Tag: softball

Saints win thrilling, come-from-behind game two to take the series against Southwest

The softball team began today’s Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) doubleheader with a celebration of seniors Kayla Dreese (SR/San Antonio, Texas), Katelyn Esparza (JR/San Antonio, Texas), Jennifer Estrada (SR/El Paso, Texas), Joanna Gonzalez (SR/San Benito, Texas), Ariel Montgomery (SR/Castroville, Texas) and Alexis Valdez. After a 5-1 win over the University of the Southwest (USW) in the first game, the Saints ended the day with another celebration after the team came from a 2-7 deficit to win 8-7.

The Saints improve their NAIA-leading winning streak to 21 – the longest among all NCAA and NAIA universities – as they move to 37-8 overall and 20-4 in the conference. USW drops to 3-21 overall and 6-29 in the conference. The Saints are three games ahead in the West Division of the conference, while East-leading Texas A&M University-Texarkana also is three games ahead with 32-8 overall and 16-4 conference records.

History

The Saints are 39-13 against the Mustangs. OLLU won the first doubleheader on March 25, 7-0 and 12-0.

Game One, 5-1

Cassandra Valdez (JR/Brownsville, Texas) pitched all seven innings for the Saints to begin the series. She struck out nine in 23 at-bats to earn the win.

Ariel Montgomery hit a homer in the first, and she now leads the conference in home runs for the season with nine. Julissa Moreno (JR/Austin, Texas) singled to leftfield to score Rebecca Duran (SR/Austin, Texas) in the second to give the Saints the 2-0 lead.

The Mustangs added a run in the third after K. Savell scored on an error.

A double from Joanna Gonzalez sent Jennifer Estrada home to move the Saints to 3-1 after four innings.

Madison Nunn (SR/Cibolo, Texas) doubled in the fifth, and a sacrifice fly from Ariel Montgomery sent her home. Valdez followed with a home run. The Saints won 5-1.

Nunn and Gonzalez both had two hits, while Montgomery added two RBIs.

Game Two, 8-7

Ariel Montgomery started for the Saints and pitched two innings. Angela Ramirez (SR/Converse, Texas) pitched 2.1 innings, and Cassandra Valdez pitched 2.2 innings. She struck out five to earn the win.

Most of the second game belonged to USW, at least through the fourth inning. The Mustangs scored two runs to begin the game after a hit from S. Rey scored M. Ganaway. A sacrifice fly from M. Martinez scored L. Medina, and the Mustangs took the 2-0 lead.

The Saints tied the game in the second after a home run from Cassandra Valdez. Caitlin Terrazas (SR/Atascosa, Texas) doubled, and she scored on a sacrifice fly from Joanna Gonzalez.

The Mustangs scored three runs in the third inning. A. Ramos got on base, and she scored on a Saints’ error.  A double from S. Rey sent Ganaway home. Another hit from K. Savell scored Rey to give the Mustangs the 5-2 lead.

With L. Medina on after a Saints error, M. Martinez homered, and the Mustangs now led 7-2 through the fifth inning.

The Saints were not done. They closed out the fifth frame with four runs. Kristee Salas (JR/Edinburg, Texas) reached base on an error, and she scored off a sacrifice fly from Nunn. Eneli Garza (SO/La Feria, Texas) scored on an error by the catcher. With Dreese on base after a hit to centerfield, Montgomery homered, and the Saints came to within one at 6-7.

After a scoreless, uneventful sixth inning, the Saints had no time to waste if they were going to continue their winning streak. In the seventh, Nunn got on base on a hit to centerfield. She scored after Kayla Dreese hit a triple. Montgomery was intentionally walked, and Cassandra Valdez was up to bat. However, the Mustangs pitcher threw a wild pitch, and Dreese came home to score the winning run to give the Saints the 8-7 victory.

Dreese and Terrazas had two hits each, while Dreese added two runs and an RBI. Montgomery recorded two RBIs.

Series standouts

Kayla Dreese went 3-for-6, adding two runs, a double, a triple and an RBI. She is now second in the conference in batting average with .450.

Ariel Montgomery went 2-for-5, adding two home runs and four RBIs. She is now first in the conference with nine home runs. Madison Nunn is second with eight, and Valdez is third with seven homers on the year. Montgomery is second in the conference in RBIs with 42.

Cassandra Valdez went 2-for-6, adding two home runs and two RBIs. Valdez won both games today. She is second in the conference in ERA with 1.64, and she is first in strikeouts with 175 and in wins with 17.

What’s next

The Saints will play a nonconference game on April 20 at NCAA D3 Trinity University in San Antonio.

