(***NOTE: This press release has been updated with new information and schedule changes, due to weather.)


SENATOBIA - Despite closing out the season on an eight-game winning streak and earning sweeps against Itawamba and East Central, the Northwest softball team remained at No. 13 in the latest NJCAA Division II Softball Rankings.

In addition to staying in the national rankings, the Rangers (40-8; 21-7 MACCC) have also learned their seeding for the postseason. Northwest will be the No. 5 seed in the tournament and will be matched up against fourth-seeded Northeast, scheduled for Sunday, May 4 at 6 P.M.

The tournament is set up as a double-elimination format, with the exception being the play-in game on Saturday between eighth-seeded Itawamba and No. 9 seed East Central. The winner of that contest will face top-seeded Copiah-Lincoln on Sunday at 3 P.M.

This is the fifth postseason appearance for coach Chelsea Bramlett and the Rangers in as many years. Northwest enters the postseason with a .339 team batting average, which ranks fourth among NJCAA Region 23 opponents.

Leading the charge on offense has been sophomore Ellie Fryar. The Dumas native and Mississippi College commit is batting .438 on the season, including a .799 slugging percentage and a team-high nine triples. Her nine triples are tied for second in the NJCAA, along with Katalina Ybarra (College of Lake County), Emma Reynolds (UA-Rich Mountain) and Abby Bellamy (St. Louis).

Fryar also has 13 doubles on the season and seven home runs. Only Carly Dunigan has more triples this season, coupling 15 triples with a .399 batting average.

Elsewhere, Sommer Tyes leads the Rangers with 16 home runs, trailing only McKaylee "K.K." Polk for the single season record. Polk hit 24 in 2023 and 18 in 2022.

Tyes, a native of Baldwyn and a Jackson State University commit, holds the team's fourth-best batting average (.352), trailing only future JSU teammate Thenya Kennedy's .374 average.

In the circle, Northwest is led by sophomore ace Morgen Brewton. The Mobile, Ala. native holds a 24-2 record and a 2.44 ERA, with 154 strikeouts against 24 walks. Brewton's win total is tied for second in the nation with Peyton Paulsen (Kirkwood) and her 154 strikeouts are 20th nationally and third in the MACCC.

Joining Brewton in the circle has been sophomore reliever Abby Rogers. The Brandon native has a 2.47 ERA with eight saves, holding the program record for both career and single-season saves.

Additionally, Rogers' eight saves are tied for the most in the NJCAA, joining Lacie Miller (Potomac State). She also holds an 8-5 record in the circle with 84 strikeouts against 29 walks.

Northeast (40-8, 21-7 MACCC) has won five of its last six games, splitting with Pearl River to end the regular season. The Rangers and Tigers split their doubleheader earlier this year in Senatobia.

Northeast is batting .356 as a team, led by three players batting .400 or better. Leah Walker leads the Tigers with a .418 batting average and a team-best 16 doubles, along with seven triples and seven home runs. 

Hailey Minchew leads Northeast with 63 RBIs, 19 home runs and ranks second with a .412 batting average. Sydney Bean is also batting .408 to further aid the Tigers' power at the plate.

In the circle, Ramsey Montgomery has posted an impressive 0.92 ERA and a 23-1 record. The Tigers' ace has 219 strikeouts against 37 walks, holding opposing batters to a .163 average.

Maddie Mask has also bolstered the Northeast pitching staff, fielding a 13-1 record with a 3.34 ERA and 71 strikeouts.

All games can be seen at this link.