The 2021 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball team represented Northwestern State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Demons played their home games at Lady Demon Diamond and were led by thirteenth year head coach Donald Pickett. They were members of the Southland Conference.
Preseason
Southland Conference Coaches Poll The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. Northwestern State was picked to finish sixth in the Southland Conference with 156 votes and 1 first place vote.
Coaches poll 1 Stephen F. Austin 235 (17) 2 McNeese State 217 (4) 3 Southeastern Louisiana 183 4 Sam Houston State 172 (1) 5 Central Arkansas 162 (1) 6 Northwestern State 156 (1) 7 Nicholls 131 8 Lamar 86 9 Abilene Christian 82 10 Houston Baptist 81 11 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 47 12 Incarnate Word 32
Preseason All-Southland team
First Team Kaylyn Shephard (UCA, R-SR, 1st Base) Cayla Joens (NSU, JR, 2nd Base) Cylla Hall (UCA, R-SR, 3rd Base) Cori McCrary (MCNS, SR, Shortstop) Ella Manzer (SELA, SR, Catcher) Samantha Bradley (ACU, R-SR, Designated Player) Linsey Tomlinson (ACU, R-SR, Outfielder) Kaylee Lopez (MCNS, SO, Outfielder) Elise Vincent (NSU, SR, Outfielder) Madisen Blackford (SELA, SR, Outfielder) Megan McDonald (SHSU, SR, Outfielder) Kayla Beaver (UCA, R-FR, Pitcher) Kassidy Wilbur (SFA, JR, Pitcher) E. C. Delafield (NSU, JR, Utility)
Second Team Shaylon Govan (SFA, SO, 1st Base) Brooke Malia (SHSU, SR, 2nd Base) Bryana Novegil (SFA, SR, 2nd Base) Caitlin Garcia (NICH, JR, 3rd Base) Alex Hudspeth (SFA, JR, Shortstop) Alexis Perry (NSU, SO, Catcher) Bailey Richards (SFA, SR, Catcher) Caitlyn Brockway (HBU, SO, Designated Player) Reagan Sperling (UCA, R-JR, Outfielder) Alayis Seneca (MCNS, SO, Outfielder) Hayley Barbazon (NSU, SR, Outfielder) Saleen Flores (MCNS, SO, Pitcher) MC Comeaux (SELA, FR, Pitcher) Sammi Thomas (TAMUCC, SO, Utility)
National Softball Signing Day
Sage Hoover Pitcher Edgewood, Texas Rains HS Adriana Vences Pitcher Marshall, Texas Marshall HS Haley Parker Pitcher Fort Worth, Texas Bosewell HS Derika Castillo Utility Houston, Texas Summer Creek HS Bailie Ragsdale Utility Lone Oak, Texas Lone Oak HS Vivica Hernandez Outfielder Fort Worth, Texas V. R. Eaton HS Carson Zachry Infielder Mount Pleasant, Texas Mount Pleasant HS
Roster
2021 Northwestern State Lady Demons roster Pitchers 5 Jensen Howell - Junior 7 Bronte Rhoden - Sophomore 11 Kenzie Seely - Freshman 15 Emma Callie Delafield - Junior 18 Heather Zook - Freshman 28 Maggie Darr - Freshman
Outfielders 1 Hayley Barbazon - Senior 6 Makenzie Chaffin - Freshman 9 Kaitlyn St. Clair - Senior 21 Elise Vincent - Senior 23 Laney Roos - Freshman 32 Nani Winger - Freshman 44 Casey Irvin - Sophomore Catchers 17 Kat Marshall - Freshman 33 Lexie Roos - Freshman 42 Alexis Perry - Sophomore
Infielders 2 Cayla Jones - Junior 4 Maggie Black - Sophomore 8 Emma Hawthorne - Senior 22 Chelsea Spain - Freshman 40 Alexis Szafran - Freshman
Utilities 12 Taylor Williams - Freshman 14 Keely DuBois - Freshman 24 Kacee Mertens - Freshman 47 Marissa Reed - Sophomore
Coaching staff 2021 Northwestern State Lady Demons coaching staffDonald Pickett – Head Coach – 12th year Amanda Locke – Assistant Head Coach – 5th year Brooke Boening – Assistant Head Coach – 3rd year
Schedule and results Legend Northwestern State win Northwestern State loss Postponement/CancellationBoldNorthwestern State team member
