2021 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball team explained
| Mode: | softball |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Team: | Northwestern State Lady Demons |
| Conference: | Southland Conference |
| Short Conf: | Southland |
| Record: | 24–22 |
| Conf Record: | 16–11 |
| Head Coach: | Donald Pickett |
| Hc Year: | 13th |
| Asst Coach1: | Amanda Locke |
| Asst Coach2: | Brooke Boening |
| Stadium: | Lady Demon Diamond |
The 2021 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball team represented Northwestern State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Demons played their home games at Lady Demon Diamond and were led by thirteenth year head coach Donald Pickett. They were members of the Southland Conference.
Preseason
Southland Conference Coaches Poll
The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. Northwestern State was picked to finish sixth in the Southland Conference with 156 votes and 1 first place vote.[1]
| Coaches poll |
| 1 | Stephen F. Austin | 235 (17) |
| 2 | McNeese State | 217 (4) |
| 3 | Southeastern Louisiana | 183 |
| 4 | Sam Houston State | 172 (1) |
| 5 | Central Arkansas | 162 (1) |
| 6 | Northwestern State | 156 (1) |
| 7 | Nicholls | 131 |
| 8 | Lamar | 86 |
| 9 | Abilene Christian | 82 |
| 10 | Houston Baptist | 81 |
| 11 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | 47 |
| 12 | Incarnate Word | 32 |
|
Preseason All-Southland team
[2]
First Team
- Kaylyn Shephard (UCA, R-SR, 1st Base)
- Cayla Joens (NSU, JR, 2nd Base)
- Cylla Hall (UCA, R-SR, 3rd Base)
- Cori McCrary (MCNS, SR, Shortstop)
- Ella Manzer (SELA, SR, Catcher)
- Samantha Bradley (ACU, R-SR, Designated Player)
- Linsey Tomlinson (ACU, R-SR, Outfielder)
- Kaylee Lopez (MCNS, SO, Outfielder)
- Elise Vincent (NSU, SR, Outfielder)
- Madisen Blackford (SELA, SR, Outfielder)
- Megan McDonald (SHSU, SR, Outfielder)
- Kayla Beaver (UCA, R-FR, Pitcher)
- Kassidy Wilbur (SFA, JR, Pitcher)
- E. C. Delafield (NSU, JR, Utility)
Second Team
- Shaylon Govan (SFA, SO, 1st Base)
- Brooke Malia (SHSU, SR, 2nd Base)
- Bryana Novegil (SFA, SR, 2nd Base)
- Caitlin Garcia (NICH, JR, 3rd Base)
- Alex Hudspeth (SFA, JR, Shortstop)
- Alexis Perry (NSU, SO, Catcher)
- Bailey Richards (SFA, SR, Catcher)
- Caitlyn Brockway (HBU, SO, Designated Player)
- Reagan Sperling (UCA, R-JR, Outfielder)
- Alayis Seneca (MCNS, SO, Outfielder)
- Hayley Barbazon (NSU, SR, Outfielder)
- Saleen Flores (MCNS, SO, Pitcher)
- MC Comeaux (SELA, FR, Pitcher)
- Sammi Thomas (TAMUCC, SO, Utility)
National Softball Signing Day
[3]
Roster
Coaching staff
Schedule and results
| Legend |
|---|
| | Northwestern State win |
| | Northwestern State loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation |
| Bold | Northwestern State team member | |
| 2021 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball game log |
|---|
| Regular season (22-20) |
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| February (5-2) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission Lady Demon Classic |
|---|
| Feb. 12 | | | | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Natchitoches | | Feb. 12 | | | Parc Natchitoches • Natchitoches, LA | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Natchitoches | | Feb. 13 | | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Natchitoches | | Feb. 13 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Natchitoches | | Feb. 14 | Evansville | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Natchitoches | | Feb. 14 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Natchitoches | |
|---|
| Getterman Classic |
|---|
| Feb. 19 | | | | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Waco | | Feb. 19 | | | Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Waco | | Feb. 20 | | | Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Waco | |
|---|
| Feb. 21 | | | | Game postponed due to threat of ice on field in Monroe. | | Feb. 24 | at Louisiana–Monroe | | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | Game postponed due to threat of ice on field in Monroe | | Feb. 23 | | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 10-0 (5 inns) | Rhoden (1-0) | Bonner (0-1) | None | | 101 | 1-0 | | | Feb. 23 | Grambling State | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 9-1 (5 inns) | Howell (1-0) | Shells (0-1) | None | | 135 | 2-0 | | | South Alabama Invitational |
