KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Last season, Oregon Tech won their fourth-straight Cascade Conference regular-season title and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the 11th-straight time. However, the 2026 team looks for a sense of redemption, as the Lady Owls had a streak of five-straight NAIA Softball World Series appearances snapped in the title game of their own Opening Round tournament.
 
With an infield that has an All-CCC performer at each spot and a deep and talented pitching staff, OIT is poised to continue their elite play and contend for a season-ending trip to Columbus, Ga.
 
Tech opens the new season ranked No. 10 in the NAIA – returning six everyday starters from a team that finished 45-11. Four key components from last season's team have graduated – All-America pitcher Kacie Schmidt, All-America catcher Jayce Seavert, 3-time All-CCC left fielder Zoe Allen, along with Gold Glove right fielder Marla Goodspeed – all leaders on and off the diamond.
 
Despite the losses, the Lady Owls have retooled and reloaded up and down the lineup card.
 
Losing an All-American with 82 career wins in the circle is tough, but three veteran arms return, along with a NFCA NWAC All-American. The trio of Alli Parker, Carli Moore and Jenna Gorden each pitched crucial innings throughout the 2025 season. Parker finished 9-1 with a 2.66 ERA – pitching three shutout innings in a win against UBC in the CCC Tournament. Moore had a 6-2 record and a 2.91 ERA, picking up wins against Top-10 programs in Southern Oregon and Eastern Oregon. Gorden was instrumental in April, winning 5-straight starts, including consecutive 1-hit shutouts against Carroll College and a key win over Midland in the NAIA Tournament, finishing 6-2 with a 2.31 ERA.
 
Joining the trio is a new Schmidt – Kristine Schmidt from North Idaho College. The junior transfer had two banner seasons at NIC, earning All-America honors in 2024 and All-Scenic West Conference honors in 2025 – combining for 32 wins in two seasons.
 
Though Tech loses Seavert, a 4-year starter and Gold Glove catcher, Sawyer Stenson is poised to take the job and run with it. The senior, a former NFCA Catcher of the Year during her junior college days, returns to her natural position after serving as the Owls designated player in 2025, hitting four home runs and driving in 23.
 
Transfer Brooklyn Loose will be the back-up for Stenson behind the plate but is expected to start the season as Tech's right fielder. The junior, who was a teammate of Stenson's at Lower Columbia CC in 2024, also earned NFCA Catch of the Year honors in 2025. Loose has a big left-handed bat – combining to hit .464 with 22 home runs and 110 RBI during her junior college career.
 
Joining Loose in the outfield will be returning starter Malia Mick, who is set to patrol center field for the second-straight year. The senior can cover gap-to-gap defensively, while at the plate had 26 RBI coming out of the No. 9 spot in the order.
 
Starting the year in left field is sophomore Leah Huffman, who impressed in limited action last season. Huffman hit .355 in 31 at bats as a true freshmen and saw action in six postseason games.
 
Also squarely in the outfield mix is the speedy Jazmine Macias, who hit .306 with 11 RBI in her first season in the Basin. Macias will also be among a trio of players vying for the designated player role.
 
Sophomore outfielder Ashlyn Vey has had a great offseason and looks to make a big jump in 2026. Vey, who is an outstanding defender, was used primarily as a pinch runner in 2026, scoring eight runs in 24 games.
 
Veteran leadership will anchor in the infield – with all-stars at every position – including three 4-year starters.
 
Nita Cook returns at second base, coming off an outstanding 2025 season in which she was named CCC Player of the Year and third-team NAIA All-America, while earning a Gold Glove for the second-straight season. Cook hit .362 on the season with a team-high 57 runs scored, while breaking a 20-year-old program record by stealing 44 bases.
 
Joining Cook on the right side is Puakea Milbourne, who earned her second-straight All-CCC honor in 2025. The senior led Tech for the second-straight year in home runs (6) and RBI (55), while hitting .357 and playing a nearly flawless first base.
 
Addison Kachnik looks to build off a breakout season in 2025, as the senior third baseman earned All-CCC honors after hitting a career-high .306 with 14 doubles, three triples, three homers and 41 RBI.
 
Junior Gina Allen returns at shortstop after an outstanding first year in the OIT program, hitting .342 with 14 doubles and 36 RBI, stealing 16 bases, while committing just six errors in 122 defensive chances.
 
Adding depth in the infield is senior Hayden Rockwell and freshman Maggie Pizano – with both players joining Macias in the battle for the designated player role. Rockwell had a .407 on-base percentage last season and can play third base and both middle infield positions, while Pizano, a corner infielder, was a 2-time 4A All-State pick at Mazama High, hitting .581 as a senior and provides a big power threat.
 
An x-factor could be Olivia Sprague, who missed all of 2025 due to injury and will join the team following the basketball season, where she is a 2-time All-American. The senior is a true utility player, having the ability to play any infield or outfield position and is one of the fastest runners on the team.
 
OIT will open the season with a week-long trip to Arizona, followed by a weekend trip to Redding – playing quality NAIA opponents in both venues. In Arizona, Tech will play a pair of NAIA Tournament teams in Arizona Christian and Hope International, along with OUAZ and Benedictine Mesa. ACU will be joined by Westcliff and Park Gilbert in California for the 3-day round-robin tournament to close out the non-conference schedule.
 
The Cascade Conference will once again be among the toughest leagues in the NAIA – with the circuit receiving five bids to last season's NAIA Championships. The league will look different in 2026 – as the Montana schools (Carroll and Providence) have left the CCC, as the Frontier Conference will sponsor softball for the first time – while Simpson joins the CCC as an affiliate member. Defending NAIA champ, Southern Oregon, opens the year ranked No. 1, while 2-time defending CCC Tournament champ, Eastern Oregon, starts the season ranked No. 3. Both College of Idaho and British Columbia return talented squads after qualifying for Nationals. Simpson looks to make a splash in their first season in the league after dominating the California Pacific Conference for years, with Bushnell, Warner Pacific and Corban all much-improved teams.
 
The 24-game CCC schedule will determine the six spots in the CCC Tournament, with the tourney winner receiving the lone automatic bid to the NAIA Championships.
 
Tech will play 16 home games in 2026 – with the home opener set for Friday, Feb. 27, as the Lady Owls play host to College of Idaho.