Saints crush A&M San Antonio in opening game and win second in walk-off fashion

The softball team crushed Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-SA) 9-0 in the first game of the doubleheader in five innings and then struggled in the second to win in walk-off fashion 9-8. The Saints improve to 31-8 overall and 16-4 in the Red River Athletic Conference. The team has won 15 consecutive games.

A&M-SA drops to 17-21 overall and 11-7 in the conference.

History

The Saints are 7-1 against the Jaguars. The Saints won 11-4 and lost 6-7 against the Jaguars earlier this season. Last year, the Saints won 2-0, 7-1 and 5-1.

Game One, 9-0 (5 Innings)

Cassandra Valdez, who improves to 15-4 on the season, started in the circle for OLLU. She pitched all five innings, facing 18 batters and striking out eight to earn the win.

The Saints’ offense kicked off its dominance in the first as Madison Nunn got a four-run rally started with a double. Ariel Montgomery followed with a homer. A double from Caitlin Terrazas was also followed by a home run by Rebecca Duran. The Saints now led 4-0.

After a two-strikeout and pop-up inning from Valdez, a sacrifice fly from Kayla Dreese sent Joanna Gonzalez home to improve OLLU’s lead to 5-0.

Another three-up, three-down inning for Valdez in the third was followed by a two-run inning for the Saints. Kaitlyn Esparza scored on a throwing error, and Valdez followed to move the Saints to 7-0.

The Jaguars threatened in the fourth inning after a Saints error, but two runners were left on base to end the inning.

Kristee Salas started the fourth inning with a double, and Nunn homered; the Saints moved to 9-0.

Once again, the Jaguars threatened to score as they entered the fifth, marking no hits on the board. But a single from G. Mitchell ended Valdez’s quest for the no-hitter. P. Vasquez also hit to the infield, but the team could not capitalize on their offensive efforts, so the game ended in the run-rule with the Saints winning 9-0.

Nun and Montgomery both went 2-for-3, with Nunn scoring two runs and Montgomery one. Both had two RBIs. Duran went 1-for-2 and had a homer and two RBIs.

Game Two, 9-8

Ariel Montgomery started in the circle for the Saints, and she pitched 5.1 innings while allowing six hits, three runs-one unearned and striking out two. Cassandra Valdez came in and pitched two innings. She allowed five runs and struck out five. Angela Ramirez closed out the game and had two at-bats to earn the 9-8 win.

The Jaguars scored their first run of the day to begin the game. P. Vasquez scored on a throwing error to give her team the 1-0 lead.

OLLU did not waste time and added three runs in the bottom frame. Nunn got on base, and Montgomery doubled to send her home. A sac fly from Valdez scored Montgomery. Terrazas followed with a home run, and the Saints took the 3-1 lead.

The Saints added two more runs in the third inning. Valdez scored on a throwing error, and Terrazas followed home to put the Saints ahead at 5-1.

A double from K. Guzman scored G. Mitchell, and the Saints continued to lead 5-2.

The Saints figured they had the win in the fourth inning after scoring two more runs. Dreese hit a triple, and she scored on a fielder’s choice play from Nunn. Montgomery hit a sac fly, and Nunn came home; the Saints took the 7-2 lead.

A&M-SA scored three runs in the sixth inning after a three-run home run from K. Guzman, and the Saints continued to lead 7-5.

The Jaguars took the lead in the seventh inning. A. Ortiz scored on a Saints error to begin the rally. J. Pinzo hit a sac fly and P. Vasquez came home. A single from Garces sent Rangel home, and the Jaguars now led 8-7.

Kristee Salas hit a sac fly in the bottom of the frame to score Valdez and tie the game at 8-8.

Angela Ramirez came in in the eighth inning to pitch. She was able to avert a run and put the game’s fate on her offense. Dreese started the rally with a double. Nunn bunted to third, moving Dreese to third. She scored on a throwing error to give the Saints the 9-8 win.

Caitlin Terrazas went 3-for-3 and had two runs and an RBI. Kayla Dreese went 3-for-5 and had two runs. Madison Nunn went 2-for-3, scoring two runs and adding an RBI. Ariel Montgomery had two RBIs. Dreese added a triple and double, while Montgomery marked one double, and Terrazas had a home run.

Softball receives 30 votes in the Coaches’ Top 25 Poll

The softball team has received 30 votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The Saints had received six votes in the previous poll released on March 23.

Since the season began this spring, the Saints have defeated three schools listed in the Top 25 poll. They beat Midland University (RV) 8-0 and 8-1, Campbellsville University (10) 5-4, Central Baptist College (24) 12-4 and Central Methodist University (13) 7-1. Central Methodist is now No. 11, Midland has received five votes and Campbellsville has received three votes. Central Baptist has dropped out of the Top 25 poll.

