After their season was canceled so abruptly a year ago, the Butler Softball team is eager to get back on the field and get back into competition mode.
"We were starting to click just when they pulled the plug on last season," said head coach Doug Chance who begins his 16th season as the head coach of the Grizzlies. "I think our returners are hungry, our newcomers are ready for the challenge and the staff is fired up to get out there and shake off the rust."
Chance has guided the Grizzlies to 10 NJCAA National Tournament appearances – including back-to-back national championships in 2016 and 2017.
In 2019, Butler advanced to their fourth straight NJCAA National Tournament, marking the second time in program history that Butler has made four consecutive tourneys. Butler has reached the NJCAA Final Four in four of the past seven seasons. They have won 12 out of the last 14 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference championships, 10 out of the last 13 Region VI Championships, and two out of the last four NJCAA Championships, with a third-place finish in 2018.
With COVID-19 and the cancellation of the 2020 season, the streak still remains, and the Grizzlies are motivated on getting back to the national tournament this spring to make it five straight. The Grizzlies were 13-7 and 3-1 in KJCCC play when the shutdown happened last season.
"Not only were we shut down early last spring but in addition we didn't get to play this fall," commented Chance. "So, it will have been 11 months since most of these kids have played a softball game with competition other than their teammates."
Butler opens up the 2021 season in the San Antonio Tournament on Friday, January 29, 2021 at Alva Jo Fischer Park in San Antonio, TX. They will play a double header with San Jacinto College at 10:00am and 12:15pm on Friday and face Coastal Bend and Trinity Valley on Saturday at 11:15am and 1:30pm.
The Grizzlies return 11 from last year's roster two of which are retuning as COVID-Sophomores, using their second season of eligibility.
"You always have to be strong up the middle," said Chance, "and having our starting centerfielder (Shayna Espy), shortstop (Madi Young), and second baseman (Emily Adler) all returning this year is huge. On top of that, returners Anna Icenhower and Hannah Knox will provide a lot of power in the lineup."
It was an interesting recruiting season to say the least as many schools were unable to play, summer ball was moved all around and with the shutdown, recruiting got tricky than ever. Even with all the challenges, Chance and his staff were able to sign 10 newcomers and get one transfer to join the Grizzlies.
"Izzy Erickson and Brooke McCorkle will shore up a strong pitching staff that has five quality arms and both will contribute on the offensive side as well," mentioned Chance. "In addition, transfer infielder Ari Cordova, a 2019 NJCAA 1st Team All-American and true five tool player will play a huge role both on offense and defense for us."
Not only did Chance go out and find 11 new players during a pandemic, but he was able to get two new assistant coaches as well, Maddie Young and Morgan Bohanan.
If you are thinking those names sound familiar, you are correct. Both played under chance at Butler, both were All-Americans as Butler, both won a National Championship at Butler and both transferred on to play at the Div. I level after Butler.
I have been blessed to have great assistants for my entire time at Butler and I am especially blessed to have Kenzie Young and Morgan Bohanan now," said Chance. "The energy and playing experience they bring to the staff has been a huge benefit to the development of the players and they have affected the culture of the program in a very positive way."
To see more on Kenzie and Morgan click HERE.
"Being back at Butler as a coach has been a huge honor, said Morgan Bohanan in her first season back at Butler. "Being able to come back to the program that gave me so much, and work alongside a coach who has given me so much is a lot of fun. Butler athletics is top notch, and I'm just thankful for the opportunity to be a Grizzly again."
"It is extremely exciting and a huge honor being back at Butler," said Kenzie Young in her first season back at Butler. "We get to come to work every day and be surrounded by the best in the business. To get to learn and grow from Doug on a consistent basis automatically puts us in a position for success."
As with the entire world, COVID-19 changed a lot of things for the Grizzlies and how they went about their day to day. It wasn't easy, but the Grizzlies made the most of their fall practice season and pushed themselves to get better every day while enjoying the opportunities they had to play the game again.
"I'm very proud of the way our players have handled the challenges this fall," said Chance. "They have pushed themselves to get better through accountability, encouraging each other, and constantly staying engaged in the process."
With games starting soon, both the staff and players are eager to get back onto the field and play the game they love.
Coach Doug Chance:
"I am really looking forward to seeing the team come together for a common goal. We have gone through the grind for 11 months, now it's time to see the rewards and savor every minute of it. I want to see kids high fiving, fist bumping, and having fun again. Let's go baby!"
Coach Morgan Bohanan:
"First, I am most looking forward to getting to actually play. COVID cut softball's season last year, so just getting to be out on the field competing again is something I am really looking forward to. I'm also super excited about this group and the talent we have, this should be a fun team to watch."
Coach Kenzie Young:
"I cannot wait to create relationships with the girls and watch them compete on the field as a team. We have been getting after it all fall at practice but there is nothing like putting that uniform on and competing against other schools to see what we are made of."
