It may have been a cloudy day at Jane Sanders Stadium on Thursday, but the sun is shining for the 60th season of Oregon softball. After losing six seniors who supported the team last year, Oregon has added three new freshmen and three transfer upperclassmen to its lineup. Heading into their tenth season at the Jane, head coach Melyssa Lombardi remarked positively on the team's culture.
One of the most important things to Lombardi has been the connection displayed by her squad.
“I love the connection that they have to each other,” she said. “They demand excellence from each other.”
Another attribute of the roster that Lombardi has a lot of faith in is their leadership, citing sophomore infielder Kaylynn Jones as one example, after leading the team in their last game of the postseason with a pair of hits.
Lombardi also remarked on the strength of junior infielder Addison Amaral, a transfer from Notre Dame.
“Addi coming in as a transfer, she's been great,” Lombardi said of Amaral, who comes in with 60 runs in her past two seasons with the Fighting Irish. “It's been awesome to watch her grow just in the short time that she's been with us.” “Super excited, I mean, I grew up playing against all of them, so it's great to not be against them now or together,” Jones added of her new teammates. “To bring every little mechanic that they have individually and bring it all together is gonna be really exciting.”
Jones is looking forward to the team this season. The Ducks know they have a target on their backs, but are moving as a unit as they “go forward with our opponents.”
One of the standout players from the new additions has been freshman Maddie Milhorn out of Vancouver, Washington. Lombardi is looking forward to this addition and her “72 mile per hour” fastball after being asked about the right-hander who led the state of Washington in ERA. Catcher Emma Cox said Milhorn “adds a lot of energy to our bullpen”.
Another freshman coming into this season is Amanda Urbina, coming from La Mirada High School, where she led them to three straight league titles. Urbina will be an addition to the infield, playing both shortstop and third base her senior year. Freshman Taryn Ho is another boost to the Ducks’ already outstanding infield from Honolulu. Ho will also be an asset to the batting lineup, having a high of 10 home runs her junior year.
For the transfers coming in, utility players Elon Butler and Amari Harper are adding to the lineup of seniors leading the team. Sophomore Stefini Ma’ake said that these two players have added to Oregon’s game mentally, giving encouragement during practices.
“The long ball is going to be a big one for us,” Ma’ake said. “We got Amari and Elon… they just hit the ball extremely hard, extremely far every practice”. “The team has done an incredible job of just establishing that they have a very strong culture, but as well as being inviting to other perspectives, too,” Butler said when asked about the reception from her teammates and how she is fitting in. “It’s just a big old family, like we all just kind of love each other, regardless of whatever perspective that you have on life. We kind of just love each other and know on the field they're willing to enjoy each other, and that we're here for all one goal. So it's been a really great experience. It's been a really easy transition, to be honest.”
Ahead of the Oregon Classic that will start the home play for the Ducks, they are headed down to Clearwater, Florida, for opening day on February 6.
“Last year we talked a little bit about a finish line, and this year it's not about a finish line,” Lombardi said. “It's more about how can we step on the field, whether it's a practice or in a game, and just be at our optimal best every single time. So I know we are tired of playing ourselves. We'd like to go play somebody else, and we are looking forward to heading to Florida.”