The only other Red River Athletic Conference team in the poll is Texas A&M University-Texarkana, which is ranked 13. 

See full rankings list online.

Softball outscores Southwest 19-0 in doubleheader sweep

The softball team swept the University of the Southwest (USW) in a doubleheader on March 25. The Saints improve to 21-8 overall and 8-4 in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). The Mustangs fall to 5-16 overall and 2-6 in conference.

Head Coach Bruce Lenington said, “This was one of our most complete performances from start to finish. Cassandra Valdez (JR/Brownsville, Texas) had a great doubleheader on the mound and in the batter’s box. The rest of the team was really locked in. We look forward to playing six games next week.”

History

The Saints were 35-13 against USW prior to the doubleheader.  

Game one, 12-0

The Saints’ offense surged in game one of the doubleheader. They scored 12 runs on 16 hits to win 12-0 in five innings. Starting pitcher Valdez allowed only one hit and struck out 10 batters in four innings of work to earn the win. Kelly Anne Salinas (JR/Laredo, Texas) closed the game on the mound in the final inning. Ariel Montgomery (SR/Castroville, Texas), Valdez and Caitlin Terrazas (SR/Atascosa, Texas) all picked up RBIs in a four-run first inning. The Saints tacked on three more runs in the third inning, one in the fourth and four in the fifth. OLLU limited the Mustangs to four hits.

Valdez batted 4-for-4 and Terrazas tallied four RBIs. Four Saints players had a multi-hit game.

Game two, 7-0

The Saints shut out the Mustangs in game two to complete the doubleheader sweep. Kristee Salas (JR/Edinburg, Texas) opened the scoring in the second inning by hitting a single to bring in Joanna Gonzalez (SR/San Benito, Texas). OLLU added two more runs in the fourth inning, including a triple by Rebecca Duran (SR/Austin, Texas) to score Terrazas. The Saints scored one run in the following inning and three in the seventh inning to win 7-0, backed by 11 hits.

Starting pitcher Angela Ramirez (SR/Converse, Texas) was awarded the win after pitching 3.2 innings without allowing a run. Valdez pitched the remaining 3.1 innings with five strikeouts. Valdez also went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI. Montgomery had two RBIs and a double.

Up next

The Saints return home to host the University of Houston-Victoria in a doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 1 p.m.

Saints softball sweeps Xavier in conference doubleheader

The softball team won its Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) doubleheader against Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) 3-2 and 8-1 on March 19. The Saints move to 19-8 overall and 6-4 in the conference, while XULA drops to 8-16 overall and 4-3 in the conference.

Head Coach Bruce Lenington commented, “I am really proud of our team to get the sweep today. Great pitching from Cassie (Cassandra Valdez (JR/Brownsville, Texas)), Angela Ramirez (SR/Converse, Texas) and Kelly Anne Salinas (JR/Laredo, Texas) made our defense look good.”

Pre-game

Before the beginning of the game, the Saints honored senior Ariel Montgomery (SR/Castroville, Texas). She was escorted by her mother Peaches Montgomery, grandfather Ernie Montgomery, grandmother Kitty Montgomery, uncle Clay Montgomery, sister Elektra Montgomery and brother Triton Johns.

Montgomery is a native of Castroville, Texas, where she attended Medina Valley High School. She joined the Saints in the 2019-2020 season and has played in 128 games and has had 349 at-bats, 64 runs, 114 hits, 25 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 80 RBIs and 24 walks. She has a .615 slugging percentage, .677 on-base percentage and a .344 batting average. On the field, she has 416 putouts, 65 assists and a .974 fielding percentage. Her pitching stats include a 3.92 ERA, 10 wins, 10 losses, 131.4 innings pitched and 75 strikeouts.

Montgomery was selected to the All-Tournament team in 2021 and the Champions of Character team in 2019. In 2020, she earned Player of the Week honors.

Game one, 3-2

Cassandra Valdez pitched all seven innings for the Saints and allowed four hits and two runs while striking out eight and walking two.

Xavier scored first to open the game. Madison Winston reached base on a Saints’ error, and she later came home after Mecolett Bradley hit a double.  

The Gold Nuggets added a run in the third inning. McKenzie Guillory hit a double to start the inning, and she scored on a hit from Bradley to give XULA the 2-0 lead.

Madison Nunn (SR/Cibolo, Texas) opened the fourth inning with a short hit to the catcher. Kayla Dreese (SR/San Antonio, Texas) walked and Montgomery drove her in on her infield hit. A sac-fly from Julissa Moreno (JR/Austin, Texas) scored Nunn to move the game to 2-2.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Joanna Gonzalez (SR/San Benito, Texas) got a walk-off hit to score Deandra Vera (JR/Uvalde, Texas) and give the Saints the 3-2 win.

