Season Preview: 2024 Softball

DURANGO, Colo. – As the snow begins to melt and the sun begins to shine, there’s one thing on everyone’s mind: getting back out on the diamond. With a new head coach and a new lineup, only time will tell what’s in store for the 2024 Fort Lewis College softball team. 

Looking Back

Last season was one of growth for the Skyhawks who improved by six wins from the season before ending the spring at 23-26 overall and an even 21-21 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. Early April provided a spark that led Fort Lewis to back-to-back series wins and eight-straight victories over conference opponents at home on Aspen Field. 

Alex Tenorio returns for another season after lighting up the field at the plate last season. The five-foot-five shortstop from Albuquerque, N.M., racked up 60 hits on the season including 11 doubles and eight home runs for an explosive .377 batting average, the sixth-highest in the RMAC, to pair with a 1.004 on-base + slugging percentage. While Tenorio drove in 33 runs across the year, it was the power off the shoulder of junior Catheryn Rodman that led to a team-leading nine homers and 35 runs batted in for the Skyhawks outfielder. 

In the circle, Amiee Shanks, a sophomore product from Tucson, Ariz., tallied the fourth-most innings pitched across the conference with 162.2. Shanks pitched her way to the tenth-best earned run average (3.44) in the RMAC while amassing the fourth-most wins (16) and earning a save. 

In the end, Fort Lewis ended the season as the first team out of the RMAC Tournament but produced the fourth-straight season of finishing conference play at .500 or better. Six Skyhawks were tabbed with RMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention: Alex Tenorio, Catheryn Rodman, Amiee Shanks, Alyssa Gutierrez, Sloan Shotton, and Kayla Stone. Recognized for their efforts in the classroom, Shanks was tabbed as an RMAC First-Team Academic All-Conference honoree while Rodman, Hannah Rutherford, Cara Daugherty, and Katie Pippel earned Academic Honor Roll honors. In addition, Rodman, Shanks, and Daugherty advanced to earn Division II College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors. 

The Schedule

Fort Lewis is headed back to Los Lunas, N.M., for the second straight year and Canyon, Texas, for the fourth consecutive year to open the 2024 campaign. Hosted by Western New Mexico and West Texas A&M, respectively, the Skyhawks will face off against a plethora of talented South-Central regional opponents such as Texas Permian Basin, Western New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico, No. 4 West Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Kingsville, and even Great Northwest Athletic Conference member Simon Fraser. 

The race to the RMAC Tournament – which takes only the top six teams in the league – begins on Saturday, Feb. 17, as FLC plays host to western slope rival Colorado Mesa for a four-game series. Colorado Christian, the league’s only representative in last season’s South-Central regional, will then come to Aspen Field the following week on Feb. 23-24 for back-to-back weekends of high-caliber softball up on the rim.  

Adams State marks the first road trip for the Skyhawks this season on Mar. 2-3 followed by Colorado School of Mines on Mar. 23-24, CSU Pueblo on Mar. 28-29, Black Hills State on Apr. 13-14, and University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Apr. 26-27 to close out the season. 

Fans can enjoy six total home series at Aspen Field including Colorado Mesa, Colorado Christian, Regis on Mar. 8-9, Chadron State on Mar. 16-17, MSU Denver on Apr. 5-6, and lastly, New Mexico Highlands on Apr. 20-21. The conference tournament is slated for May 2-4 with the NCAA regionals to follow on May 9-11. 

Know the Newcomers

This past fall, head coach Paige Adair was hard at work to bring in veteran talents who will look to make an immediate impact on this spring’s season. For Adair, those pieces feature an outfielder, a catcher, and an NJCAA National Champion utility player. 

Briana Jorgensen (Utility/Catcher, 5-8, R-R, Casa Grande, Arizona)

Jorgensen comes to Fort Lewis after playing one season at 2023 NJCAA National Champion Phoenix College... played in 32 games for the Bears... owned a .222 batting average, .317 on-base percentage, and .352 slugging percentage... racked up four doubles and one home run... drove in five runs and drew eight walks... owned a .946 fielding percentage... earned All-Region honors after guiding Vista Grande High School to state for the first time in school history.

