Taft College Softball Pairs Explosive Offense with Postseason Return in 2026 Season Recap

Taft College's softball season was defined by the way the Cougars stood up to top competition and kept producing runs from opening day through the postseason. Taft finished 24-17-1 overall, went 9-9 in Central Valley Conference play to place third, earned the No. 14 seed in the NorCal Regional state playoffs and moved up two spots from last season in the northern rankings before its year ended with a first-round loss to No. 3 San Joaquin Delta College.

The strongest theme of the season was offense. The Cougars finished among the top five offensive teams in the state, a reflection of the pressure they created in nearly every way possible. Taft showed early that it could trade punches with elite opponents, opening the season against the No. 1 team in the state and losing by just two runs. That start set the tone for a team that held its own against some of the best programs on the schedule and later delivered upsets over the No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the state. Against strong pitching, Taft consistently proved to be one of the area's most dangerous lineups.

Published results from the season showed that identity repeatedly. The Cougars opened their home slate by sweeping Los Angeles Valley, 12-0 and 12-3, behind a complete-game shutout from Jada Mizener in the opener and a power-filled second game led by Cadence Mizener and Keona Comilang. They later swept San Bernardino Valley, 11-2 and 10-2, using big innings and steady work in the circle from Jada Mizener and Mischa Mott. At home against Barstow, Taft again overwhelmed an opponent with a 10-4 win followed by a 19-1 run-rule victory, piling up extra-base hits while playing clean defense. Even in tighter days, such as a split at Chaffey, the Cougars showed resilience by answering a walk-off loss in the opener with a composed 5-3 win in the nightcap.

Several players drove that production all spring. Keona Comilang turned in one of the most complete seasons in the program, leading Taft in batting average at .490, RBIs with 45 and hits with 73. Her season earned her Central Valley Conference Player of the Year honors and a spot on the All-State North team. Jasmine Estrada also earned major recognition, landing first-team all-conference at first base and NFCA All-American honors. Cadence Mizener was named first-team middle infielder and an All Northern Team selection after providing power and run production in the middle of the lineup.

Taft's success was not built on only a few bats. Jada Mizener earned second-team honors as a pitcher after delivering key innings throughout the season, including one of the staff's signature early shutouts. Katelynn Moore brought constant pressure at the top of the order and finished with a team-leading 44 stolen bases, a total that may have challenged a program record, while also earning second-team middle infield recognition. Jashia-Lee Hernando was named second-team outfield, Mischa Mott earned second-team designated hitter honors, and Keiara Ortiz Santos was selected second-team at third base. Together, that group reflected the depth that allowed Taft to score in bunches and stay competitive across a demanding schedule.

The postseason result did not match the season's high points, but it did not erase them either. Taft fought through a challenging conference slate, secured a playoff berth and finished with a stronger standing than a year ago. The Cougars' season will be remembered for an offense that could change a game quickly, a lineup that produced against quality opponents and a roster that collected honors across the field. For a team that opened by showing it could hang with the state's best and spent the spring proving it belonged in that conversation, those are the takeaways that last.