EUGENE, Ore. – After halting their 2020 season after just 19 games, the Bushnell University softball family is excited to get back on field this week for the first time in 2021.
 
Third-year Head Coach Katie Duroe said, "It has been almost a year since we have played and our incoming freshmen didn't get to play their high school senior season either. The feeling of excitement and the extra jump in our girls step has been palpable in the last few weeks."
 
For the Beacons, the unique nature of a pandemic shutdown really brought the team closer together and that family atmosphere should translate on and off the field. "This team is close. I have never had a team so willing to be vulnerable with each other and that has allowed them to get to know each other on a deep level.
 
"It impacts the way they support each other and play and I am excited to see what they can do. Obviously we have a lot of talent with our returners and we loaded up with some key newcomers, but the thing that is going to get us further than our skill is the way we pick each other up."
 
Coach Duroe believes that the 2021 squad has a chance to turn some heads and fully believes in the goal that the players set for themselves, to qualify for the Cascade Collegiate Conference post-season for the first time in school history. The Beacons went 4-15 before the COVID-19 shutdown last spring and never really had a chance to prove what they could do, having seen the field for just two conference series.
 
We are still very much an underdog in the Conference's eye," said Duroe. "We moved up a few spots in the coaches poll which was good, but I think we will still be underestimated. There will be some teams that we will shock. Even last year in our first CCC double-header we took the No. 1 team in the country to extra innings and had plenty of opportunities to win it. This group is going to accomplish a lot and has a championship mindset."
 
The Beacons welcome eleven newcomers to the roster this season, including eight freshmen and three college transfers. Their impact should be seen throughout the lineup as the join ten returners.
 
PITCHERS
 
Returning to the pitching staff will be sophomore Leslie Reynaga and junior Shay Shropshire. Miranda Jensen, who pitched at Clackamas CC before transferring to the Beacons last season, is also going to find her way back to the circle this season. "We have three experienced collegiate pitchers and it has been nice to add Miranda into that mix," said Duroe. "She is picking up right where she left off a few years ago."
 
New to the staff will be true utility transfer Sam Silver (Mount Vernon, Wash.) and freshman Stella Turner (Orange, Calif.).
 
Silver, a true utility player who will regularly be in the starting lineup somewhere, didn't pitch at her previous home at Western Washington University, but did in high school. Duroe said, "Sam has a nasty drop ball and some great movement and having her type of leadership on the mound is big for us."
 
Turner hails from the softball hotbed of Southern California and brings a fire to the team, said Duroe. "Stella is our lone freshman pitcher and has been doing great. She is a good mixture of speed and movement. She is eager to learn and has been making great strides. She has a high ceiling and she hasn't reached it yet.
 
CATCHERS
 
The lone returning catcher is junior Jordan Kuykendall whose leadership is credited with bringing the rest of the position group along quickly. Duroe said, "Jordan has been a great help for our freshmen catchers. She has done a great job getting to know the pitchers and shown some great leadership behind the plate."
 
Tierra Dumlao (Mililani, Hawaii) and Faith Wayman (Simi Valley, Calif.) are the new additions, and bring different skills to the position. "Faith is really good at blocking and has the arm to throw out any runner," said Duroe. "I tell Tierra that she's going to be a great coach one day. She commands the field when she is behind the plate, knows what to say to help her pitchers and can see so many details and gives great feedback."
 
The most recent addition is junior Kerry Murphy (East Central University), who transferred into Bushnell in January. With three years of collegiate catching experience, she is also bringing some fresh leadership to the roster. Duroe, who coached her as a freshman at Johnson County Community College, said, "Kerry brings a huge bat and she has a lot of knowledge behind the plate. She is just starting to get to work with our pitchers but has already made her mark."
 
INFIELD
 
As talk moves beyond the battery, the flexibility of the team begins to show it's strength. Alexa Berry returns for her third year as a piece of the puzzle at first base, where both Murphy and Silver are also expected to see some time. Kuykendall, Silver, and Dumlao all have the chops to hold down duties at third.
 
The middle-infield will see a little less flexibility with senior Anna Cardwell locked in at second and freshman Suzi Krstic (Mesa, Ariz.) penciled in as the primary shortstop. Duroe said, "Anna and Suzi are working well together up the middle and we need that solid communication to be successful. Anna is the leader of our infield and has such great leadership on the team. Suzi is a stud. She has ridiculous range and reads the ball really well. She does a great job as a freshman commanding the field and that is a tough spot to be in, but she is up for it."
 
Also providing depth as she works her way back into health will be sophomore transfer Braydi Johnson (Red Bluff, Calif.). Coach said, "Braydi was a great player at College of the Siskyous and we can't wait to get her back. She came in as a shortstop but will give us some great depth anywhere in the infield."
 
OUTFIELD
 
Both youth and experience will be on display in the Beacon outfield and coach Duroe says that no matter who is in the starting lineup, opposing teams will have a tough time getting the ball past them. "We have a really good outfield this year all around," said Duroe. "Every option we have provides speed and strong arms."
 
Seniors Anabel Mendez and Noel Balderston come back to the big patch of grass, but will do so in different locations in 2021. After playing center field last season, Mendez will return to her natural spot in right field, and Balderston will shift from right to left.
 
Centerfield is still up for grabs with freshmen Alyssa Ferreira (Wailuku, Hawaii) and Madison Steelman (Hilmar, Calif.) fighting for the spot. "Alyssa and Madison both have unbelievable range, speed, and rockets for arms," said Duroe.
 
The depth beyond the dirt cannot be underestimated either, led by returning sophomore Krystal Akagi. Coach Duroe said, "Krystal is going to continue to fight for more playing time this year. She took advantage of the opportunities she had last season and this year she has been a consistent hitter. She finds holes, and will find her spot in the outfield."
 
In the mix will also be freshmen Lilly Bauer (Junction City) and Trinity Collins (Willamette HS). Lilly is credited with a strong arm and Collins is known for her speed on the base paths as she led all Oregon 5A schools in stolen bases last year. "I am looking forward to seeing how Lilly and Trinity grow this year," said Duroe, "and I fully expect them both to make an impact on this team."
 
 
The Beacons hit the ground running this week, traveling to Redding, California on Wednesday to take on Simpson University at 11:00 am. Bushnell has two more non-conference double-headers scheduled before CCC play begins on March 5 at home against Southern Oregon.