Eureka College softball players are gearing up for their upcoming season. The Red Devils are a part of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC), where they received 8th in the 2026 preseason softball poll with 14 points.
The 2026 season is the start of something new for the Red Devil Softball team. Jared Sotelo enters his first year as head coach, beginning a new era for the softball team. Sotelo is joined by several new freshman players, who will bring a new set of skills and experiences to the team while contributing to strengthen their own ability.
In an article shared on the Red Devils athletic page, Sotelo shares his thoughts on the new position, stating, “I am excited to build on Eureka’s rich history and look forward to growing and elevating the program to a higher standard.”
Sotelo is a former baseball player who holds a Master’s in Education from Park University, as well as a Bachelor’s in Sports Studies from Ottawa University in Surprise Arizona.
Found in the preseason softball poll, “Eureka will be led by senior Ashlyn Voyles, a First Team All-SLIAC selection from a year ago. Voyles batted .341 and drove in 18 runs last season, providing consistent production in the middle of the order.”
Ashlyn Voyles is studying History and Political Science and plans to further her education to become a lawyer. Voyles is a second-year Co-Captain and is prominent in multiple positions, like catching, first base, and third base.
“Each coach is different and will expect skills, knowledge, or action from players. As I am coming to a close on my Senior year, it’s important to fully develop these skills in order to lead a successful life. I want to see the program of Eureka College Softball continue to grow and use these skills as well,” states Voyles via email.
Voyles is excited to get the season started and is interested to see how it goes due to a majority of the team being underclassmen. “Practices look good; we have a strong group of girls, and I am hopeful for what our season looks like,” said Voyles.
“What I am looking forward to most is having one last season in a Red Devil uniform and spending it with the other seniors who are playing one last time. Its a bittersweet moment knowing that our softball careers are coming to a close,” stated Voyles.
“The goals for this season are to Play for May,” Voyles states. The Red Devil Softball team is striving to find itself in the playoff games starting in May. The team has come short of this goal for the past two seasons, making this a huge goal for the senior players.
Kayleigh Zerrusen is a Freshman at Eureka College studying Psychology and Criminal Justice. Zerrusen has dreams of working in Child Protective Services after college, as she has always loved working with children and giving them a space to feel safe and loved.
Zerrusen is a captain on the Eureka College Softball team, playing in both the outfield and catching positions.
“The transition from high school to college has not been that big of a difference for me,” stated Zerrusen via email. She explains how her high school has always held her to a high standard, both academically and, most importantly, athletically.
Zerusen explains the difference between high school and college ball by stating, “The speed of the game is faster, and the competition is stronger, but overall, I felt confident stepping onto the field this season.”
Zerrusen is looking forward to competing and seeing how much the team improves over the season. She’s prepared for the game days, traveling as a team, and growing a strong relationship with her teammates and coaches. The biggest thing she is looking forward to is seeing personal growth and creating personal challenges.
The goal for the Eureka College Softball team this season is to get ten percent better every day. They want to build strong team chemistry and trust one another during intense situations. Zerrusen believes “Overall, we want to grow not just as athletes, but as teammates and individuals.”
In an article published by the college, they answer the question of where the home games are located by stating, “The Eureka College softball team plays its home games at Sweitzer Field, the same on-campus facility that once served as home for Eureka’s first NCAA Tournament team in school history.”
The 2026 Eureka Softball Schedule has 9 scheduled doubleheaders at home this season and 8 away. The season officially started on Saturday, March 7th, at home with a doubleheader against Grinnell College.