2021 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball game log Regular season (22-20) February (5-2) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission Lady Demon ClassicFeb. 12 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Parc Natchitoches • Natchitoches, LA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in NatchitochesFeb. 12 UT Martin Parc Natchitoches • Natchitoches, LA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in NatchitochesFeb. 13 Evansville Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in NatchitochesFeb. 13 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in NatchitochesFeb. 14 Evansville Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in NatchitochesFeb. 14 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Natchitoches Getterman ClassicFeb. 19 vs. Prairie View A&M Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in WacoFeb. 19 at No. 23 Baylor Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in WacoFeb. 20 vs. No. 21 Missouri Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in WacoFeb. 21 at Louisiana–Monroe Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA Game postponed due to threat of ice on field in Monroe.Feb. 24 at Louisiana–Monroe Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA Game postponed due to threat of ice on field in MonroeFeb. 23 Grambling State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 10-0 (5 inns) Rhoden (1-0) Bonner (0-1) None 101 1-0 Feb. 23 Grambling State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 9-1 (5 inns) Howell (1-0) Shells (0-1) None 135 2-0 South Alabama InvitationalFeb. 26 vs. SIU Edwardsville Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL W 3-0 (8 inns) Howell (2-0) Ingles (0-1) None 200 3-0 Feb. 27 vs. Middle Tennessee Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL W 2-0 Delafield (1-0) Mead (0-1) Rhoden (1) 200 4-0 Feb. 27 vs. No. 20 Missouri Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL L 0-8 (5 inns) Weber (4-0) Howell (2-1) None 200 4-1 Feb. 28 vs. SIU Edwardsville Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL W 6-5 (8 inns) Guile (1-0) Ingles (0-3) None 200 5-1 Feb. 28 at South Alabama Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL L 1-6 Lackie (5-2) Seely (0-1) None ESPN+ 200 5-2 March (10-6) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordMar. 3 Louisiana–Monroe Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 3-1 Howell (2-1) Hulett (1-2) None 282 6-2 Wooo Pig ClassicMar. 5 vs. Drake Bogle Park • Fayetteville, AR L 2-12 (5 inns) Hupke (1-0) Howell (3-2) None 448 6-3 Mar. 5 at No. 20 Arkansas Bogle Park • Fayetteville, AR L 5-13 (6 inns) Howell (2-0) Rhoden (1-1) None SECN+ 578 6-4 Mar. 6 vs. Kansas Bogle Park • Fayetteville, AR L 0-5 Reed (4-2) Dealfield (1-1) None 480 6-5 Mar. 6 at No. 20 Arkansas Bogle Park • Fayetteville, AR L 2-13 (5 inns) Haff (9-1) Howell (3-3) None 590 6-6 Mar. 7 vs. Kansas Bogle Park • Fayetteville, AR L 2-6 Mills (1-0) Rhoden (1-2) None 269 6-7 Mar. 12 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA W 8-3 Rhoden (2-2) Danehower (3-2) None 123 7-7 1-0Mar. 12 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA W 10-1 (5 inns) Howell (4-3) Moon (1-3) None 123 8-7 2-0Mar. 13 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA W 4-0 Delafield (2-1) LaBure (2-3) None 101 9-7 3-0Mar. 19 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX W 5-2 Rhoden (3-2) Gunther (1-4) None 75 10-7 4-0 Mar. 19 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX W 17-0 (5 inns) Delafield (3-1) Trapp (0-3) None 75 11-7 5-0Mar. 20 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX W 5-0 Delafield (4-1) Gunther (1-5) None 75 12-7 6-0Mar. 26 Houston Baptist Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 2-1 Howell (5-3) Patak (3-6) None 300 13-7 7-0 Mar. 26 Houston Baptist Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 5-1 Delafield (5-1) Venker (2-1) None 300 14-7 8-0Mar. 27 Houston Baptist Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 7-2 Rhoden (4-2) Patak (3-7) None 200 15-7 9-0Mar. 30 at Louisiana Tech Lady Techster Softball Complex • Ruston, LA L 0-3 Pickett (3-5) Seely (0-2) Hernandez (1) 250 15-8 April (5–10) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordApr. 