COMING UP: Host NAIA Softball National Championship Klamath Falls Bracket – vs. St. Xavier (Ill.), Monday, 4 p.m.
COMPLETE WEEKLY MEDIA NOTEBOOK
TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets to the NAIA Softball National Championship Klamath Falls Bracket are single-day tickets – with prices set at $5.00 per person, Kids under 6 and OIT students Free!
LIVE LINKS: All six (or seven) games of the NAIA Softball National Championship Klamath Falls Bracket will be streamed live on the
Owls Sports Network ($10.00 per game or $25.00 for a tournament pass). Mike Safford will have the play-by-play for every game, with the broadcast simulcast in the Klamath Basin on
104.3 and 960 Sports. All games will have Live Stats available through the
OIT SIDEARM Stats Portal.
TOURNEY SCHEDULE: Monday: Game 1 – Northwestern (Iowa) vs. Embry-Riddle (Ariz.), 1 p.m.; Game 2 – Oregon Tech vs. St. Xavier (Ill.), 4 p.m. Tuesday: Game 3 – Winner 1 vs. Winner 2, 12 p.m.; Game 4 – Loser 1 vs. Loser 2, 2:30 p.m.; Game 5 – Loser 3 vs. Winner 4, 5 p.m. Wednesday: Game 6 – Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 (Championship), 1 p.m.; Game 7 (if necessary championship), 30 minutes after Game 6.
MORE ON THE OPENING ROUND: OIT was selected as one of 10 venues for the 2023 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round – with the winner of the 10 4-team brackets will earn bids to the NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga., set for May 25-31. It marks the second-straight season that OIT has earned a host-bid for the Opening Round and the third time Klamath Falls has hosted the tournament (2015, 2022, 2023). The Lady Owls defeated St. Xavier (Ill.) to win the 2015 Opening Round tournament, while defeating Jessup to claim the 2022 Opening Round title. Other Opening Round venues include Baldwin City, Kan. (Baker University), Williamsburg, Ky. (University of the Cumberlands), Henderson, Tenn. (Freed-Hardeman University), Lawrenceville, Ga. (Georgia Gwinnett College), Indianapolis, Ind. (Marian University), Oklahoma City, Okla. (Oklahoma City University), San Antonio, Texas (Our Lady of the Lake University), Chickasha, Okla. (University of Science & Arts) and Ashland, Ore. (Southern Oregon University). Along with SOU hosting an Opening Round bracket, College of Idaho earned an at-large bid and will be competing at the Baldwin City Bracket.
A LOOK INSIDE THE KLAMATH FALLS BRACKET: Northwestern (46-8) is in the midst of a record-setting year, opening the year 16-0 and already surpassing the single-season mark for wins - including four victories over 2022 World Series teams. The No. 12 ranked Red Raiders are led by GPAC Player of the Year Gwen Mikkelsen (.447 7 HR 56 RBI), with outfielder Ashtyn Billings (.343 0 HR 14 RBI, 17 SB) and second baseman Emily Strasser (.368 1 HR 48 RBI) both earning All-GPAC honors. In the circle, the duo of Kate Kralik (17-2 1.51 ERA) and Kameryn Etherington (20-6 1.98 ERA; .304 8 HR 45 RBI) have been impressive. It is the Red Raiders first NAIA tourney bid since 2016. Embry-Riddle (37-14) has made an immediate impact in their short softball history, winning back-to-back Cal-Pac regular-season and tournament titles. The Eagles have wins this season against Oregon Tech, Hope International and Valley City State - riding a deep pitching staff anchored by Cal-Pac Pitcher of the Year, Claire Streeter (17-4 2.85 ERA). Kate Delaney (.393 5 HR 41 RBI; 9-1 1.65 ERA) splits time between the circle and first base, while shortstop Diana Miranda Montano (.356 5 HR 28 RBI), third baseman Autumn Sulusi (.357 9 HR 56 RBI) and second baseman Leah Salas (.385 5 HR 34 RBI) the top offensive options. ERAU makes their second-straight trip to Oregon, having lost in the Medford Opening Round Bracket in 2022. St. Xavier (34-12) makes their fifth-straight Opening Round appearance, looking for their first World Series berth since 2016. The Cougars head to the Basin winners of 17 of their last 18 games, claiming the CCAC regular-season and tournament titles. Second baseman Abbie Carr (.396 2 HR 32 RBI) and outfielder Lyda Robinson (.383 0 HR 21 RBI, 37 SB) earned All-CCAC first-team honors, along with top pitcher Laila Summers (21-7 2.04 ERA), with outfielder Sarah Bowen (.345 5 HR 36 RBI) and first baseman Alexus Reese (.365 7 HR 40 RBI) each earning second-team accolades. St. X made a previous trip to the Basin, losing to OIT in the 2015 Opening Round championship game.
