#12 Ranked MC Softball Starts Season On the Road
For the team, the path to nationals starts now.
After earning a preseason ranking of 12th in the NFCA preseason poll, the MC softball team is ready to open up their season on the road. The team is starting the 2025 season in Youngsville, Louisiana on Friday, January 31st. The team will play in a three-day Mardi Gras tournament beginning with #7 Augustana.

The team is coached by Leigh Streetman, who joined the team as an assistant coach in 2017. This is Streetman’s first season as head coach for the Choctaws. Longtime coach Brooke O’Hair stepped down upon finishing her 18th season at MC. The team’s assistant coach is Jordan LaFosse, a MC graduate who earned first team for the Gulf South Conference last season.
Last year's team finished 48-9 on the year and 26-4 in conference. The team lost to AUM in the NCAA Super Regionals after shattering multiple team and individual records.
Camryn Bailey, a junior who was tabbed to the Gulf South Conference first team, will be a returner to watch this season. The team has also added on six new freshmen: Blakely Gill, Ashlyn Rodgers, Bella Myers, AK Willingham, Kallee Nichols, and Sarah Lee. At Christmas, the team added two juniors: Megan Matheis and Gaddy Utsey. Preseason honors include Bailey and Shelby Samples being added to the GSC all-conference preseason team. The team received a ranking of 4th in the Gulf South Conference.
The Choctaws created a goal system dubbed the “Stairway to Success.” The stairway leads to the team’s final goal: playing in the national championship. Streetman believes the team has been putting in work everyday to reach this goal.
“The main goal is to be playing on the last day possible of Division II softball, which is May 28th, 2025,” Streetman said. “That’s the day of the national championship game. Everything leading up to that would be going undefeated at home, GSC championship, and doing all the little things it takes to the date of May 28th.”
Ava Dover, a sophomore on the team, says the team is prepped and ready to go. “Our head coach, Leigh Streetman, has taken every step to keep our team accountable and to achieve success,” Dover said. “Success for our team is working diligently through every play, swing, and attitude on the field. We are a well-oiled machine.”
As far as mindsets, Streetman says the team is focusing on playing standard MC softball and not worrying about who their opponent is that day.
“We’ve been trying to put a lot of emphasis on not putting emphasis on who we’re playing,” Streetman said. “We’re treating every game the same and playing MC softball. That’s our mindset going into opening weekend and moving forward throughout our schedule, just doing what we do best and capitalizing on that.”
Dover believes there is nothing that the team can not face. “There are many things that make our softball team special, but the personalities and willingness to get better everyday is what makes this team special,” Dover said. “There is no obstacle that this team could not overcome.”
Dover emphasized what a role her faith has played in furthering the team’s sense of community. “My favorite part about being on the MC softball team is the community, and opportunity to grow in my faith and as a player. One of the many things our team stands by is the Lord. We don’t play for an audience, we play for him and his glory.”
The team's first home game will be February 15th against West Alabama. Streetman says she’s excited to see what the season brings.