BLINN BUCCANEER SOFTBALL PREVIEW
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
One year ago, the Blinn College softball team finished the regular season on an impressive 20-7 run that included a share of the Region 14 South crown.
Fast forward to 2026, with the season set to begin at the Battle at the Bosque tournament in Waco, Texas, the Buccaneers are hoping for a faster start and even stronger finish to their season.
Blinn opens play against No. 4 McLennan at 3 p.m. on Thursday.
"We want to take one step forward and make some noise in the postseason," sophomore catcher/infielder Cadence Wiese said. "We feel like we have unfinished business, and with so many players back from last season's team, we think we have a strong core and enough talented freshmen to get the job done."
Following a 5-17 start, which included a 2-4 region mark, Blinn surged to a 19-5 South Division record in 2025. The Bucs also ended the regular season on a 10-game winning streak that led to their first region title since 2019.
Unfortunately, the Bucs were unable to maintain their momentum in the Region 14 Tournament and saw their season conclude with back-to-back one-run losses. Blinn bowed out with a 23-23 overall record.
"The payoff for finishing the regular season how we did wasn't what it should have been, and I think that left a bad taste in everybody's mouth," Blinn head coach Rick Church said. "I don't know if there's anything that can get you more fired up and motivated to go out and make something happen."
Blinn's schedule could be every bit as tough as last season's, with 14 games against opponents who landed on the NJCAA Division I Softball preseason poll.
The Bucs return eight experienced sophomores from the 2025 team, along with 12 freshmen. Church's 20-player roster is his largest in recent memory, which means positional battles and depth.
"When you have in-team competition for spots on the field, in the lineup, and in the pitchers circle, that's a positive for your program," Church said. "You don't necessarily want to start the year knowing exactly how every spot is going to shake out; it's good to have the quality depth that forces you to make some tough decisions."
Where there are likely few decisions to make is atop the Bucs' pitching rotation, where sophomores Brynn Gallamore and Madisyn Bracknell are expected to anchor the staff.
Gallamore went 2-6 across 19 appearances (10 starts) as a freshman, amassing 55 1/3 innings with 42 strikeouts and a 4.81 earned run average. Bracknell had a strong debut with a 5-2 record, a 3.71 ERA, and 33 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings (17 appearances, seven starts). Church said both pitchers returned to the team in the fall with a sharpened competitive edge aimed toward improved results.
Pitcher/outfielder Kacie Dudensing saw limited time in the circle as a freshman, as she spent most games in the Blinn batting order, but Church said the sophomore will see more innings this spring.
"I think as a pitching staff, we're experienced, more mature, and better prepared for what's to come," Bracknell explained. "We have three really good sophomore arms who bring something different, and then our freshmen give us some different looks – whether that's velocity or pitch movement – that I think will make us a challenge for opposing hitters."
Behind the Bucs' three sophomores, promising freshman pitchers Jamison Wlos and Carly Rimek are also in the mix.
Offensively, Blinn will look to regroup following the departure of two key bats. Bailey Boetjer (.357 batting average, 11 home runs, 49 runs batted in) and Darian DeLeon (.363 batting average, 13 doubles, 39 runs, 37 RBIs) have graduated, creating new opportunities for the Bucs' returners and freshmen to step up.
Wiese is primed for a big spring after clubbing nine homers and 14 doubles and driving in 35 runs to go with a .321 average and .409 on-base percentage last season. Sophomore infielder Annie Beckendorf is also back after debuting to the tune of six homers, 13 doubles, a triple, 37 RBIs, a .304 average, and a .355 OBP. Sophomore outfielder Halle Scheel will also be asked to play catalyst at the top of Blinn's lineup, where she hit .322 with a .351 OBP and 14 stolen bases in 2025.
Dudensing was also effective with a .294 average (.368 OBP) in 85 at-bats.
"I think our biggest strength offensively this season is our versatility and how we can attack the ball," Wiese said. "We have the big boppers in the order, but we also have a ton of slappers and contact hitters who are going to get on base, steal a base, and get in position to score off a single or a bunt. That's only going to make us a tougher out for opposing pitchers."
Depth will almost certainly pay dividends for Blinn after a 2025 season that saw Church move players around in the infield and behind the plate, and even moving then-sophomore pitcher Bella De Los Santos into the batting order before finding an effective lineup for the stretch run.
As it stands, Blinn's roster includes eight outfielders, eight infielders, five catchers, and two utility players.
"We found ourselves in some tough spots – especially defensively – last season that we think we'll be able to avoid this year," Church said. "We like our depth a lot because it allows you to get creative and play to matchups, and that's a luxury."
Blinn will play 28 non-region games alongside a 24-game region slate.
Following eight consecutive road contests to begin the year, Blinn will play a home doubleheader against Region 14 North representative Tyler Junior College at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at Hohlt Park in Brenham.
The Bucs' South schedule begins with a road trip to Coastal Bend College at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, and ends with a home twin bill against Alvin Community College on Wednesday, May 6.
"As always, the region is going to be tough," Church said. "You used to have your top teams and then the teams who traditionally finished near the bottom, but that's all sort of out the window. Everyone is more competitive now and every team can beat anybody in this region. We have to be prepared to play our best softball every time we take the field if we want to make a deep run into the postseason."
Fans who are unable to attend Blinn softball's home games this season can catch the action live on www.buccaneersports.com by clicking on the "Live Streams" button under the "Inside Athletics" tab.