Montgomery led the Saints on offense, going 2-for-3 and adding an RBI.

Game two, 8-1

Angela Ramirez started in the circle for the Saints. She pitched four innings and allowed three hits and a run to earn the win. Kelly Anne Salinas pitched in relief for three innings and she allowed two hits.

After a hitless top of the first, the Saints’ bats came to life to score three runs. Dreese hit an infield single, and she scored off a hit from Moreno. Rebecca Duran (SR/Austin, Texas) doubled, sending Moreno and Montgomery home to take the 3-0 lead.

The Saints returned on offense in the second inning to add four more runs. With Jennifer Estrada (SR/El Paso, Texas) on base, Nunn homered to left-center. After Dreese reached base, Montgomery hit a double to send her home. Moreno got in a sac-fly giving Montgomery the opportunity to score to give the Saints the 7-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, Dreese scored the Saints’ eighth run after a hit from Caitlin Terrazas (SR/Atascosa, Texas).

The Gold Nuggets prevented a shutout in the fifth on a run from Vivionna Robles after a Saints’ error. The Saints won 8-1.

Dreese went 3-for-4 and added three runs. Montgomery hit 2-for-2 adding two runs and an RBI. Terrazas also hit two and added an RBI. Moreno and Duran had two RBIs each.

Up next

The Saints will travel to Hobbs, N.M., to play the University of the Southwest on March 25.

Softball splits doubleheader with A&M San Antonio

The softball team took one of two games against Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) local rival Texas A&M University-San Antonio (TAMUSA) on March 12. The Saints move to 15-7 overall and 3-3 in the conference. The Jaguars are now 7-13 overall and 3-1 in RRAC play.

Head Coach Bruce Lenington said, “I was happy to see us regroup and put together a well-rounded victory in the night cap after a disappointing finish in game one.”

History

The Saints were 4-0 against the Jaguars prior to the doubleheader.

Game One, 6-7 (8 innings)

The Jaguars used a late scoring surge to take game one in eight innings. OLLU’s offense found a spark immediately in the first inning by plating four runs. Madison Nunn (SR/Cibolo, Texas) scored on a wild pitch and Caitlin Terrazas (SR/Atascosa, Texas) hit a three-run home run to right field. Nunn picked up an RBI in the second inning and the Saints led 5-1. The Jaguars hit a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the contest. The game went to extra innings and Joanna Gonzalez (SR/San Benito, Texas) gave the Saints a one-run advantage with a double in the eighth inning. TAMUSA tied the game yet again in the bottom of the eighth inning on a single up the middle. Following the tie, the Saints committed a fielding error to allow the Jaguars to take game one 8-7.

Kayla Dreese (SR/San Antonio, Texas) batted 2-for-3 and Terrazas recorded three RBIs. Saints starting pitcher Cassandra Valdez (JR/Brownsville, Texas) pitched the entire game and struck out seven batters.

Game Two, 11-4

The Saints flipped the script in game two. They scored 11 runs on 13 hits including two home runs. OLLU scored at least one run in all but the fourth inning. Four Saints had a multi-hit game and Gonzalez tallied three RBIs. Despite giving up 10 hits, starting pitcher Ariel Montgomery (SR/Castroville, Texas) allowed only one earned run in 5.2 innings. Kelly Anne Salinas (JR/Laredo, Texas) pitched in relief and didn’t give up a hit in 1.1 innings. The Saints have won six of the last seven games, including victories over three NAIA Top 25 teams.

Up next

The Saints head to Kerrville, Texas, to face Schreiner University on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Softball begins 2022 campaign on Feb. 11

Hear from Head Coach Bruce Lenington as he discusses the 2022 season.

The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball program is preparing for a successful season starting on Feb. 11 after its OLLU Star Shuttle Classic scheduled for Feb. 4-6 was canceled due to weather conditions. The team features numerous new faces and transfer athletes, as well as senior leaders and solid returners.

Coaching staff

Head Coach Bruce Lenington returns for his third season as the leader of the Saints. He holds a 37-32 overall record at OLLU and an impressive .714 winning percentage in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). Assistant Coaches Jody Armijo and Nicholas Espinoza will begin their third season aiding Lenington. Katrisha Arocha joins the assistant coaching staff after pitching for the Saints from 2014-2015. Arocha garnered multiple awards during her career and still holds the career ERA record at OLLU with a 1.79 mark in just two seasons. Ashley Lenington will begin her first season as an assistant coach as well.

