The Red Devils softball season is rapidly approaching: With their twelve experienced returners and seven skilled newcomers, the anticipation for the season continues to increase as players and coaches alike discuss their excitement and what to expect from the upcoming season.
The Red Devils are led by head coach, Juell Hodges, who is now entering her fourth year at Eureka after being named the head coach in August of 2021. She has been determined in creating the best team possible every year, evidently so in 2023 when she added a historic 26 players to the roster. Before coaching the Red Devils, Coach Hodges gained experience from 2018-2020 as voluntary assistant coach at Ohio University while also earning her Masters Degree in Education. The Red Devils motto this year is “Mudita” defined as “The practice of cultivating appreciative joy and success and good fortune of others.” This is important to Coach Hodges as she shares what she is most excited for this season.
“Each one of these athletes challenges each other but also picks each other up. So, that is what I’m most excited about – seeing these young women compete and have fun, together” Coach Hodges said.
Mudita is not something that is strictly for the field with this team. Last season, five players received SLIAC All Academic Honors, and Coach Hodges plans to keep this goal a reality.
“As a team we are looking to continue to build, not just on the field, but in the classroom and within our culture.”
Something that will contribute to the Red Devils’ success this season is the help from the returners. Anticipation of the season approaching can be scary for incoming freshmen in any college sport, but the experienced returners continuously offer help to the freshmen on the team. Isabel Ramirez is an incoming freshman pitcher from Buckeye High School in Arizona, and she emphasizes how important this has been for her.
“Practice with the returners has been so fun and helpful. They’re always helping me with my fielding techniques and hitting. I just hope this season that the whole team does well and has fun playing softball.” Ramirez said.
Outfield sophomore Chloe Smith from Sullivan High School expresses her excitement in the time she spends with her teammates this season while recognizing how difficult it is to play as a freshman, furthering the importance of helping incoming players.
“Coming in as a freshman, I wasn’t sure what to expect and what the team dynamic was, but now as a returner I am more at ease knowing how things are structured and how I fit in with my teammates,” Smith said.
Another notable returner, Mackenzie Daniels,is one to keep an eye out for this season as she is coming off an All SLIAC-Second-Team selection after she led Eureka in 18 runs batted in while maintaining a .356 batting average. Catcher Delaney Douglas and first baseman Bria Wessel also look to make an impact as returners this season.
Coach Hodges is not running this program alone as she had just hired assistant Coach Jamie Perkins from Prescott, Arizona to her staff. Coach Perkins has been coaching softball for five years, this year being the first at the collegiate level. She first moved across the country to Eureka to coach the Women’s Basketball team which led her to Coach Hodges offering her an assistant job. She jumped on board and will be a crucial part of the 2025 season as she prioritizes the team’s offense.
“Hitting is what I have put a focus on. I am hoping that we can build consistency in our offense to be able to place our hits where it can be an advantage.”
With this new addition to the staff, both Coaches look to create a winning and joyful atmosphere by using their similarities and differences in their coaching style to their advantage.
The season opener will take place March 9th at home on Sweitzer Field at 1:00pm against Lawrence University.
