No. 8 UCO To Open 2023 Season In Texas

No. 8-ranked Central Oklahoma opens the 2023 softball season this weekend when the Bronchos trek to Conroe, Texas for the three-day Division II Spring Invitational Kickoff.

UCO will take on six Lone Star Conference teams at the Scrap Yard Sports Complex, starting Friday against No. 18 Angelo State (11 a.m.) and St. Edward's (1:15 p.m.). Game times are the same the next two days as the Bronchos meet Oklahoma Christian and Texas Woman's Friday before closing against St. Mary's and No. 3 Texas-Tyler Sunday.

"We're looking forward to getting started," said head coach Cody White, who is 349-137 entering his 10th year at the helm. "Unfortunately, the weather has kept us from getting outside since last Saturday, but we've done a lot of good work in the batting cage and we'll be ready to go.

"It will definitely be a challenging weekend for us. We go up against a lot of really good teams and will need to play at a high level right off the bat. The girls are excited about the season and I know they're anxious to play somebody in a different uniform."

It's the fourth time in the last five years that UCO has started the season in this event. The Bronchos are 9-8 overall after going 4-1 in 2019, 1-5 in 2020 and 4-2 last year.

Central will be off next weekend before making its home debut Feb. 17-19 with five games in the Raising Cane's Festival at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO has six position starters and one pitcher back from last year's 48-13 team that advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Division II playoffs before falling to eventual national champion Rogers State in the Central Super Regional.

The Bronchos have made 13 national tournament appearances since 2002, including three in a row. UCO advanced to the Division II World Series in 2006, 2012, 2013, winning the national title in '13.

Leading this year's returners is All-American outfielder Jacee Minter along with catcher Amelya Huggins, third baseman Shayla Harper, outfielder Shayleigh Odom and pitcher Corrina Rivas.

Minter put together one of the best all-around seasons in school history, hitting .414 with a school-record and Division II-best 26 doubles, 12 home runs and 71 runs batted in to pick up first- and second-team All-America honors.

Huggins was a first-team All-MIAA selection after batting .353 with 14 doubles, nine homers and 42 RBI, while Harper hit .327 with 10 homers, eight triples and 49 RBI to nab second-team All-MIAA accolades.

Odom had a .324 average with 32 RBI as a second-team All-MIAA pick at utility. Rivas went 15-6 with a 2.24 earned run average to earn second-team All-MIAA recognition in 2021 before missing last season to injury.

The Bronchos have back three other starters in infielder Mikayla Rutland, outfielder Korbyn Skipworth and pitcher/infielder Terin Ritz.

Rutland and Skipworth were both honorable mention All-MIAA picks last year. Rutland had a .451 on-base percentage and Skipworth batted .305 with 28 RBI. Ritz went 6-2 with a 3.61 ERA and also hit .290 with 24 RBI despite missing 24 games to injury.

UCO has nine newcomers on the roster with five freshmen and four transfers, with many of those expected to vie for extended playing time in 2023.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: UCO will face four returning national tournament teams this weekend – Angelo State, Oklahoma Christian, St. Mary's and Texas-Tyler, with Tyler advancing to the Division II World Series semifinals.

ASU has seven of its top nine hitters and its top two pitchers back from last year's 39-12 team. The Rambelles have a 16-13 series lead.

St. Edward's is coming off an 18-27 season. UCO has a 7-2 series advantage over the Hilltoppers.

Near-by Oklahoma Christian went 39-15 a year ago. The series is deadlocked 17-17, though the Bronchos have won the last three meetings.

Texas Woman's went 12-33 in 2022. UCO owns a 14-7 series lead over the Pioneers, winning 12-4 last year in this event.

St. Mary's has back 13 players, including all five pitchers, from last year's 38-19 squad. The Rattlers have a 15-7 lead over the Bronchos and have taken the last three meetings, including a 9-8 win last year.

UT-Tyler captured the South Central Regional title last year in making the World Series and went 2-2 there in finishing 49-9. The Patriots routed UCO 17-4 last year in the first-ever meeting between the two.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Shayla Harper: IF; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#25 Amelya Huggins: IF/C; 5' 5"; Junior; R/R

#12 Jacee Minter: OF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

#6 Shayleigh Odom: OF; 5' 1"; Sophomore; L/R

#13 Corrina Rivas: P; 5' 7"; Senior; R/R

#3 Mikayla Rutland: UT; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#10 Korbyn Skipworth: UT; 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R

#99 Terin Ritz: P/1B; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#11 Shayla Harper
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: IF

#25 Amelya Huggins
: 5' 5"; Junior; R/R
: IF/C

#12 Jacee Minter
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF

#6 Shayleigh Odom
: 5' 1"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#13 Corrina Rivas
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: P

#3 Mikayla Rutland
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: UT

#10 Korbyn Skipworth
: 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R
: UT

#99 Terin Ritz
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: P/1B