BYU looks ready to compete this spring near the end of fall scrimmages
BYU Softball is wrapping up fall ball, and they already look ready to go as they prepare for their first year in the Big 12 this spring.
There were some roster moves in the offseason, welcoming four transfers in Lily Owens (Lehigh), Aleia Agbayani (Cal), Lyndsey Madrigal (SLCC), and Keila Kamoku (Ole Miss). Each of the newcomers have made an immediate impact on the team throughout the six week stretch of scrimmages.
Notably, the Cougars are returning a good number of starters who do everything possible to make this team great under Head Coach Gordon Eakin.
Senior first basemen, Huntyr Ava, continues to do what she does best: hit dingers. In the 2023 season, Ava led the way with 16 total home runs, notching a .358 batting averaging and bringing in a team high 50 RBI’s. If fall ball is any indication of how she will play this upcoming season, BYU fans are in for a real treat.
Someone to keep an eye on as BYU enters the Big 12, is freshman pitcher, Kate Dahle. The sport definitely runs in the family, as her two brothers play collegiate and professional baseball. Dahle’s oldest brother, Nate, is BYU alumni and currently pitches for the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the High A Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Her other brother, Jake, pitches at the collegiate level at Utah Tech.
Dahle has made her mark throughout fall play and pitched near perfect games more than once, striking out batters left and right. She definitely lives up to the Dahle name as the third of three pitchers in the family.
Other notable returners to keep on your radar are Senior outfielders, Violet Zavodnik and Maddie Bejarano.
Zavodnik is coming off of a slower Junior season, but still made quite the impact to help the team finish 35-17 last season. Zavodnik added a .267 clip on the year and pulled in nine home runs. She also maintained a perfect fielding percentage for the Cougars in the outfield.
Bejarano finished with 41 runs on .321 hitting and had the team high on base percentage of .451, including 14 doubles and four home runs.
These two are major difference makers for the Cougars and will definitely leave their mark on the program after they step up to the plate for the last time.
It is no question that the Cougars are ready to make an impact in the Big 12 and do what they do best, make plays and win games.
