Rounding Third Softball

University of North Carolina middle infielder Kayla Baptista has been hired as a coach for Texas Rangers. She is the first female coach in Rangers History and will join the organization after the completion of her sophomore season at UNC. She will work as a Player Development Coach and indicated through her Social Media that her first assignment will be at the Texas Rangers Baseball Academy in the Dominican Republic. No stranger to the game of baseball, Baptista spent last summer as an on-field coaching intern with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Tennessee State seems to want to play the leadership of their softball program close to the vest. After the departure of former head coach Andrea Browning toward the end of last year with little publicity, their new leader seems to be in place with the same amount of fanfare. Assistant coach Genee McRath has seemingly been promoted to the permanent position. TSU had done a national search for Browning’s replacement, but never announced McRath as the successor. McRath has spent the past two seasons on the Tiger Coaching Staff. The Ole Miss graduate and former Rebel Softball team member had spent most of her professional time in private instruction before joining the staff at Tennessee State.

Perfect Game has announced that two Legends of the Game will be at the forefront of their newest excursion into the sport of softball. Mike Candrea and Jennie Finch will assist in development of the new PG Softball brand. Candrea the now retired coach at Arizona and NCAA’s all-time leader in wins with a record of 1,674-436-2, will serve as advisor for on-field programming and athlete recognition. Additionally, former Wildcat National Champion and Olympic Gold Medal Winner Jennie Finch will serve as an educational ambassador for PGS. These additions follow recent hires of former Oklahoma Sooners Destinee Martinez as national director of softball operations and Jessica Shults as national director of softball scouting.

Coaching veteran Angie Dean has been named the new head coach at Berea College in Kentucky. Dean comes to the Mountaineers after spending 21 years leading the program at the University of the Cumberlands. She directed the Patriots to the 2017 NAIA National Tournament and two Mid-South Conference Tournament Championships.

Oregon has promoted Sam Marder to Associate Head Coach. Marder joined the Ducks Staff last June after serving as an analyst at Oklahoma in their 2021 National Championship season. One of fastest rising coaches in DI, she has also worked with programs at Texas Tech, College of Charleston, and Boise State.

Howard Payne has named Kailey Anderson head coach. The appointment is the first collegiate assignment for Anderson after spending the last few years coaching on the club level and in private instruction. She is a 2020 graduate of Louisiana Tech where she competed for the Lady Techsters in the outfield.

NAIA has released their Coaches’ Top 25 Preseason Poll. In a bit of a surprise 2021’s national runner-up Oregon Tech sits in the top spot, while the defending national champion Southern Oregon starts at No. 5.

2022 NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 PRESEASON Poll (January 12, 2022) – NAIA

Franciscan University has named Chris McKnight their new head coach. The position with the Barons will be the first collegiate appointment for McKnight. He has spent most of his coaching time on the club level before making the jump to college.

Grinnell College has named Lexy Determan their new head coach. Determan has led the program at Waldorf College the last six seasons where she amassed 70 wins. Before coming to WC she was head coach at MacMurray College in the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Reports have surfaced that Rachel Balkovec is expected to be named the new manager for the New York Yankees Low-A affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons. The hire will be the first appointment of a woman to a managerial role in Minor League Baseball. Balkovec, a former catcher for the University of New Mexico softball program, has served as a hitting coach in the Yankees Organization since 2020.