Former players Ysa Gonzales and Alexis Valdez will be student assistants. They are joined by first-year members Gilbert Alvarado and Julianna Alvarado.

Lenington said, “We have a really good coaching staff because the group is well-rounded. The returning staff knows the routine of the program, and we are excited to welcome in new faces that have previous experience with the team.”

Newcomers

The Saints welcome two freshmen and five transfer athletes. Outfielder Taylor Gage (FR/Katy, Texas) and utility player Hannah Garza (FR/Lyford, Texas) will provide fresh talent to an already talented roster. The transfer class includes juniors Cierra Gutierrez (JR/San Antonio, Texas), Dominique Rodriguez (JR/Frisco, Texas), Kristee Salas (JR/Edinburg, Texas), Cassandra Valdez (JR/Brownsville, Texas) and senior Rebecca Duran (SR/Austin, Texas) from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Valdez previously played at NCAA D1 Texas State University. Graduate student Caitlin Terrazas (SR/Atascosa, Texas) joins the Saints from Lamar University. 

Returners and seniors

OLLU returns three sophomores, four juniors and a massive senior squad of seven athletes. Sophomores include infielder Marissa Bradley (SO/Seguin, Texas), utility player Eneli Garza (SO/La Feria, Texas) and outfielder Kaili Luna (SO/Converse, Texas). Katelyn Esparza (JR/San Antonio, Texas), Julissa Moreno (JR/Austin, Texas), Kelly Anne Salinas (JR/Laredo, Texas) and Deandra Vera (JR/Uvalde, Texas) round out the junior group. Senior leaders are Kayla Dreese (SR/San Antonio, Texas), Jennifer Estrada (SR/El Paso, Texas), Joanna Gonzalez (SR/San Benito, Texas), Ciera Martinez (SR/San Antonio, Texas), Ariel Montgomery (SR/Castroville, Texas), Madison Nunn (SR/Cibolo, Texas) and Angela Ramirez (SR/Converse, Texas).

Martinez reached 499 career strikeouts during the 2021 season, which currently tops the Saints’ record book. After being granted an extra year of eligibility, she returns for her fifth year due to the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.

Lenington commented, “We will suit up 22 players this season, and 17 are considered upper-level students. We are a really mature group and these young women have been playing softball for a long time.”

Nonconference schedule

(numbers following schools indicate series record).

OLLU’s first tournament – the OLLU Star Shuttle Classic – was canceled due to weather conditions. The team will begin its season with the Saints Four Seasons Classic Tournament on Feb. 11-13. Participants are Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OWU), Texas A&M University-San Antonio (TAMUSA) and Midland University (MU). OLLU will play OWU and MU on Feb. 11 and again on Feb. 12.

The Saints play two-game sets at home against the University of Texas-Tyler (0-4) on Feb. 16, William Woods University on Feb. 18 and Southwestern University (7-14-1) on Feb. 19. The season’s first road trip includes conference games against UHV (15-27) on Feb. 25 and a doubleheader at NCAA D3 University of St. Thomas (1-1) on Feb. 26. The Saints stay on the road to participate in the Gulf Shores Tourney in Gulf Shores, Ala., from March 4-6. They start the tournament against the University of Mobile (0-1) and Blue Mountain College (1-0) on March 4. They face No. 10-ranked Campbellsville University and No. 24-ranked Central Baptist College (0-2) on March 5 and close the tournament by facing No. 13-ranked Central Methodist University (0-1) on March 6.

The last few non-conference contests include games on the road against NCAA D3 Schreiner University (SU) (14-2) on March 16, NCAA D3 Trinity University (13-9) on March 23 and home against SU on April 6. They close the non-conference schedule with a doubleheader at home versus Dallas Christian College on April 10.

Conference opponents

The Saints finished with a 12-6 mark in the RRAC last season. OLLU finished as semifinalists in the 2021 RRAC Tournament after defeating the University of the Southwest (USW) and LSU-Alexandria (LSUA) and losing to Texas A&M University-Texarkana (TAMUT).

Conference play begins with a doubleheader at No. 25-ranked UHV (15-27) on Feb. 25. The Saints host Huston-Tillotson University (HTU) (25-11) for a doubleheader on March 8. Four days later, they travel to TAMUSA (4-0) for two games and host doubleheaders against RRAC newcomers Louisiana Christian University on March 18 and Xavier University of Louisiana on March 19.

The Saints head to New Mexico for a doubleheader against the University of the Southwest (USW) (35-13) on March 26. From March 29-April 9, the Saints host its longest homestand of the season against UHV on March 29, Jarvis Christian College (13-5) on April 1, Texas College (31-2) on April 2 and TAMUSA on April 9.