2 Central Arkansas Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA L 1-3 Johnson (7-4) Howell (5-4) None 250 15-9 9-1 Apr. 2 Central Arkansas Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA L 0-4 Beaver (10-3) Delafield (5-2) None 250 15-10 9-2Apr. 3 Central Arkansas Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA L 3-4 Beaver (11-3) Rhoden (4-3) Johnson (1) 203 15-11 9-3Apr. 9 at Lamar Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX L 1-3 Mixon (2-10) Howell (5-5) None 119 15-12 9-4Apr. 9 at Lamar Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX W 15-2 Delafield (6-2) Reyna (1-11) None 119 16-12 10-4Apr. 10 at Lamar Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX W 5-4 Delafield (7-2) Mixon (2-11) Rhoden (2) 119 17-12 11-4Apr. 13 at Grambling State GSU Softball Complex • Grambling, LA Game PostponedApr. 17 at Stephen F. Austin SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX L 0-2 Wilbur (21-3) Howell (5-6) None 500 17-13 11-5Apr. 17 at Stephen F. Austin SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX L 5-9 Wilbur (22-3) Rhoden (4-4) None 150 17-14 11-6Apr. 18 at Stephen F. Austin SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX L 0-6 Wilbur (23-3) Howell (5-7) None 217 17-15 11-7Apr. 21 at Southern Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA Game postponedApr. 21 at Southern Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA Game postponedApr. 24 Sam Houston State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 4-3 (9 inns) Howell (6-7) Vento (7-5) None 150 18-15 12-7Apr. 24 Sam Houston State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 6-4 Delafield (8-2) Dunn (5-9) None 200 19-15 13-7Apr. 25 Sam Houston State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA L 1-6 Billmeier (1-5) Howell (6-8) None 175 19-16 13-8Apr. 27 Louisiana Tech Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA L 2-3 (15 inns) Koenig (1-3) Delafield (9-3) None 204 19-17 Apr. 30 at McNeese State Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 0-3 Tate (9-7) Howell (6-9) None 401 19-18 13-9Apr. 30 at McNeese State Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 3-2 Delafield (9-3) Flores (5-8) None 401 20-18 14-9 May (2-2) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordMay 1 at McNeese State Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 3-5 (8 inns) Tate (10-7) Delafield (0-4) None 478 20-19 14-10May 7 Southeastern Louisiana Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 9-4 Delafield (10-4) Zumo (15-6) None 200 21-19 15-10May 7 Southeastern Louisiana Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 13-5 (5 inns) Seely (1-2) Hannabas (2-6) None 200 22-19 16-10May 8 Southeastern Louisiana Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA L 2-7 Comeaux (8-6) Rhoden (4-5) None 150 22-20 16-11 Post-Season (2-2) (2-2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament recordMay 13 vs. (5) Southeastern Louisiana (4) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 7-4 Delafield (11-4) Kraft (0-1) None ESPN+ 343 23-20 1-0May 13 vs. (1) Stephen F. Austin (4) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA L 1-4 Wilbur (30-4) Howell (6-10) None ESPN+ 335 24-20 1-1May 14 vs. (7) Sam Houston State (4) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 8-0 (5 inns) Delafield (12-4) Dunn (8-12) None ESPN+ 319 24-21 2-1May 14 vs. (2) Central Arkansas (4) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA L 2-5 Beaver (20-6) Delafield (12-5) None ESPN+ 339 24-22 2-2 Schedule source:*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.
Postseason
Conference accolades Player of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA Hitter of the Year: Shaylon Govan – SFA Pitcher of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA Freshman of the Year: Jenna Wildeman – UCA Newcomer of the Year: Jenna Edwards – MCNS Coach of the Year: Nicole Dickson – SFA
All Conference First Team Shaylon Govan (SFA) Bryana Novegil (SFA) Haylee Brinlee (MCNS) Cori McCrary (MCNS) Heidi Jaquez (HBU) E. C. Delafield (NSU) Mackenzie Bennett (SFA) Jenna Wildeman (UCA) Megan McDonald (SHSU) Aeriyl Mass (SELA) Kayla Beaver (UCA) Kassidy Wilbur (SFA)
All Conference Second Team Kaylyn Shephard (UCA) Mary Kate Brown (UCA) Lindsey Rizzo (SELA) Camryn Middlebrook (SFA)