tournament that will be hosted by LSU-Alexandria May 2-5. The NAIA Opening Round will take place May 13-15, and the Softball World Series will be held May 23-29 in Columbus, Ga.
Returners
Eight Saints will be playing their last season of softball. They include Alana Benitez, Cassandra Valdez, Marissa Bradley, Natalie Rodriguez, Alyssa Flores, Kayla Dreese, Madison Garza and Eneli Garza. A graduate student, Valdez is the first softball player at OLLU to receive NAIA All-American First-Team honors. She was selected to the NFCA NAIA All-American First Team, NFCA All-Southwest Region, RRAC All-Conference First Team and All- Tournament MVP. She was also named RRAC Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive year. Madison Garza was selected to the All-Conference First Team and NFCA All-Southwest Region Second Team. Rodriguez is in her first year at OLLU, while Benitez and Flores are in their second year. Bradley and Eneli Garza are playing in their fourth year, and Dreese is finishing her sixth year with the Saints as a graduate student.
Other returners include Arianna Alejandro, Alyssa Garcia, Kristee Salas and Emilia Salinas. Alejandro, Garcia and Salinas are in their second year with the Saints, while Salas is playing in her third year as a graduate student.
Newcomers
Top newcomers include Natalie Rodriguez, Grace Ross and Ava Hernandez. Rodriguez is a graduate transfer from Texas A&M University – Kingsville, and according to Lenington, she will be able to play multiple positions in the infield and be an excellent hitter. Ross is a graduate student who transferred from Huston-Tillotson University. She is a 6'0" catcher who will threaten base runners trying to steal. Hernandez is a versatile player who will be part of the Saints pitching staff.
Other newcomers include outfielder freshman Reanna Aguirre, infielder freshman Celina Wilharm, utility freshman Lexie Escamilla, catcher sophomore Bradi Hill, catcher freshman Laila Vega, pitcher freshman Valeria Vielma, infielder freshman Tania Rodriguez and pitcher freshman Peyton Farris.
Coaching staff
Lenington, who has won the RRAC Coach of the Year two years in a row, returns for his fifth season at the helm. During his time at OLLU, Lenington has recorded a 134-53 overall record for a .716 winning percentage and 66-11 in the RRAC for a winning percentage of .857. He and his staff were named ATEC/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Coaching Staff of the Year in 2023. Jody Armijo returns for his fifth season, while Ariel Montgomery and Rebecca Duran join the staff this year. Both played for the Saints and were part of the championship teams. Eloy Pacheco will return as the recruiting coordinator.
Academic success
Academics is vitally essential to Lenington. His teams have been honored with the NAIA Scholar Team Award all four years he's been at OLLU. This past season, the team earned a 3.31 GPA. Dreese and Salas received College Sports Communicators Academic All-District awards. Bradley, Dreese, Salas, and Valdez won NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition. Earning RRAC Scholar-Athlete honors were Bradley, Dreese, Flores, Eneli Garza, Salas and Valdez.
Fan expectations
"This team inspires a lot of young kids, and we need to appreciate that. The team will be fun to watch; they will play with a lot of passion. We have a lot of players who care deeply about the community," Lenington concluded. Fans are encouraged to come out and support the Saints as they defend their conference titles. Games will be livestreamed on the OLLU Saints Network.
OLLU Faculty, Staff and Students receive free admission with a valid OLLU ID. at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ollusaints/.
Hear from Head Coach Bruce Lenington as he discusses the 2024 season.