HISTORY IN THE POSTSEASON: The Owls have secured a postseason berth for a 12th-straight (non-COVID shortened) as since 2002, OIT has claimed six CCC Tournament titles (2006, 2011, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2023). Tech has received their 12th bid (tenth-straight) to the NAIA National Championships (1997, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) – including World Series appearances (which started in 2013) in 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2022. OIT is 70-36 all-time in the postseason - 30-15 in the CCC Championships, 22-9 in the NAIA Opening Round and 18-12 at the NAIA National Tournament/NAIA Softball World Series.
AGAINST THE TOP-25: OIT has a 14-3 record this season against Top-25 teams – going 5-0 against No. 4-ranked Southern Oregon, 5-0 against No. 24-ranked Eastern Oregon and 4-3 against No. 6-ranked College of Idaho.
BACK-TO-BACK: The Lady Owls made history in 2023, establishing a new CCC record for league wins and tying the CCC record for fewest losses in a league schedule – as Tech finished the slate at 29-1. OIT recorded their second-straight and 12th all-time regular-season CCC title (1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023), winning back-to-back titles for the fourth time (including 3-straight championships in 1990s). The Owls equaled the 2019 Southern Oregon squad that finished the year with just one loss and surpassed that Raider team that won 26 games en route to a national title.
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK: Tech went the through the elimination bracket, winning 3-straight Sunday elimination games, to claim their third-straight CCC Tournament championship and sixth in program history. OIT became the second team to win 3-straight CCC tourney titles – as Southern Oregon claimed the crown in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
LONGEST GAMES: OIT had to grind out a marathon 13-inning game in the first of two CCC championship games, outlasting College of Idaho, 5-4 – the fourth-longest game in Lady Owls history. Tech played a 17-inning game at Concordia-Portland in 2004, a 16-inning game vs. Central Methodist in the 2015 NAIA Softball World Series and a 15-inning game vs. Northwest in 2018.
STAUB HAS A DAY: When the chips were down in Sunday's elimination games,
Mckenzie Staub came up big both at the plate and in the circle. The 3-time All-CCC pitcher finished the afternoon 4-for-12 with four RBI – including the go-ahead solo homer in the 13th inning of the first championship game with C of I. Staub combined to pitch 18 innings on the day, holding the two Top-6 teams to just two runs on eight hits, striking out 13 – improving to 22-5 on the year. In the finale, the right-hander tossed a complete-game 3-hitter against C of I.
SCHMIDT NAMED PITCHER OF THE YEAR: A dominant season helped
Kacie Schmidt earn CCC Pitcher of the Year honors, becoming the eighth Lady Owl to win the award (Brenda Ruppel – 1997, Megan Mills – 1998, Leslie Ernstrom – 2002, Jenni Bittle – 2006, Jackie Imhof – 2011, Taylor Schmidt – 2012,
Sarah Abramson – 2022). The sophomore won her 23rd straight decision in the CCC tourney opener against Eastern Oregon, holding the Mounties to just one run, striking out six. For the season, Schmidt is 24-1 with a 1.39 ERA and 179 strikeouts.
MICK NAMED TO ALL-CCC TEAM FOR THIRD TIME: Following a regular-season in which she led the CCC in hits and doubles, shortstop
Kaila Mick was selected to the All-CCC team for the third consecutive year. The junior heads into the NAIA Opening Round hitting .399 with three homers and 44 RBI, ranking No. 4 in OIT history with 20 doubles on the year and topping the league with 73 hits.
ENTIRE OUTFIELD EARNS ALL-CCC: All three everyday outfielders for the Owls were selected to the All-CCC team – showcasing their abilities both offensively and defensively.
Maggie Buckholz was named to both the All-CCC and the Gold Glove team after a dynamic regular-season, hitting .419 with eight homers and 63 RBI – including a 6-for-18 performance in the CCC Championships.
Zoe Allen earns her first All-CCC honor after a breakout year – hitting .416 with 22 RBI – and provided a walk-off RBI single in the elimination game win on Sunday vs. Southern Oregon.
