SALEM, Ore. – With the non-conference slate now firmly in the rearview window, newly appointed head coach Jeff Covalt is optimistic about the Corban University Softball team's opportunities within the NAIA's most competitive conference for collegiate women's softball, as the Warriors are scheduled to host their first Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) series this upcoming weekend.
"We are extremely excited to get into conference play," Coach Covalt detailed. "We bring back a lot of leadership in our upper classmen in all positions. Alicia behind the plate while several pitchers including Vanessa and Kate expect to see more innings. In the Infield, we are excited to see what Izzy can continue to do at shortstop and Alexis up the middle. We also brought in a lot of great young freshman and several JUCO transfers we are excited to watch develop and help push us towards our goals of growth."
A nine-game non-conference schedule with seven road games was wrapped up this past Wednesday in Newberg for the Navy and Gold, where early season injuries and off-field complications resulted in an 0-9 record thus far with the nation's most difficult slate of opponents awaiting on deck. Fortunately for the Warriors, they begin their conference schedule with a four-game home series against the University Providence, who they hold an all-time record of 21-8 against dating back to 2016.
For the next six weekends, Corban softball will alternate between on the road and playing on their home diamond every other week, beginning in La Grande with a four-game set at No. No. 13-ranked Eastern Oregon University. Three of their next four opponents are currently ranked in the NAIA Top 25 coaches' poll.
No. 16-ranked College of Idaho will make the journey to Salem for conference doubleheaders on March 14th and 15th before the Navy and Gold prepare for their longest road trip of the season to Helena, Montana, where Carroll College awaits for their CCC clash.
The two most successful conference programs as of late from a national perspective, No. 5-ranked Oregon Tech and No. 4-ranked Southern Oregon University, will be who Warrior softball meets with in the final weekend of March and first weekend of April, with the Lady Owls journeying to Corban's campus on March 28th and 29th while the Navy and Gold will travel to Ashland to meet the Raiders on April 4th and 5th.
Back-to-back weekends at home will be how the Warriors conclude their hosting duties for the 2025 season, as they'll welcome I-5 rival Bushnell University on April 11th and 12th followed by the Knights of Warner Pacific University on Thursday, April 17th and Friday, April 18th. Their Friday doubleheader against WPU will represent the program's Senior Day contests where they will honor the student-athletes set to graduate this spring and depart from the program prior to the 2026 season.
Finally, Corban softball will make their first and only international journey of the year when they hop the northern border to play four games against the University of British Columbia in the final weekend of regular season action on April 25th and 26th. Should the Warriors qualify for the 2025 CCC Tournament, which will be hosted by the regular season champion team, they will then have a week to prepare for the tourney that begins on Friday, May 2nd and concludes with a tourney champion being crowned on Sunday, May 4th.
Programs that qualify for the 2025 NAIA National Tournament can expect to play in Opening Round contests around the nation from May 12th to 15th, with the 10-team World Series scheduled to begin on May 22nd and end on May 28th with a Red Banner being hoisted by the newest national champion.
To view the Warriors' complete 2025 spring season schedule, click HERE.
The addition of six transfers and five true freshmen to this year's roster has already altered the Corban starting lineup and key reserves to first jump off the bench when their numbers are called upon by Coach Covalt, and even more production can be expected once the conference season is officially underway. Key community college transfers, such as junior catcher Kassandra Douglas, junior first baseman Peyton Foreman, and redshirt sophomore utility player Belle Mercier, have all served in key starting rotation pieces for Corban softball over the first nine games and can expect to see their involvement continue of the remaining 37 games left on the regular season calendar.
True freshmen Regan Rasmussen and Miranda Scovil have both become essential to the Warriors' play thus far, with Rasmussen holding down second base and entering the pitcher's circle on occasion while Scovil has over double the number of innings pitched thus far over the next highest Corban student-athlete and holds the pitching staff's lowest ERA.
Junior starting pitcher Kate Banks made her first set of appearances in 2025 over the past week and can be expected to have her name called on more as the CCC schedule begins this week, while junior southpaw Vanesa Quinones will be making her 2025 season debut over the coming days. Holding down the remaining innings remaining within the Warriors' pitching staff will be senior Sage Vanterpool, senior Emmaleena Wood, and junior Amy Jankowski.
Around the infield, junior shortstop Isabel Carattini has been the Warriors' busiest fielder with a team-high 23 assists thus far, while Rasmussen has yet to commit an error in 18 opportunities at second, with senior Alexis Figueroa prepared to back the freshman at a moments notice. Foreman has a team-best 34 putouts at first base along with four assists for another perfect fielding percentage, representing one of four Warriors with at least ten opportunities in the field and a 1.000 fielding percentage. Senior Lola Benjamin, redshirt junior Madelyn Robinson, and true freshman Hannah Griffith are all set to prepare assistance at first base as Coach Covalt and his staff see fit.
Meanwhile, Douglas has grinded out all nine games behind the plate, taking the occasional break when Mercier subs in for her, and has secured both the second-best average in the batter's box along with only two errors in 42 opportunities blocking the plate for her pitchers. Senior Alicia Chavez along with true freshmen Mckenna Hanson and Destinee Estrada will prepare to assist Douglas behind the plate as conference play develops week-to-week.
The outfield has thus far seen five different student-athletes peruse the warning track, including Rasmussen who has bounced between second base and centerfield while holding the team's best batting average through nine games. Junior leftfielder Gianna Redman is third in batting-average and smashed an extra base hit just last weekend against NCAA DIII Willamette University, along with another perfect fielding percentage by sophomore Breanna Crosby. Junior Josie Landis and transfer junior Regan McDaniel are lying in wait to assist the outfield unit as the season progresses.
To read up on the recruiting class from this past offseason, click HERE.
To view the entire 2025 roster for Corban softball, click HERE.
The Warriors and Argos will kick off the conference season on Friday, February 28th at Stayton High School with 1/3pm start times, and are expected to be back at Warrior Field on Saturday for 11am and 1pm first pitch times once the Willamette Valley sun dries the out the warning track and bullpens.
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