Coming off another successful season in 2019 the Red Devil softball team is ready to open its 46-game, 2020 regular season on February 22-23 at Bellevue College.
 
Lower Columbia will meet Bellevue and Everett twice each this weekend – Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and Sunday at 5:00 p.m. vs. the Bulldogs and Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday at noon vs. the Trojans. All games will be played on the field turf softball/soccer complex at Bellevue College.

"It's opening weekend and our team is ready to play," Lower Columbia Coach Traci Fuller said. "With the better weather lately, we have been able to spend more time outside and get a good assessment of our team – and I like what I see."
 
Fuller, now in her ninth season, has logged 212 career victories at Lower Columbia.
 
The Red Devils finished 30-13 last season, good enough for 3^rd place in the NWAC South Division. That was followed-up with two wins at the NWAC Championships and a 7^th place finish. Since first fielding a fastpitch softball team in 1990, LCC has qualified for the post-season tourney 28 of 30 seasons. "Our goal in 2020 is to make that 29 of 31," Fuller said.
 
The Red Devil roster includes eight returning players to go along with a sophomore transfer and 10 freshmen.
 
Returning sophomores are 3B/OF Ellie Conley (Middleton, ID), 2B Valeti Fifita (Westview HS – Portland, OR), CF Saydie Harris (Kelso, WA), RHP Trinity Naugle (Castle Rock, WA), 1B/OF Sariah Payne (Black Hills HS – Tumwater, WA), OF/2B Sarah Russell (Mark Morris HS – Longview, WA) and OF Kinzey Williams (Kelso, WA).
 
Infielder Aspen Norman (Rainier, OR) also returns as a redshirt freshman, following a season-ending shoulder injury in 2019.
 
Fifita, Harris and Naugle earned NWAC South All Star 2^nd Team honors last season and played in the NWAC Softball Sophomore Showcase in September 2019 at Delta Park in Portland.
 
"Our sophomores have impressed me with their willingness to lead and work hard," Fuller said. "Many of them were reserves last season and they have put in the work to get stronger and faster and compete to be starters this year," Fuller said.
 
Trinity Naugle is the Red Devils lone returning pitcher and is coming off a freshman season where she posted an 18-6 record with 91 strikeouts and just 28 walks in 133 innings pitched. "Trinity has earned the role of being our ace entering the season," Fuller said. "She has excellent control, great spin and helps herself by throwing strikes."
 
Freshmen RHPs Lindsay Pace and Ada Williams will share the share pitching duties with Naugle for the Red Devils in 2020. Another freshman pitcher, Jade Behic, will redshirt as a result of a season-ending knee injury sustained in a fall ball.
 
Meet the Red Devil softball newcomers this season, along with Coach Fuller's comments:

• OF...Taylor Alto (Westview HS – Beaverton, OR) "Taylor is a skilled outfielder who can cover a lot of ground – with a big arm and good bat. She can play middle infield as well, if we need her there. She's quick and an excellent base runner."
• C...Taylor Avram (Twin Falls, ID) "Taylor is solid behind the plate and a real field general. Her positivity is infectious. Offensively she has improved through the off-season and is spraying the ball in the gaps."
• 1B/3B...Kaylee Barnum (Ocosta HS – Westport, WA) "At 5-11, Kaylee is a true power hitter. She is a great athlete, playing shortstop and third base growing up. She has adapted well to first base and gives us a tall, athletic target at both corners."
• P/3B...Jade Behic (Kapolei HS – Ewa Beach, HI) "Jade will miss the season due to her injury and we will miss her. The good news is she will return for two years beginning next fall. Jade is a talented righty in the circle, is a big-time hitter and also outstanding at third base."
• 3B/SS...Emily Churchill (Aloha, OR) – "Emily is one of those kids who is not only talented, but also a tireless worker. She's a middle-of-the-lineup hitter who hits the ball hard, with big time home run power. She's strong defensively and will play both third base and shortstop."
• C...Zoe Naugle (Castle Rock, WA) – "Zoe played volleyball in the fall, so just joined us in January. Great athlete and at 6-1, she's a tall catcher with a strong arm and quick release. Zoe brings another power bat to our lineup."
• P/1B...Lindsay Pace (Montesano, WA) – "Lindsay comes from perennially strong high school program and played in multiple state and district title games, so she knows how to win. She will pitch both as a starter and reliever and is a lefty gap hitter with good power."
• SS/C...Bryanna Soares (Kailua, HI) – "BB is versatile defensively and fun to watch. Good fielding middle with a plus-arm. She is left-handed hitter with gap power, but also able to play the short game."
• C/1B...Olivia Warren (sophomore transfer from Providence College in Montana – Clatskanie, OR) – "Olivia may redshirt this year due to a shoulder injury. She had a good fall for us and we will be happy for her to return whether it's 2020 or 2021. She's has a big bat and defensively is solid as a catcher or at the corners. She really understands the game."
• 3B/P...Ada Williams (Napavine HS – Toledo, WA) – "Ada is really good softball player and also a leader. With Jade's injury, Ada has stepped in to pitch and she will help us in the circle. She's a good corner defensively and has home run power."
• OF...Karsyn Zaragoza (Boise, ID) – "Karsyn also played volleyball, as a setter. Another lefty line drive hitter that can mix in the short game. Defensively, Karsyn is a versatile outfielder with a big arm."

 Lower Columbia's home opener is Saturday, February 29 vs. Shoreline at Heerensperger Field at Tam O' Shanter Park in Kelso. The Red Devils open NWAC South play at home on March 14 vs. SW Oregon.
 
Coach Fuller's staff includes pitching coach Kelli Arnold (2^nd season), recruiting coordinator Dave Andrew (6^th season) and John Matagora (8^th season).