San Jacinto College Coyote Softball is back on the field defending its title from last season’s triumphant victory at the 2016 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIV tournament. The win sent them to the national contest for the third time in the team’s history, where the Coyotes ended the season with a seventh-place national finish and a 36-25 overall record. 

This season, the Coyotes’ lineup features nine new freshman players, but ten seasoned sophomores are back to lend their experience. Returning sophomore Dani Damion was named Region XIV softball player of the week for Feb. 6 – 12, while fellow sophomore Missy Hernandez received the distinction the week before.

“That was quite an honor, to receive this award, as there are many deserving players,” Hernandez said.

The Coyotes were ranked ninth during the pre-season by the NJCAA, and the coaching staff is working to maintain that momentum. 

“We have been playing well, moving athletes around to see what our best line-up is offensively and defensively,” Head Coach Kelly Saenz said. “Our pitching staff has done a good job keeping us in games and so far, we are getting better with each game.” 

Saenz is in her fourteenth season with the Coyotes and was inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame in 2014 for her success as a player. Under her leadership, the Coyotes won over 61 percent of their games.

As of press time, the team’s record is 19-11, but 14 regular season games remain before the Region XIV Tournament in May. The Coyotes will kick off a series of road games with a match against Lamar State College March 10 before returning home to face off against Neosho College March 22.

The game against Neosho College is scheduled for March 22 at 2 p.m. on the softball field of the South Campus. More information is available at www.sanjacsports.com.