OLLU travels north to face HTU in Austin, Texas, on April 12 and returns home to host USW on April 16. They close the regular season in Alexandria, La., for a doubleheader versus LSUA on April 22 and in Texarkana against TAMUT on April 23.

Hosting the RRAC Tournament

The Saints will host the RRAC Tournament for the first time on May 5-7. OLLU will partner with St. Mary’s University to host some games due to the tournament being an eight-team field. The championship game will take place at the OLLU Softball Field on Saturday, May 7.

“We are very excited to host the tournament, and we have worked hard on improving our facilities. We feel that it is one of the best facilities at the conference,” Lenington commented. Improvements to the facility include fencing, concessions and a new press box.

Inaugural Hall of Fame

Lenington recently created the “OLLU Softball Hall of Fame.” The first class of athletes included Taylor Doege, Brittany McInnis and Katrisha Arocha. “The honorees were very appreciative of the university and softball program, making them feel good for all of the work they have done,” Lenington said.

Message to fans

The Saints plan to begin the season with no restrictions to fan attendance but encourage mask-wearing and social distancing. OLLU also plans to provide play-by-play broadcasts of home games here: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ollusaints/.   

Softball announces the fall 2022 class

As the softball team prepares for the 2022 spring season that begins in February, the team proudly announces the fall 2022 class. The incoming student-athletes will start their college career in August 2022.

Head Coach Bruce Lenington commented, “We are very excited to welcome the fall class of 2022 to OLLU softball.  Each of the newcomers represents themselves, their family and their current school in an exceptional way.  All are excellent students exuding characteristics of high character and fitting the championship culture we are building here perfectly.  Athletically, each provides an area of depth and competitiveness that will help us in every position group.”

Arianna Alejandro is a native of San Antonio, where she attends Judson High School. Her positions are catcher and utility. Her awards include All-District First Team and Academic All-District. She plans to pursue studies to become a physical therapist. Alejandro said, “The reason I chose OLLU was that this college showed me the most love and it definitely felt like home. I admire Coach Bruce and his staff for the way they coach the women. Also, the school itself is beautiful and I wouldn’t want to be a part of any other program. I am beyond excited to make new friends and be a part of something that can potentially be huge. Thank you and this program for seeing in me what a lot of people do not. I’m blessed and ready to become a role model for the SAINTS!”Lenington said, “Arianna is another good softball player from the Judson High School program.  She is extremely athletic, versatile and competes regardless of her position.  She has the ability to play catcher, infield or outfield and is a player that hates to lose.  She is another player that will look great in OLLU blue.
Allison Garcia hails from Corpus Christi, Texas, where she attends Mary Carroll High School. She is a catcher and plays third base. Her awards include 2019-2021 All-District Academic; 2021 District Champs, Bi-District Champs, Area Champs, Regional Quarterfinal Champs; 2021 Regional Semifinalist, First-Team All-District Catcher. Garcia plans to major in Criminal Justice. Garcia said, “My family and I are very excited for my future at OLLU. This process has not been easy planning the next four years of my life. Our Lady of the Lake University has the friendliest environment and made me feel at home. The student-to-teacher ratio at Our Lady of the Lake was a big plus for me as well. I’m super excited to be a part of this program and cannot wait to start my first day.”Lenington commented, “Allison is a powerful hitter who is extremely coachable and willing to learn.  She committed early and we were happy to get her bat in our dugout.  Her competitive personality fits our culture perfectly and I’m excited to watch her grow athletically while obtaining her degree.
Alyssa Garcia is a native of Lyford, Texas, and she attends Lyford High School. She plans to major in kinesiology at OLLU.Garcia said, “I’ve decided to play softball at OLLU because of the environment the school and the program create.  It’s a culture that I want to be a part of and that I want to continue to build. To me, it’s a place that feels like home.” “Alyssa is a very gifted infielder who is sure-handed, but more importantly, has the ability to excel in game situations,” Lenington said. “Many players can field groundballs, but the best college infielders understand space and time.  Alyssa has shown to be the latter and we are excited to see her in a Saints uniform in the fall.”
Ariana Garcia will join the team in August. The El Paso, Texas, native, is a catcher and outfielder. She attends Montwood High School, where she was the junior varsity MVP in 2019 and 1-6A Second-Team All-District in 2021. Garcia received her team’s Unsung Hero Award, plus was an Honorable Mention All-City selectee. Her team had the second-highest GPA of 101.4, and she is a member of the 2021-2022 National Honor Society, where she serves as secretary. She plans to major in biology. Garcia said, “Committing to OLLU has offered me not just a chance to continue playing the sport I live for, but also an opportunity to be part of a second family. I know that Coach Lenington and the school will allow me to flourish, both on and off the field. This opportunity means the absolute world to me and all I can think about is moving out there and starting my new journey. It’s safe to say that I didn’t choose OLLU, but that OLLU chose me!””Ariana is an excellent leader who got our attention with excellent measurables as a catcher,” Lenington said. “She is bright, athletic and driven.  From El Paso, she will continue the tradition of past and current Saints from the city.”
Emilia Salinas, a Harlingen, Texas, native, will graduate from Harlingen High School. The outfielder was a 32 6A Second-Team selectee and was her team’s Offensive MVP. She will attend OLLU on the Dean’s Merit Scholarship, plus a variety of grants.  Major…Salinas said, “Playing softball and now knowing where it was going to lead me makes me so proud.  Knowing that I did it!  That all the time and effort was going to get me noticed by an amazing coach and program.  Being given the opportunity to represent OLLU softball gives me absolute joy and excitement. Coach Lenington and the women have made me feel like I found a home and family.  Wings Up!”Lenington commented, “Emilia was a late find for us in this class but we are glad our paths crossed.  She is a very athletic slapper and outfielder.  She plays with confidence and has the ability to excel in our program.  We are very excited to add her athleticism to our roster in the fall.
Jaclyn Salinas is from Sarita, Texas, where she attends Santa Gertrudis Academy High School. The right-handed pitcher received Defensive Player of the Year from her team, and she plans to major in business.”The reason I have decided to attend OLLU is that I believe it is a good fit for me,” Salinas commented. “I feel welcomed, and the program is just the perfect opportunity to be part of something great. Since I am from a very small town, I am excited to explore a new city that I am not accustomed to and can’t wait to see what is in store for me like new adventures, lifestyle, friends and responsibility.  I love the team and coaching staff; they show a lot of pride in what their building at OLLU. I am so thankful to be given this opportunity to help continue this culture. I am super excited to be a part of this program!”Lenington remarked, “We are very happy to watch Jaclyn develop in the circle in the next four years.  She is a calm and determined pitcher who has the ability to get good hitters out.  She has excellent command and has a knack for changing speeds and eye levels while pitching ahead in the count.

