Coming off a historic 2025 season that saw Fighting Bees Softball, for the first time, play in the CCAC Conference Tournament championship game, Head Coach John Kelly is optimistic the success the Bees achieved in 2025 will springboard them to even greater success in the 2026 season.

"We return most all our starters from 2025, our pitching is deep, and our upper-class leadership is strong. We have a very talented and competitive group of freshmen and sophomores as well. We will be an aggressive and balanced offensive team with plus speed and gap power. It should be a fun season!"

Leading the way for the Bees is grad student and perennial all-conference center fielder Shai Erdrich, who already holds the program single-season and career stolen base records. Erdrich missed most of the 2025 season with an injury, but is back ready to run and improve on her No. 4 nationally ranked 51 stolen bases in 2024.

Also back are all CCAC All-Conference selections, pitchers Ada Boysen (SO) and Leah Maro (JR), catcher Kylee Claypool (JR), shortstop Ellie Downing (SR), and first baseman Becca Haag (SR). Seniors Brynnlin Kroymann and Kylie Schult, along with juniors Mya Millsaps, Taylor Martyn, and sophomores Kylee Vaughn, Bianca Shorter, Parker Leonard and Mia Souliotis are also expected to play major roles in the Bees 2026 success.

Kelly believes the best is yet to come. "This team absolutely has the potential to be the very best I have ever coached. I expect that we will play with confident energy and compete for 21 outs with anyone we play."

The Bees will be tested as they will square off against seven top-25 opponents in 2026, including No. 8 Central Methodist University in the Gulf Coast Invitational tournament in Gulf Shores, Ala., in early March. SAU will also play No. 12-ranked, and 2024 National Champs, Our Lady of the Lake University, No. 19 Southeastern University, and perennial national tournament team A&M-Victoria (formerly Houston-Victoria) in Gulf Shores.

The Fighting Bees will host World Series teams, No. 11 Midland University and No. 14 Madonna University during February in the Ambrose Dome, and open the outdoor home season against No. 6 Grand View University on March 12.

The CCAC season will be an exciting one in 2026 as the conference moves to three-game series and a 27-game conference schedule. Conference play starts at home on Friday, March 20, against Mount Mary University and concludes against rival and No. 23-ranked Saint Xavier University on April 22 at the St. Vincent Athletic Complex. The CCAC Tournament will again be held in Crown Point, Ind., April 30-May 3.

GO BEES!