SENATOBIA - Although last season's postseason run came to a disappointing end in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament, coach Chelsea Bramlett and the Northwest softball program still had a lot to celebrate.

Ranked in the national polls for most of the season, the Rangers posted a 32-11 overall record and a 20-8 mark in MACCC play, marking the first back-to-back 30-win season in the program's history. In the process, Northwest earned numerous wins against ranked opponents, including a conference sweep against eventual national champions Copiah-Lincoln.

Additionally, four Northwest players moved on to the next level, including NJCAA and NFCA All-American McKaylee "K.K." Polk (Memphis). Pitchers Gabby Dickerson (Christian Brothers), Allyson Harrison (Delta State) and Kylee Brown (Freed-Hardeman) also joined four-year programs, with Dickerson and Polk ending their Ranger careers with several broken records.

"We had a lot of talent," Bramlett said, reflecting on last year's team. "(But) I think that all of the sophomores this year understand that we are going to have to have a little more leadership and things like that, that we maybe didn't have as much last year. I think this year's team has a lot of enthusiasm and a lot more energy. Everyone is gelling really well. The talent is always going to be there, but I think the work ethic has to be there as well. That motivation and that energy will push you to the next level."

While the talents and contributions of Dickerson, Polk and others will certainly be missed, the Rangers do return a slew of returners from last year's squad. Kara Johnson and Kaylee Owens are expected to hold things down on the right side of the infield, and also at the plate. Both players finished as top five batters, with Johnson hitting .391 with seven homers.

Additionally, Northwest returns veteran outfielder Madeline Houk, catcher Crista Wilson and pitcher Neely Cooper. Houk, a native of Pell City, Ala., raked in 17 RBIs and stole seven bases on 10 attempts, trailing only Johnson and Chloe Summerford for stolen bases. Wilson spent all season behind the plate, throwing out six runners with a .988 fielding percentage.

Though hampered by an injury midway through the season, Cooper posted a 4-1 record in the circle, with a 1.91 ERA and 26 strikeouts. The Florence native also hit .281 with four doubles and 21 RBIs.

A strong group of newcomers will also join Bramlett's squad this season, and so far, many of them have been standing out in the fall and in preseason practices. Itawamba transfer Hanna Grace Gillean joins a bevy of freshmen, including infielder Ellie Fryar, catcher Lulu Franks, outfielders Carly Dunigan and Thenya Kennedy. Several fresh faces will add depth to the Rangers' pitching arsenal, as well as other areas on the field.

When asked what position area Bramlett was most impressed by, the fifth-year head coach had high praise across the board, simply replying "everywhere".

"I mean, we have a lot of speed this year," Bramlett added. "I think my freshmen have been pushing my sophomores and vice versa. They are gelling together, but they are very competitive at the same time, which is something that I think we lacked a little bit last year. They have this energy, this want-to and this mindset to push each other, to vie for a position. We are a lot deeper in the circle and Crista [Wilson] isn't going to have to catch every single game, so that is a relief as well."

"My younger ones have really stepped up and we have a lot of speed, so we are covering a lot of ground," she added. "I don't think that we are going to be that team that hits 40-50 home runs, but they may surprise me there. We are going to put the ball in play and we are going to be more of an extra base hit type of team, that also steals a lot of bases. We're quick and we work a lot for contact, but I think that we are also going to be a quicker, more fast-paced team."

When the season does kick off for Northwest, the Rangers will have more than a few motivating factors. Aside from the obvious sting of missing out on the NJCAA Division II Tournament, Bramlett's squad was also left out of the preseason rankings, along with more than a few MACCC contenders.

"I don't think the rankings were what anyone expected," Bramlett said. "We did schedule some preseason-ranked teams in non-conference play and that's definitely helpful. I am excited about our pre-conference schedule. I think it's going to be challenging and I think it will wake them up in getting ready for the conference."

Additionally, Mother Nature itself should be another motivating factor, to a lesser extent. The Rangers were supposed to begin the season two weeks ago in the Sand Mountain Classic, but rain washed out the entire weekend. To make matters worse, weather is potentially threatening to wreak havoc on some of the upcoming games on the schedule.

"They've been cooped up for a while," Bramlett said. "I hate that we lost the tournament in Alabama, because I think we were going to play some really good teams. This weather has been terrible, but we are doing our best to try and make up some games as we go. They're ready to play and I think we could play six games in one day if we wanted to."

As far as what to expect in the MACCC, Copiah-Lincoln checks in at No. 2 in the national rankings, followed by Pearl River in sixth and Jones College at No. 17. Despite the lack of respect in the rankings, Bramlett expects the whole conference to be the usual gauntlet, with potentially a few surprises mixed in along the way.

"I think it's going to be a flip from what we're used to seeing," Bramlett said. "Several teams are going through transitions, whether there's a lot of turnover or the last batch of COVID players are now gone. I think there were only two or three of us that didn't have any more COVID players left last season. There have also been several coaching changes, so I think that maybe things are going to be a little bit more surprising than what it was before. I don't know that we're going to really have a dominant one or two teams, but we are still going to be the toughest conference in the nation and it's going to be a battle with every team we play."

One thing that won't change is Bramlett's goal for her team - a return to the national tournament.

"I have talked to our team a lot this year about that 2022 squad and the attributes that they had," Bramlett said. "I think our sophomores listened really well and I think that they learned a lot from last year. Even though some may not be playing in both games, they are doing a wonderful job of being leaders. They come out here every day and they are ready to go, with the same goal in mind. I think not being able to play because of the weather is affecting them more than other teams in the past. We had a great fall, they have done some maturing, and they're learning to finish in the second game. I think they have learned a lot and that's going to carry them through the conference."

"When the rankings came out, I think they took that a little personal," Bramlett added. "They know that we are a top 20 team, and they're ready to get out there and show it. So I am excited to see what they do."

Northwest opens its season on Thursday, February 8 against Dyersburg State, before hosting Kaskaskia College on Saturday, February 10. All home games this season will be carried on Ranger TV.