Softball inducts Hall of Fame Class of 2021: K. Arocha, T. Doege, B. McInnis

Hear from the Hall of Fame members: https://www.youtube.com/embed/PO4TsCv6J80?enablejsapi=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ollusaintsathletics.com

The softball team inducted its inaugural Hall of Fame Class of 2021 on Oct. 23.

Head Coach Bruce Lenington commented, “We are honored and excited to announce our Hall of Fame Class of 2021. This year, we have three inductees, all of whom have played a major role in the success of the softball program both in the classroom and on the field. Their awards and records are numerous and impressive, and we are proud that they accomplished all of this here at Our Lady of the Lake University.”

The Hall of Fame class consists of Katrisha Arocha, Taylor Doege and Brittany (Stone) McInnis. At the conclusion of the alumni game, the three were recognized on the field. They moved to behind the home dugout to unveil their banners that will be permanently on display.

Visit the photo gallery files here.

Katrisha Arocha (2014-2015)

Arocha, one of the Saints’ assistant coaches this year, played from 2014-2015. She had a huge role in the Saints’ first-ever Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) championship season in 2014. The team marked a career-best 39-12 overall record and 18-2 in the conference. The women won the regular season, the postseason tournament and made it to the NAIA National Softball Championships opening round. In the following year, the team was the regular-season runners up with a 39-14 overall record and 19-5 in the conference. Those two years marked the most wins for the team to date.

As a right-handed pitcher, Arocha played in 78 games. Her awards include 2014 NAIA All-American Honorable Mention, 2014 and 2015 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region First Team and 2015 NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete, plus she was a two-time All-Conference First Team recipient. She accumulated eight RRAC Pitcher of the Week awards. In 2014, Arocha received Conference Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards, and in both of her years at OLLU, she was an RRAC Scholar-Athlete. She finished out her collegiate career with a 3.507 GPA and received her Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology in 2015.

Arocha’s records are numerous, and all were accomplished in just two years at OLLU. They include:

CAREER

  • First in ERA (1.79)
  • Second in strikeouts (491)
  • Third in shutouts (11)
  • Second in wins (48)
  • Third in innings pitched (371)
  • Third in at-bats (1,355)
  • Fourth in games played (77)


SEASON

  • First in fielding percentage (2015/1.000)
  • First in games pitched (2014/39)
  • First in ERA (2014/1.54)
  • First in shutouts (2014/7)
  • First in wins (2014/26)
  • First in innings pitched (2014/191)
  • First in at-bats (2014/692)
  • First in strikeouts (2015/247)
  • Second in games pitched (2015/38)
  • Second in wins (2015/22)
  • Second in strikeouts (2014/244)
  • Second in innings pitched (2015/180)
  • Third in at-bats (2015/663)


GAME

  • First in innings pitched (12 on April 5, 2015)
  • First in strikeouts (19 on March 17, 2014)
  • No-hitter on April 17, 2015


Arocha is an Early Childhood Special Education teacher at Menchaca Early Childhood Center through the Southside Independent School District in San Antonio.