Stacia Raley (Catcher, 5-4, R-R, Arvada, Colorado)

Raley joins the Skyhawks after playing two seasons for the Lady Bobcats at East Georgia State College... played in 37 total games for the Lady Bobcats... racked up a .339 batting average and .394 on-base percentage her sophomore season... posted a .974 fielding percentage... made the dean's list all four semesters... lettered thrice at Arvada West High School... was a three-time First Team Academic All-State honoree.

Emalynn Redmann (Infield/Outfield, 5-5, R-R, Houston, Texas)

Redmann comes to Fort Lewis after playing one year for the Rangers at Kilgore College... played 42 games... posted a .279 batting average in 111 at-bats alongside a .331 on-base percentage and .324 slugging percentage... drove in 12 runs while drawing nine walks... boasted a .894 fielding percentage on 94 total chances... captained the team as a sophomore... was a Second Team All-District honoree at Kingwood Park High School. 

Roster Breakdown by Class

Seniors: Catheryn Rodman, Cara Daugherty, Kayla Stone, Hannah Rutherford

Cat Rodman (Outfield, 5-6, R-R, Tulsa, Oklahoma)

All-RMAC Honorable Mention, RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll, CSC Academic All-District

2023: Started in all 49 games... batted .289 to rank third on the team… recorded 43 hits through 149 at-bats... led the team with nine home runs... scored 28 times... led the team with 35 RBIs... posted a .544 slugging percentage and .355 on-base percentage... had 11 multi-hit games... enjoyed a nine-game hitting streak from Feb. 20 to Mar. 5... drove in a career-high five RBI in a win over Chadron State (Mar. 4)... also had two home runs in the game... had two, three-hit games... drew nine walks and a team-leading eight hit-by-pitches... made 49 putouts with one assist.

Cara Daugherty (Outfield, 5-7, Aztec, New Mexico)

RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll, CSC Academic All-District

2023: Started all 49 games... batted a career-best .279... totaled 36 hits through 129 at-bats... had six doubles, one triple, and one home run... hit her first career home run against Mines (Feb. 27)... 6-of-7 on stolen bases... led the team with a .982 fielding percentage making 54 putouts and one error... had 15 RBIs... recorded two RBI at Colorado Christian (Apr. 28)... had six multi-hit games... was 3-of-3 in a win over Adams State (Apr. 23).

Kayla Stone (Second Base, 5-5, R-R, Salinas, California)

All-RMAC Honorable Mention

2023: Started all 45 games played for the Skyhawks making appearances at second and third base... owned a .210 average with 29 hits across 138 at-bats... tallied eight doubles and five home runs for 29 RBIs and 22 runs scored... drew nine walks... stole two bases... in the field Stone compiled a .947 fielding percentage with 69 putouts, 93 assists, and nine errors. 

Hannah Rutherford (Outfield, 5-4, R-R, Roanoke, Texas)

RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll

2023: Played in 30 games, starting in 14... scored six runs and tallied one RBI... drew two walks and four hit-by-pitches... 7-of-9 stolen bases... had two stolen bases in a win over UCCS (Apr. 6)...made nine putouts. 

Juniors: Faith Sgro, Alex Tenorio, Amiee Shanks, Hailie Mann

Faith Sgro (Outfield, 5-2, L-R, Phoenix, Arizona)

2023: Played in five games, starting in one.. scored a run in a win over Adams State (Apr. 22)... made two putouts at Chadron State (Mar. 5).

Alex Tenorio (Shortstop, 5-5, R-R, Albuquerque, New Mexico)

All-RMAC Honorable Mention

2023: Started in all 49 games at shortstop for the Skyhawks... finished the season sixth in the RMAC with a team-leading .377 average and 10th in the RMAC with 60 total hits across 159 at-bats... led the team with 11 doubles...hit eight home runs for a .597 slugging percentage... tallied 33 RBIs and 31 runs scored... went 15-for-17 on stolen bases... drew 10 walks... had a .407 on-base percentage...posted a .910 fielding percentage with 70 putouts and 131 assists. 

