Oregon Institute of Technology Athletics

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The 2020 season for Oregon Tech Softball saw the Owls play just 21 games before COVID-19 shut it down. Tech returns seven starters from a team that went 12-9 overall and 5-4 in Cascade Conference play a year ago.
 
"We are very excited as a program to get back on the field and have the opportunity to compete again," said head coach Greg Stewart. "I have been very impressed with the attitude and work ethic of this team despite the adversity they have faced in their lives and careers over the past year.  This group is a great mixture of accomplished returners and talented newcomers that have all the ingredients to perform as one of the top programs in the NAIA."
 
The Schedule
The Hustlin' Owls open the season this Saturday, February 6 on the road. They will play Arizona Christian University at 10:00 am in a double-header in Rocklin, California as part of a tournament hosted by William Jessup University. Tech will then host Corban University in a non-CCC doubleheader next Saturday, February 13 starting at 11:00 am at John and Lois Stilwell Stadium. Due to COVID restrictions and the Cascade Conference no-spectator policy, fans will not be allowed inside the stadium and, as always, no pets are allowed on the Oregon Tech campus. Live stats and free steaming video can be accessed on www.OregonTechOwls.com
 
Season Preview by Coach Stewart 
 
Outfielders
We have two returning starting outfielders in senior Olivia Lethlean and Krista Ward.  Lethlean was hitting .364 last year and is a proven base stealing threat.  Ward, a true utility player that also pitches, was hitting an impressive .459 as a freshman last year.  Jensen Becker, Maddie DeVerna, and Halleigh Noga all return with playing experience and are good defensive outfielders who keep improving offensively.  DeVerna gives us more team speed while Becker and Noga both have good power at the plate.  Sophomore transfer and slapper Kathryn Bradford was an all-conference player for Mt. Hood and freshman Lexi Klum, who led Oregon's 6A level in homeruns in 2019, are positive additions that will also compete for playing time. 
 
Infielders
In our infield, we are fortunate to have two talented returning starters in Aubrie Businger at third base and Kaila Mick who has the ability to play short or second.  Businger and Mick, who were hitting .323 and .309 respectively last year, will be key contributors to the offensive output this season. Senior Logan Nunes, who is an experienced offensive performer, is swinging the bat well and will see time as our DP and at first base. Tech was able to land two talented newcomers in first base transfer Kennedy Jantzi and transfer second base/short stop Maggie Buckholz who will both be immediate impacts to the middle of the line-up.  They have legitimate power and also the ability to hit for a high average. The infield is rounded out with versatile freshman Jayce Seavert who was an all-state catcher but also athletic enough to play both middle infield positions.
 
Catchers
Two returning catchers from last year, including 2019 all-conference player McKenna Armantrout, anchor our catching position. Armantrout, who was hitting .328 last season, is talented defensively and will be at the top of the lineup as a combination of a complete hitter and great base runner.  Mackenzie Driscoll, who posted a .342 average last year, will also see time behind the dish and as a DP.  Driscoll is an experienced catcher who brings a clutch hitting ability to the team.  Jayce Seavert completes the receiving core and looks to be a great catcher for Tech in the near future.
 
Pitchers
Returning all-Cascade Conference pitcher Sarah Abramson is locked-in to anchor this year's pitching staff and add to an already decorated career.  After finishing 5th in the NAIA in strikeouts in 2019, Abramson pitched with even more command and velocity this past fall.  Krista Ward is Tech's other returning pitcher who has great spin and shows poise and toughness in the circle.  She worked hard this past off-season to improve her control and was very effective against our hitters in the fall.  Two talented freshmen, McKenzie Staub and Kacie Schmidt, complete this year's pitching staff. Staub was a 2019 first team all-state and conference pitcher of the year while Schmidt averaged a strikeout per inning in 2019 in route to being an all-conference performer.  Both of these young ladies have a tremendous work ethic and will only get better as the season goes on.
 
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