|---|
| Feb. 26 | | | | W 3-0 (8 inns) | Howell (2-0) | Ingles (0-1) | None | | 200 | 3-0 | | | Feb. 27 | | | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | W 2-0 | Delafield (1-0) | Mead (0-1) | Rhoden (1) | | 200 | 4-0 | | | Feb. 27 | vs. No. 20 Missouri | | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | L 0-8 (5 inns) | Weber (4-0) | Howell (2-1) | None | | 200 | 4-1 | | | Feb. 28 | vs. SIU Edwardsville | | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | W 6-5 (8 inns) | Guile (1-0) | Ingles (0-3) | None | | 200 | 5-1 | | | Feb. 28 | | | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | L 1-6 | Lackie (5-2) | Seely (0-1) | None | | 200 | 5-2 | | | |
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|
| March (10-6) |
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| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| Mar. 3 | Louisiana–Monroe | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 3-1 | Howell (2-1) | Hulett (1-2) | None | | 282 | 6-2 | | | Wooo Pig Classic |
|---|
| Mar. 5 | | | | L 2-12 (5 inns) | Hupke (1-0) | Howell (3-2) | None | | 448 | 6-3 | | | Mar. 5 | | | Bogle Park • Fayetteville, AR | L 5-13 (6 inns) | Howell (2-0) | Rhoden (1-1) | None | | 578 | 6-4 | | | Mar. 6 | | | Bogle Park • Fayetteville, AR | L 0-5 | Reed (4-2) | Dealfield (1-1) | None | | 480 | 6-5 | | | Mar. 6 | at No. 20 Arkansas | | Bogle Park • Fayetteville, AR | L 2-13 (5 inns) | Haff (9-1) | Howell (3-3) | None | | 590 | 6-6 | | | Mar. 7 | vs. Kansas | | Bogle Park • Fayetteville, AR | L 2-6 | Mills (1-0) | Rhoden (1-2) | None | | 269 | 6-7 | | |
|---|
| Mar. 12 | | | | W 8-3 | Rhoden (2-2) | Danehower (3-2) | None | | 123 | 7-7 | 1-0 | | Mar. 12 | at Nicholls | | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | W 10-1 (5 inns) | Howell (4-3) | Moon (1-3) | None | | 123 | 8-7 | 2-0 | | Mar. 13 | at Nicholls | | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | W 4-0 | Delafield (2-1) | LaBure (2-3) | None | | 101 | 9-7 | 3-0 | | Mar. 19 | | | | W 5-2 | Rhoden (3-2) | Gunther (1-4) | None | | 75 | 10-7 | 4-0 | | Mar. 19 | at Incarnate Word | | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | W 17-0 (5 inns) | Delafield (3-1) | Trapp (0-3) | None | | 75 | 11-7 | 5-0 | | Mar. 20 | at Incarnate Word | | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | W 5-0 | Delafield (4-1) | Gunther (1-5) | None | | 75 | 12-7 | 6-0 | | Mar. 26 | | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 2-1 | Howell (5-3) | Patak (3-6) | None | | 300 | 13-7 | 7-0 | | Mar. 26 | Houston Baptist | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 5-1 | Delafield (5-1) | Venker (2-1) | None | | 300 | 14-7 | 8-0 | | Mar. 27 | Houston Baptist | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 7-2 | Rhoden (4-2) | Patak (3-7) | None | | 200 | 15-7 | 9-0 | | Mar. 30 | | | | L 0-3 | Pickett (3-5) | Seely (0-2) | Hernandez (1) | | 250 | 15-8 | | |
|
| April (5–10) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| Apr. 2 | | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | L 1-3 | Johnson (7-4) | Howell (5-4) | None | | 250 | 15-9 | 9-1 | | Apr. 2 | Central Arkansas | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | L 0-4 | Beaver (10-3) | Delafield (5-2) | None | | 250 | 15-10 | 9-2 | | Apr. 3 | Central Arkansas | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | L 3-4 | Beaver (11-3) | Rhoden (4-3) | Johnson (1) | | 203 | 15-11 | 9-3 | | Apr. 9 | | | | L 1-3 | Mixon (2-10) | Howell (5-5) | None | | 119 | 15-12 | 9-4 | | Apr. 9 | at Lamar | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | W 15-2 | Delafield (6-2) | Reyna (1-11) | None | | 119 | 16-12 | 10-4 | | Apr. 10 | at Lamar | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | W 5-4 | Delafield (7-2) | Mixon (2-11) | Rhoden (2) | | 119 | 17-12 | 11-4 | | Apr. 13 | | | | Game Postponed | | Apr. 17 | | | | L 0-2 | Wilbur (21-3) | Howell (5-6) | None | | 500 | 17-13 | 11-5 | | Apr. 17 | at Stephen F. Austin | | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | L 5-9 | Wilbur (22-3) | Rhoden (4-4) | None | | 150 | 17-14 | 11-6 | | Apr. 18 | at Stephen F. Austin | | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | L 0-6 | Wilbur (23-3) | Howell (5-7) | None | | 217 | 17-15 | 11-7 | | Apr. 21 | | | | Game postponed | | Apr. 21 | at Southern | | Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA | Game postponed | | Apr. 24 | | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 4-3 (9 inns) | Howell (6-7) | Vento (7-5) | None | | 150 | 18-15 | 12-7 | | Apr. 24 | Sam Houston State | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 6-4 | Delafield (8-2) | Dunn (5-9) | None | | 200 | 19-15 | 13-7 | | Apr. 25 | Sam Houston State | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | L 1-6 | Billmeier (1-5) | Howell (6-8) | None | | 175 | 19-16 | 13-8 | | Apr. 27 | Louisiana Tech | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | L 2-3 (15 inns) | Koenig (1-3) | Delafield (9-3) | None | | 204 | 19-17 | | | Apr. 30 | | | | L 0-3 | Tate (9-7) | Howell (6-9) | None | | 401 | 19-18 | 13-9 | | Apr. 30 | at McNeese State | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 3-2 | Delafield (9-3) | Flores (5-8) | None | | 401 | 20-18 | 14-9 | |
|
| May (2-2) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| May 1 | at McNeese State | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 3-5 (8 inns) | Tate (10-7) | Delafield (0-4) | None | | 478 | 20-19 | 14-10 | | May 7 | | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 9-4 | Delafield (10-4) | Zumo (15-6) | None | | 200 | 21-19 | 15-10 | | May 7 | Southeastern Louisiana | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 13-5 (5 inns) | Seely (1-2) | Hannabas (2-6) | None | | 200 | 22-19 | 16-10 | | May 8 | Southeastern Louisiana | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | L 2-7 | Comeaux (8-6) | Rhoden (4-5) | None | | 150 | 22-20 | 16-11 | |
|
| Post-Season (2-2) |
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| (2-2) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
|---|
| May 13 | vs. (5) Southeastern Louisiana | (4) | | W 7-4 | Delafield (11-4) | Kraft (0-1) | None | | 343 | 23-20 | 1-0 | | May 13 | vs. (1) Stephen F. Austin | (4) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | L 1-4 | Wilbur (30-4) | Howell (6-10) | None | | 335 | 24-20 | 1-1 | | May 14 | vs. (7) Sam Houston State | (4) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 8-0 (5 inns) | Delafield (12-4) | Dunn (8-12) | None | | 319 | 24-21 | 2-1 | | May 14 | vs. (2) Central Arkansas | (4) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | L 2-5 | Beaver (20-6) | Delafield (12-5) | None | | 339 | 24-22 | 2-2 | |
| |
Schedule Source:[4] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.
Postseason
Conference accolades
- Player of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA
- Hitter of the Year: Shaylon Govan – SFA
- Pitcher of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA
- Freshman of the Year: Jenna Wildeman – UCA
- Newcomer of the Year: Jenna Edwards – MCNS
- Coach of the Year: Nicole Dickson – SFA
All Conference First Team
- Shaylon Govan (SFA)
- Bryana Novegil (SFA)
- Haylee Brinlee (MCNS)
- Cori McCrary (MCNS)
- Heidi Jaquez (HBU)
- E. C. Delafield (NSU)
- Mackenzie Bennett (SFA)
- Jenna Wildeman (UCA)
- Megan McDonald (SHSU)
- Aeriyl Mass (SELA)
- Kayla Beaver (UCA)
- Kassidy Wilbur (SFA)
All Conference Second Team
- Kaylyn Shephard (UCA)
- Mary Kate Brown (UCA)
- Lindsey Rizzo (SELA)
- Camryn Middlebrook (SFA)
- Hannah Scheaffer (SHSU)
- Gaby Garcia (SFA)
- Kaylee Lopez (MCNS)
- Donelle Johnson (ACU)
- Jil Poullard (MCNS)
- Audrey Greely (SELA)
- Jordan Johnson (UCA)
- Whitney Tate (MCNS)
All Conference Third Team
- Caitlyn Brockway (HBU)
- Cayla Jones (NSU)
- Alex Hedspeth (SFA)
- Ashlyn Reavis (NICH)
- Chloe Gomez (MCNS)
- Jasie Roberts (HBU)
- Anna Rodenberg (SELA)
- Kaitlyn St. Clair (NSU)
- Sheridan Fisher (SHSU)
- Pal Egan (TAMUCC)
- Lyndie Swanson (HBU)
- Heather Zumo (SELA)
References:[5]
Notes and References
- Web site: Ladyjacks Tabbed 2021 Softball Preseason Favorites . www.southland.org . 20 March 2021 . en.
- Web site: 2021 Southland Preseason All-Conference Softball Teams Announced . www.southland.org . 20 March 2021 . en.
- Web site: Lady Demons ink 7 during early-signing period . Northwestern State University Athletics . 21 March 2021 . en.
- Web site: Softball set to play challenging 2021 schedule . Northwestern State University Athletics . 21 March 2021 . en.
- Web site: SFA’s Kassidy Wilbur Named Southland Player of the Year . www.southland.org . 6 January 2022 . en.