Amiee Shanks (Pitcher, 5-7, R-R, Tucson, Arizona)

All-RMAC Honorable Mention, First-Team Academic All-RMAC, CSC Academic All-District

2023: Played in 34 games, starting in 21 in the circle... threw 17 complete games... led the staff with 162.2 innings pitched... threw a career-high eight innings in a win over Black Hills State (Apr. 1)... owned a 3.44 ERA... had a 3.25 ERA in RMAC play... totaled a career-best 60 strikeouts... held opposing hitters to a .284 average... had one save and two shutouts... posted a 16-8 record... ranks fifth all-time in program history with 27 career victories, third in single-season pitching record, third in single-season innings pitched, tied for sixth in single-season shutouts, eighth for single-season ERA, and second in single-season appearances... posted a a .964 fielding percentage with 48 assists.

Hailie Mann (Pitcher, 5-9, R-R, Tucson, Arizona)

2022: Played in 34 games, starting in 20... pitched to a 9-12 record... pitched 143 innings... led the staff with a 6.23 ERA... owned a 4.58 ERA in conference play... threw 11 complete games with one complete-game shutout... had one save... struck out a team-leading 76 batted... earned her first career win in a five strikeout effort against Adams State (Mar. 4)... had a season-best eight strikeouts in a complete game win over MSU Denver (Apr. 15)... held a .905 fielding percentage... had one hit on the year, a double versus UT Permian Basin (Feb. 19).

Sophomores: Cali Niccum, Ashley Burriel, Alejandra Medina, Sienna Mullen

Cali Niccum (Catcher/Infield, 5-6, R-R, Yuba City, California)

Made only one appearance last season due to injury… Niccum comes to FLC after competing in softball, volleyball, and basketball at Yuba City High School... a four-year letter winner in softball... four-time All-Academic honoree... SAC All-Metro Player and All-Conference award winner... career .417 batting average alongside a .716 slugging percentage. 

Ashley Burriel (Infield, 5-2, R-R, Rio Rancho, New Mexico)

2023: Played in 13 games, starting in 12... batted .226 with seven hits... hit her first career double in a win over Adams State (Apr. 22).. drew one walk and one hit-by-pitch... made 13 putouts with 14 assists... committed just one error for a .964 fielding percentage.

Alejandra Medina (Utility, 5-4, R-R, El Paso, Texas)

2023: Played in 18 games, starting in 15... batted .136 with six hits... recorded her first career hit in a win over Colorado Mesa (Feb. 20)... hit her first career home run against CSU Pueblo (Mar. 12)... drove in four RBIs and scored three runs... drew five walks. 

Sienna Mullin (Outfield, 5-4, R-R, Brighton, Colorado)

2023: Played in 12 games, starting in six... batted .125 in 16 at-bats...had her first career hit in a win over Black Hills State (Apr. 1)... scored four runs... drew three walks and two hit-by-pitches... stole one base... made five putouts in the field.

Freshmen: Mykel Torres, Natalie Rodman, Makenna Milliman

Mykel Torres (Infield/Outfield, 5-2, R-R, Bernalillo, New Mexico)

Torres was a four-year letterwinner in soccer and softball at St. Pius X High School... two-time state champion in soccer and three-time district champion in softball... earned First Team All-District and Academic All-District honors in softball and soccer... tabbed with First Team All-State honors in softball and Second Team All-State honors in soccer... was selected to the New Mexico Red/Green softball All-Star team. 

Natalie Rodman (Middle Infield, 5-4, R-R, Tulsa, Oklahoma)

Rodman comes to FLC as a four-year player for Jenks High School... All-District Team... Academic All-Conference... Principal Honor Roll... 6A Undefeated District Champion... Regional Champion.

Makenna Milliman (Outfield, 5-7, R-R, Yorba Linda, California)

Milliman was a four-year player for Esperanza High School... Scholar-Athlete... Second Team All-League... Section 1 Division Championship.

RMAC Preseason Rankings

Fort Lewis was voted to finish in a tie for ninth alongside New Mexico Highlands by the league’s head coach in this season’s RMAC Preseason Poll. The Skyhawks and Cowgirls received 37 points to finish behind Chadron State in eight with 57 points. Colorado Christian, the only RMAC program to reach the South-Central regional last season, was once again voted to win the conference with 117 total votes and eight of 12 first-place votes. MSU Denver and Colorado Mesa, who came in first and second, respectively, each tallied two first-place votes as well. 

For the full conference rankings, click the link below.

Final Comments from Coach Adair