Softball 1/23/2026 9:00:00 AM

Bronchos Looking For Another Successful Softball Season

First-year Head Coach Sam Maples Excited About UCO's Chances in 2026

EDMOND – The Sam Maples era is about to begin at Central Oklahoma and the first-year head coach is ready to keep the Bronchos among the NCAA Division II elite in 2026.

Maples took over the UCO reigns last summer following a highly-successful career at Division II rival Oklahoma Baptist and will benefit from the return of 10 players from last year's 52-11 team that captured the MIAA and Central Region championships.

The Bronchos added 11 newcomers, with several of those expected to play important roles this season as UCO looks to once again be a top conference and national contender.

"I'm excited about the talent and skills we have," said Maples, who led OBU to 85 wins and back-to-back Great American Conference titles her last two years with the Bison. "Any transition is tough, but this team has accepted the changes and I'm excited about the unity of this group. It's going to be a fun year."

The Bronchos are led by senior star and returning All-American Rylee Lemos, one of the premiere players in Division II who spearheads UCO's offensive attack with her prowess at the plate.

UCO has back three other full-time position starters in senior catcher/first baseman Kennedy Clark, senior second baseman Rylee Anglen and junior outfielder Brooklyn Ryan, with each of them expected to play key offensive roles for the Bronchos.

Junior pitcher Shelby Beard has seen extensive starting time in the circle the past two years and is the ringleader of what will be a young pitching staff.

Senior third baseman Sherri Mason and sophomore outfielder Mari Scott were part-time starters last year, while three other sophomores – first baseman Brooklyn Lyles, outfielder Makenzie Fithian and catcher Kindal Biggs – all gained valuable experience in backup roles.

Four freshmen will complete the pitching staff and newcomers could also take over a couple of other starting spots, but Maples has confidence her youngsters will shine in the spotlight.

"Our pitching is going to be good and they're going to continue to develop, though there may be some bumps in the road," Maples said. "We have a good offense and we're going to be looking to some of our key offensive producers to step up.

"It's going to be an exciting season and I'm looking forward to seeing what this team can do."

Here's a position-by-position look at the Bronchos.

Catcher

The Bronchos have great depth here, with sophomore transfer Jenna Jobe and Clark expected to see the most action.

Jobe was a late addition as a mid-year transfer and is capable of making a huge impact after batting .408 with 17 doubles, seven home runs and 51 runs batted in to lead Butler County Community College to the NJCAA World Series last year. Clark came to UCO last year and hit .326 with 40 RBI while handling the bulk of duties behind the plate.

Sophomore letterwinner Biggs adds great depth and will also push for playing time.

First Base

Lyles and Clark should both see plenty of playing time here. Lyles saw limited action last year, but shined during the fall and is ready to be a major contributor. Clark is a veteran with plenty of starting experience at the position and is a known offensive commodity the Bronchos know they can count on.

Second Base

UCO is in great shape at this crucial position with the return of Anglen, who ranks as one of the top defenders in the country while also providing key offensive production. The senior showcases amazing range in the field and led the team in assists (121) for the second straight year while making just five errors in 245 chances in 2025 to earn MIAA Gold Glove honors. She also batted. 310 with 17 stolen bases in helping spark the UCO offense.

Freshman McKenzie Niehus provides quality backup assistance.

Shortstop

A pair of freshman newcomers are vying for the starting spot here and both should see action. Bonnie Childs handled most of the duties during fall drills in showing off her defensive ability, while mid-year transfer Hannah Demoff is an athletic addition with great range.

Third Base

It's wide open at the hot corner, with a number of candidates ready to fill to starting role and it may take a while for UCO to figure out the best option. Mason has seen plenty of playing time at third over the past two years and is the front-runner to take over. Childs could also figure in here along with Jobe and Scott.

Outfield

The Bronchos have plenty of experience returning in the outfield, led by the senior star Lemos. She has started every game of her career and was an NFCA Gold Glove selection last season in left field while also earning All-America honors. She hit .384 with 14 doubles, 11 homers, eight triples, 46 RBI and 21 steals in 2025 and ranks as one of the top all-around players in Division II.

Ryan is back to patrol center field and will again be a key defender for UCO with her ability to cover extensive ground in the field. She also batted .316 with eight doubles, four triples, 21 RBI and 12 steals. There's a heated battle for the right field spot, with Scott and Fithian along with rookie Haley Gallo the top candidates to take over. Scott and Fithian both saw extensive action last year, while Gallo's offensive ability can't be overlooked.

Pitcher

The Bronchos are excited about the talent level it will unveil in the pitching circle this season despite a lack of experience.

Beard is the only pitcher who has seen action for the UCO and she has loads of that. The right-hander has appeared in 43 games the past two years and went 12-3 with a 2.15 earned run average and 68 strikeouts in 71.2 innings last season.

Four freshmen make up the rest of the staff, with Carleigh Kinnaird and Madison Hamilton looking to take over main starting roles after impressive fall performances. Kirstyn Barnard should also see time in a variety of roles and Sydney Griffin adds quality depth.

Designated Player

This is usually a position where several players are used and it will be the same in 2025, though what pitcher UCO is facing and who is swinging the bat the best with get the call. Clark saw time in this role last year and is definitely a candidate, with Jobe, Gallo and several others also in the running.

Central Oklahoma opens the 2026 season in at the Branson Leadoff Classic in Missouri. The Bronchos will play six games in three days there before opening the gates at Gerry Pinkston Stadium Feb. 6-8 with four games in three days at the UCO-OC Classic.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#9 Rylee Anglen: IF; 5' 3"; Senior; L/R

#11 Shelby Beard: P; 5' 9"; Junior; R/R

#24 Kindal Biggs: C/OF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

#14 Kennedy Clark: C/1B; 5' 7"; Senior; L/L

#6 Makenzie Fithian: OF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; L/R

#8 Rylee Lemos: OF; 5' 6"; Senior; L/R

#13 Brooklyn Lyles: IF; 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R

#21 Sherri Mason: UT; 5' 4"; Senior; R/R

#7 Brooklyn Ryan: OF; 5' 4"; Junior; R/R

#27 Mari Scott: UT; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#9 Rylee Anglen
: 5' 3"; Senior; L/R
: IF

#11 Shelby Beard
: 5' 9"; Junior; R/R
: P

#24 Kindal Biggs
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: C/OF

#14 Kennedy Clark
: 5' 7"; Senior; L/L
: C/1B

#6 Makenzie Fithian
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#8 Rylee Lemos
: 5' 6"; Senior; L/R
: OF

#13 Brooklyn Lyles
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#21 Sherri Mason
: 5' 4"; Senior; R/R
: UT

#7 Brooklyn Ryan
: 5' 4"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#27 Mari Scott
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: UT