Lexi Klum earns the honor for the first time after a big junior season, hitting .347 with 13 doubles, a school-record and league-best nine triples and 37 RBI – adding the game-tying home run in the win over SOU.
SEAVERT DOUBLES UP: Tech got a huge boost offensively in the CCC Championships from catcher
Jayce Seavert, who finished the event 7-for-16 with three doubles and a pair of RBI. The sophomore heads into the Opening Round hitting .329 with 41 RBI and recently earned her second-straight All-CCC honor and was named the CCC Gold Glove catcher after leading the circuit with 10 runners thrown out on the base paths.
MILBOURNE REMAINS PERFECT: 54 games into her collegiate softball career and OIT first baseman
Puakea Milbourne is still perfect with the glove. The true freshman was honored with the CCC Gold Glove at first base, heading into the NAIA tourney with 344 defensive chances without an error.
BEST IN THE CCC TIMES NINE: For the ninth time in his OIT career,
Greg Stewart was selected as CCC Coach of the Year by his peers. The 19th-year skipper previously earned the award in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2022 and 2023. He ranks No. 16 among active NAIA coaches with 692 career wins and is one of 18 active NAIA coaches with 600-or-more career victories.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: As a team, the Lady Owls rank No. 1 in the NAIA in RBI (366), No. 2 in runs scored (402), No. 3 in on-base percentage (.433) and No. 9 in batting average (.351). Tech has outscored opponents 233-43 over the first three innings of game, posting a perfect 36-0 record when scoring six runs or more and a perfect 16-0 record when hitting a home run. Three single-season individual school records have been broken – as
Lexi Klum broke the triples mark (9),
Jayce Seavert broke the hit-by-pitch record (27) and
Maggie Buckholz broke the sacrifice flies record (7).
HOME SWEET HOME: Since the opening of John & Lois Stilwell Stadium in March of 2019, OIT has a 78-12 all-time record in the facility – including a perfect 25-1 record at home this season – the most home wins in a season in program history. Tech has posted a string of 11-consecutive Cascade Conference series wins at home dating back to March of 2021.
45-WIN SEASONS: With the playoff win over Southern Oregon, OIT secured their third-straight 45-win season and the fifth in program history. The Owls won 47 games during the 1997 season, 47 games in 2015, 48 games in 2021 and a school record 50 wins last year. Tech has a combined 11 40-win seasons
RECORD BOOK: Ten members of the Lady Owls currently rank among the Top-25 in the OIT career record book (which does not include games from the 2020 COVID season), led by
Kaila Mick, who ranks No. 2 in triples (13) and in stolen bases (59), No. 4 in hit-by-pitches (26) and in runs scored (179), No. 8 in defensive assists (283), No. 9 in doubles (45), No. 11 in RBI (130), No. 12 in hits (228), No. 13 in sacrifice flies (7), No. 14 in at bats (586), ranking No. 20 in sacrifice hits (10).
Mckenzie Staub ranks No. 4 in wins (59), No. 6 in pitching starts (73) and pitching strikeouts (348), No. 7 in shutouts (10), No. 8 in innings pitched (416.1) and in complete games (35), No. 9 pitching appearances (85), ranking No. 22 in hit-by-pitches as a batter (9);
Maggie Buckholz is No. 1 in sacrifice flies (12), No. 4 in walks (74), No. 6 in triples (10), No. 10 in RBI (137), No. 12 in home runs (22), No. 16 in sacrifice hits (11), No. 17 in runs scored (123) and No. 25 in hits (166);
Jayce Seavert ranks No. 1 in hit-by-pitches (48), No. 4 in sacrifice flies (10), No. 21 in both RBI (105) and No. 22 in home runs (16);
Jensen Becker is No. 10 in sacrifice hits (13) and No. 17 in triples (6);
Lexi Klum is No. 6 in triples (10);
Kacie Schmidt is No. 12 in shutouts (7), No. 13 in pitching strikeouts (217), No. 16 in pitching appearances (56), No. 17 in wins (26), No. 18 in complete games (15), No. 20 in innings pitched (204.1) and No. 21 in pitching starts (29); with
Zoe Allen No. 13 in stolen bases (33),
Nita Cook No. 20 in sacrifice hits (10) and Maddie Deverna No. 22 in stolen bases (20).
LOOKING AHEAD: With a tournament championship, OIT would earn a bid to the NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga., May 25-31.
