The NW softball and baseball teams had excellent first outings last weekend to kick off the 2026 campaign, with softball currently boasting a 3-1 record and baseball 2-1.
Softball’s success came in Sioux Center at the ASB Sports Complex Classic, where they captured victories against Mount Mercy, York, and Benedictine, only falling to Mayville State in the two-day event.
After being ranked 3rd in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and 17th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Preseason Coaches’ Poll, softball is showing their cards early.
“I was very proud of how the team focused on what makes NW Softball who we are and that gave us a chance to have success in every game,” Head Coach Shane Bouman said. “The expectations for our program have not changed, compete at the top of the GPAC and make a run in the NAIA national tournament.”
“Our team has put in a lot of work and has come a long way over the past few months,” Junior Sydney Jacobs said. “Our players and coaches are the only ones who know what goes on in practice, and it is just exciting to show off the hard work and dedication that all of us have seen progress of the past six months.”
Despite the yearly challenge of a shifting team roster, the team is as committed as ever.
“The names may have changed but the style of play and what is expected from inside the circle remain the same,” Coach Bouman said. “Softball has won 25 Conference Championships and the last three in a row, so we plan to compete again at the top of the GPAC and make an NAIA postseason run.”
Baseball, recently ranked seventh in the GPAC, had a strong showing against McPherson College in Kansas, putting up huge scores of 18 runs in game one and 19 in game two. Game three saw the Raiders give up five runs in the fifth inning, ultimately leading to an 8-5 defeat.
“I was happy with the way the games went this weekend,” Grant Rychnovsky, outfield/pitcher, said. “It’s really fun scoring as many runs as we did, and I think we showed some of what we are capable of in those first two games. The next step for us as a team is to find a way to overcome deficits late in games. If we do that like we’re capable of, we will be a really hard team to beat this year.”
The team aims to win at least 30 games this season, including the GPAC title.
Softball and baseball both compete next Feb. 13.