Taylor Doege (2015-2018)

Doege played from 2015-2018. She was an integral member of the Saints during their second Red River Athletic Conference championship season in 2018. The Saints were co-champions of the regular season along with LSU-Alexandria. The team went on to finish out the season as semifinalists of the conference tournament. They marked a 24-11 overall record and 18-6 in the conference.

As a first baseman and right-handed pitcher, the San Antonio native played in 181 games. Her awards include 2016 NAIA All-American Second Team, 2016 NFCA All-American, 2015 NFCA All-Region Second Team, 2016 NFCA All-Region First Team, 2017 NFCA All-Region Second Team, 2018 NFCA All-Region First Team, two-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete, four-time All-Conference First Team, two-time All-Tournament, 2016 Player of the Year, four Player of the Week Awards, four-time RRAC Scholar-Athlete and the 2018 Top Saint. She finished out her collegiate career with a 3.517 GPA and received her Bachelor of Arts in English in 2018.

Doege’s records are as follows:


CAREER

  • First in games played (181)
  • First in batting average (.415)
  • First in triples (12)
  • First in home runs (24)
  • First in RBIs (170)
  • First in total bases (386)
  • First in hits (246)
  • First in putouts (762)
  • Second in at-bats (593)
  • Second in runs (120)
  • Second in doubles (44)
  • Fourth in slugging percentage (.651)


SEASON

  • First in batting average (2016/.474)
  • First in hits (2016/73)
  • First in doubles (2018/19)
  • First in RBIs (2016/51)
  • First in slugging percentage (2016/.805)
  • Second in at-bats (2015/166)
  • Second in triples (2015 and 2016/four)
  • Second in home runs (2016/10)
  • Second in on-base percentage (2016/.520)
  • Fourth in putouts (2016 and 2017/239)


GAME

  • First in hits (Feb. 13, 2015)
  • First in double plays (March 4, 2016/three)
  • No-hitter on March 12, 2016


Doege teaches English and coaches softball at Southwest High School in the Southwest Independent School District in San Antonio. She also coaches for the HITT softball organization based in San Antonio.

Brittany (Stone) McInnis (2012-2015)

McInnis was on the team from 2012-2015. She played a significant role in the Saints’ first-ever Red River Athletic Conference championship season in 2014. The team marked a career-best 39-12 overall record and 18-2 in the conference. The women won the regular season, the tournament and made it to the NAIA National Softball Championships Opening Round. In the following year, the team was the regular-season runners up with a 39-14 overall record and 19-5 in the conference. Those two years marked the most wins for the team to date.

As a third-baseman, the Helotes, Texas, native played in 192 games. Her awards include three-time NFCA All-Region, 2014 NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete, 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-American, 2014 and 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-District, 2014 NAIA Scholar-Athlete, four-time All-Conference First Team, two-time Champions of Character, six RRAC Player of the Week awards, 2015  Character Athlete of the Week, four-time RRAC Scholar-Athlete, 2015 Top Saint and 2015 Big Blue Top Saint Female Athlete of the Year. McInnis finished out her collegiate career with a 3.394 GPA, and she received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 2015.

McInnis’ records are as follows:


CAREER

  • First in games played (192)
  • First in runs (145)
  • First in doubles (52)
  • Second in hits (220)
  • First in walks (76)
  • First in assists (283)
  • Third in triples (six)
  • Second in home runs (22)
  • Second in RBIs (153)
  • Second in total bases (350)
  • Third in hits by pitcher (nine)


SEASON

  • First in games played/started (2015/53-53)
  • First in at-bats (2015/174)
  • First in walks (2015/27)
  • Second in hits (2015/68)
  • Third in runs (2015/42)
  • Third in doubles (2015/15)
  • Fifth in hits by pitcher (2014/five)
  • Fourth in on-base percentage (2015/.473)


GAME

  • First in at-bats (2015/7)
  • Second in triples (2012/two)
  • Second in assists (2012/eight)


McInnis works at Marshall High School in the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio. She and her husband Cameron are parents to son Brayden and daughter Ella.

The university is proud of Katrisha Arocha, Taylor Doege and Brittany McInnis for their remarkable achievements while at OLLU and their commitment to the university as alumni m