SENATOBIA - After a season that saw Northwest softball eclipse the coveted 40-win mark, Head Coach Chelsea Bramlett's team looks to carry that success into this season. 

2025 saw the Rangers open the season with a sweep at the Sand Mountain Classic, picking up two ranked wins over #14 Central Alabama and #16 Marion Military Institute. The strong start proved to be a preview of how the rest of the year would go with NWCC ending the season 44-12 overall and 21-7 in conference play.  

The Rangers closed their season at the NJCAA Division II Softball World Series where they would go 2-2 with wins over Phoenix College (AZ) and Bryant and Stratton College (WI) and will look to get back there once again.  

"NJCAA DII continues to stay strong throughout the country," Coach Bramlett said. "We didn't have as much depth in the circle last year as we do this year, so I believe that is going to help us in the long run. Winning a national title isn't easy for sure, and we will continue to push each year to achieve that goal." 

Northwest will be a young team this season with ten freshmen, three of which are bringing strong arms to the circle, and only five sophomores. The team will lean on the experience of their sophomores to guide them throughout the season.  

Catelyn Brown, a returning sophomore pitcher, will look to increase her production in the circle after a season that saw her post a 3.08 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched. The Rangers will depend on Brown to be a main starter. 

"Catelyn Brown is one of our main starters on the mound. She has great composure and a lot of movement with all of her pitches. She is going to be hard to square up and take us a long way," Bramlett said. 

Returning with a .917 fielding percentage, sophomore infielder Carleigh Calarco will look to continue as a trusted glove in the field.  

"Carleigh Calarco is a shortstop and third baseman. She is energetic, constantly talking, and making sure everyone is on task and ready for the next play," Bramlett said. 

The Rangers will see three utility players return in sophomores Lindsey Gillis, Emma Jennings, and Aubrey Massing. Gillis, Jennings, and Massing will be vital leaders to the team this season. 

"Lindsey Gillis will be our starting catcher. She has come a long way behind the plate and has done a great job managing our pitchers. Emma Jennings is an outfielder who has been a leader since she was a freshman. She is constantly in the game, always pushing herself and her teammates to be better and holding them accountable," Coach Bramlett said.  "Aubrey Massing is also a great outspoken leader on the team. She keeps everyone pumped up and focused and loves what she does." 

With a lot of young talent, the freshman class will look to contribute immediately.  

"We have a large freshmen class that is full of talent. All of them are competitive and pushing each other and our sophomores to be better every day," Coach Bramlett said. 

Freshman pitcher Meredith Dearman will look to add a sense of calm to the circle. 

"She has a great presence on the mound and did really well this fall against four-year schools. She doesn't get rattled and continues to make it hard for the hitters," Bramlett said. 

Freshmen Londen Armstrong and Ava Rhoden aim to contribute to NWCC's offense immediately. 

"Londen Armstrong is a local power hitting outfielder. She was one of the best players to come out of our area this past year in high school and continues to make strides here at Northwest," Bramlett said. "[Ava Rhoden] is a quick slapper who led off for us the majority of the fall. She stepped right in and became a spark plug for my offense." 

Freshman Handley McAtee will look to shore up the Rangers' defense. 

"Handley McAtee is another freshman who pitches but is also looking to hold down third base. She has handled the hot corner well so far this spring, and I am excited to see her grow and compete more at that position," Bramlett said.  

The season will once again start off at the Sand Mountain Classic in Alberville, Ala. Taking place on January 30 and January 31, the Sand Mountain Classic will see Northwest softball play four games against non-conference opposition including games against Wallace State-Hanceville, Northwest-Shoals, Calhoun, and Chattanooga State. 

On February 13 and 14, the Rangers will participate in another tournament, the Coyote Classic, in Gulf Shores, Ala. In this tournament, NWCC will once again face four non-conference opponents in Motlow State, Pensacola State, Gulf Coast State, and Reid State.  

MACCC action will once again prove to be challenging for the Rangers, with four conference opponents being ranked in the NJCAA Preseason Top 25.  

"I truly believe we are the toughest DII NJCAA conference in the country. Every game we play is a battle. Anyone can beat anyone on any given day. We are just tough all the way around, which is one of the things I love about coaching in this conference. It is never boring," Bramlett said.  

Northwest opens up conference play at home against formidable foe Jones College. The Bobcats come into the season ranked fourth. The Rangers will host two more teams that are ranked in the top 15 of the preseason polls, #12 Itawamba and defending NJCAA DII National Champions #2 Copiah-Lincoln. 

NWCC will travel to conference opponents East Central, East Mississippi, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Northeast, Hinds, Mississippi Delta, and #7 Pearl River. Northwest also hosts conference opponents Meridian, Coahoma, Southwest, and Holmes.  

The Northwest softball team will look to use the brand-new softball and baseball facility to their advantage as they continue to prepare for upcoming games.  

"We already had wonderful facilities, but we just opened our new baseball/softball indoor facility that is equipped with four batting cages, enough turf area to do a full infield, and all the top-notch amenities," Bramlett said. "They are also about to finish our all-athletic facility that is 70 yards of covered turf. It is truly an incredible building to see, and we will have access to that once it is complete." 

Northwest will host Jackson State (Tenn.) in a double-header for their home opener at Ranger Softball Field on Saturday, February 7 with the first game slated to start at 12 p.m. Coverage of the game can be found on Ranger TV.  

To stay up to date on the NWCC softball team, follow the Ranger social media accounts or go to nwccrangers.com.