Taft College Softball 2025 Season Recap
TAFT, CA – In her second season at the helm, Taft College Head Softball Coach Amanda Clark worked wonders and recruited a team and kept a solid nucleus of returners that significantly turned around the program from one year to the next.
The Cougars' first season under Coach Clark was a very rough one with the team placing last place in the Central Valley Conference. This past season, Taft had an overall winning record in conference and for the season. Taft finished third place, going 8-7 in the Central Valley Conference and 24-17 overall.
For the first time since 2017, Taft entered the post season into the 3C2A NorCal Playoffs where they ended the season losing to the #1 seed.
Coach Clark said, "Getting to this point in our season has been a huge accomplishment for our team and every single player has played a key role in getting us to where we are."
Notable players include freshmen Jada Mizener and Ava Heitman who have been holding it down for the cougars in the circle. These two complemented each other very well and kept batters guessing with change of speed and pitch location. These two have been workhorses on the mound with Mizener taking second team honors with 12 wins and over 90 strikeouts versus her opponents. Heitman was named Honorable Mention with 12 wins and 60 strikeouts. Coach Clark expressed, "We would not be where we are without these two."
Next, there were middle infielders who have not only done well with their gloves but stepped up on offense as well. Freshman Katelynn Moore has been a spark as the leadoff hitter and is led the Cougars with 33 stolen bases and a batting average over .400. She was named First Team All-Conference as a middle infielder.
Freshman Cadence Mizner has held down short for the Cougars and has made some very impressive plays. She took home Second Team All-Conference honors as a middle infielder with a batting average of .336, 22 RBIs and 38 runs scored.
Holding it down on the corners was sophomore Echo Pallesen and freshman Mischa Mott. Pallesen has been a solid 3rd baseman and came out of the season as an honorable mention at 3b. She ended the regular season with an average of .308.
Mott came out strong this season and was a consistent bat for the cougars with a batting average of .438, 7 home runs, 28 runs and 46 RBI's. Mischa was a force at the plate with a second-place batting average in the conference and she took home First Team All-Conference first baseman.
Freshman outfielder Hadlie Wilson also stepped up for the Cougars in the outfield and at the plate. She battled through some injuries and took home First Team All-Conference honors as a DH batting .359, 14 RBI's and 22 runs.
Sophomore Laie Keahi was a leader for the Cougars as she caught most of the innings for Taft and was a solid bat in the 3rd spot. Laie Keahi took First Team All-Conference catcher with a team leading batting average of.470, she had 29 RBI's and 34 runs scored. She was also solid behind the plate, only making 3 errors in 181 total chances. Keahi led the conference in batting average.
Coach Clark shared her last remarks, "Getting to where we have has been a team effort and these ladies have really stepped up and made a statement. I am really proud of the work they have put in and their resilience through the challenges."