MCC Softball ranked 13th in Preseason
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The McCook Community College softball team is ranked 13th in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1 preseason Top 25 polls, as voted on by coaches.
This is the first time the Lady Indians have been ranked in the preseason poll. MCC is coming off a record-setting 2025 season and a 51-11 record. MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall said he believes the team received the preseason recognition from coaches because of their strong showing, winning three games in the 20-team 2025 College World Series Tournament in Yuma, Ariz. MCC was one of the final eight teams in the tournament.
“I think it is well-deserved being ranked after the season we had last year,” said Mendenhall.
After losing their opening-round game to 17th seeded Crowder College (Neosho, Mo.), MCC upset No. 2 McLennan Community College (Waco, Texas) 11-6; followed by a win over 10th ranked Trinity Valley (Athens, Texas) 8-3, and a 6-3 win over No. 8 Butler Community College (El Dorado, Kan.). On the fourth day of the tournament, the Lady Indians lost to and were eliminated by No. 11 Wallace State Community College (Hanceville, Ala.) 10-2.
This year’s pre-season voters likely also considered MCC’s strong returning core of sophomores which includes the 2025 Region IX Freshman and Region IX Player of the Year in Kaliyah St. Amand as well as a pair of returning All-American third teamers in infielder/pitcher Paige Warren and catcher Payton Kinsley. MCC’s roster for 2026 includes eight returners, two sophomore transfers and 12 freshmen.
Defending national champion Northwest Florida State College leads the preseason poll followed by Florida Southwestern State College, Grayson College, McLennan College and Wallace State.
In addition to CWS opponents McLennan and Wallace State, this year’s Top 25 polls includes the three other teams MCC played in the 2025 national tournament: Trinity Valley is ranked ninth, Butler 14th and Crowder College 15th.
In an effort to keep MCC in the national spotlight Mendenhall is playing one of the more competitive non-conference schedules the team has ever faced. MCC will play three games against teams ranked in the Top 25 of Division I and five games against D2 teams.
At the Texoma Health Foundation Winter Blast in Denison, Texas Feb. 13-14, MCC will face No. 22 Temple College, Murray State College (ranked No. 1 in D2) and No. 21 Rose State College.
The following weekend MCC travels to Branson, Mo. for the Branson Turf’s Up Classic and will face No. 15 Crowder on Feb. 20. That tournament also includes games with Missouri State West Plains and Southwest Community College and Northern Oklahoma College-Enid.
MCC’s final weekend of February includes a trip to Kansas City, Kan. where MCC will play doubleheaders against a pair of Division 2 Top 25 programs in No. 8 Johnson County Community College and No. 19 Kansas City Kansas Community College.
“The expectations are very high for this team and we are ready to compete at a high level,” said Mendenhall.
Weather permitting, MCC will play their home-opener Feb. 24 against Seward County Community College. Frist pitch of that doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. at the Jaycees Sports Complex. After 20 non-conference games, The Lady Indians are set to begin Region IX play March 7 at Trinidad, Colo., with the first home games in region slated for March 13 against Southeast Community College.
Here are the NJCAA D1 Preseason Softball Rankings:
# TEAM
1. Northwest Florida State College
2. Florida Southwestern State College
3. Grayson College
4. McLennan Community College
5. Wallace State Community College-Hanceville 22 231
6. Odessa College
7. Paris Junior College
8. Indian River State College
9. Trinity Valley Community College
10. Gaston College
11. Chipola College
12. Chattanooga State Community College 7 154
13. McCook Community College
14. Butler Community College – (Kan.)
15. Crowder College
16. Eastern Florida State College
17. Santa Fe College
18. Seminole State College (OK)
19. Southern Union State Community College 22 77
20. Navarro College
21. Rose State College
22. Temple College
23. Seminole State College of Florida
24. Arizona Western College
25. College of Southern Idaho
Up-to-date information about MCC softball including schedule, roster, livestream links for home games, statistics, photos and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com