Centenary Softball: 2026 Season Profile
The Ladies of Centenary softball are coming off an impressive 2025 season, finishing 3rd in the SCAC Conference Tournament. Since the end of last season, head coach Whitney Patterson has lost five seniors who played crucial roles in the team's success, including two starting pitchers and two huge bats in the lineup. One of those bats is Abby Touhcet, who is now serving as an assistant coach along with Heather Ivey. The softball team this season has nine seniors on the field, along with three juniors, four sophomores, and four freshmen. Coach Whitney Patterson still holds a high expectation for the team despite the loss of key players from last season. She and the team state that their goal for this season is not only to compete in the conference tournament but also to strive to win. Despite the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) preseason poll ranking the Ladies fifth in the conference, behind Texas Lutheran, St. Thomas, Concordia, and McMurry, the team is using this as encouragement to work even harder to prove themselves to the other teams in the conference. Also, to finish higher than their ranking in the preseason poll is the goal of the coaches as well as the players.
There is something special about the Ladies that is obvious to opposing teams and fans when walking into the softball complex. When asked what sets this team apart from the others in the SCAC, Coach Whitney Patterson stated, “The energy we bring at game time is electric. We are very loud in those tight moments during a game that most teams lack.” This team intends to utilize every aspect of their game to secure as many victories as possible, with lockdown defense being one of the team's strongest assets. Coach Whitney also compliments the impressive strides the team has and continues to make towards softball IQ, offense, and pitching. Not only does this team play competitive softball, but they also pride themselves on emitting positivity and healthy competition both in practice and towards their opponents. They demonstrate that success is not only reliant on physical capability but also on the ability to support and encourage each other. Senior infielder Catherine Stokes comments on the relationships within the team by saying, “Our bond is really strong. We aren’t really playing with teammates, but more so our friends, and it makes it a lot more fun. It also makes the tough games easier to swallow.” The Ladies are sure to give their opponents a tough game throughout the season, which you will not want to miss, so be sure to follow along with the team's success through the schedule on the Centenary softball website, where tickets are available for purchase. You can also see the Ladies in action when they commemorate the nine seniors on the team during their Senior weekend against McMurry University on April 10th and 11th in Virginia’s backyard. It will surely be an exciting and memorable season for the Ladies, and they hope to see you there!