Gainesville, FL

Taking a big step after a phenomenal 2025 season, the Santa Fe Softball team recorded a historic season that culminated in their first NJCAA DI Softball World Series appearance since 2013. The Saints finished with a 48-17 record, their first 40-win season since 2013, and a top-6 finish nationally. 

Wasting no time setting the tone for the season, the Saints started the season red-hot by winning 17 of their first 19 games en route to a 17-2 start. During that span, the Saints averaged a whopping 8.4 runs per game, a product of their near-unstoppable hitting. Heading the charge was often CF Molly Bender and 3B McKenzie Cox. 

With a historic season, Bender hit .383 with 14 home runs, 50 RBI, and scored 88 runs. The 88 runs from Bender set Santa Fe's all-time single-season record, earning historic recognition for her season. On the defensive side, Bender was near perfect with a .991 fielding percentage. Bender collected seven accolades throughout the year, including Citrus Conference North Player of the Year, First Team All-FCSAA, and NJCAA DI All-American Second Team.

Meanwhile, Cox posted an impressive .374 average with 18 home runs and 74 RBI on 238 at-bats. The at-bats also set Santa Fe's all-time single-season record. Her 18 home runs tied for eighth all-time in Santa Fe softball history. For her impressive performances, Cox earned a pair of honors: First Team All-Citrus North and FCSAA Second-Team All-State.

Following the lead of their efforts were catcher Sydney English (.378 and 48 RBIs), 1B Miranda Murch (.326 and 15 HR), DP Ellie Frierson (.333 and 43 RBIs), and outfielder Haylee McCrea (.294 and 35 RBIs). The four players, often hitting in spots 3-6 in the lineup, were each named to the All-Citrus Conference North teams: English and Frierson to the First Team, and McCrea and Murch to the Second Team. Additionally, English's strong character earned her Second Team All-FCSAA as well as the Most Valuable Person Award at Santa Fe's Players Choice Awards. 

Around the midseason point, the Saints went on a six-game win streak to extend their record to 24-4. While the bats stayed hot, it was the defense that turned a corner: during the six-game win streak, the Saints allowed just 1.3 runs per game. 

Initiating the defensive heater was Saints' ace pitcher, Belle Mancillas. In a shutout win against College of Central Florida on March 10th, Mancillas posted 13 strikeouts en route to a 7-0 victory. Throughout her impressive season, Mancillas earned 34 starts, a 21-7 record, a 1.27 ERA, and 172 strikeouts. For her top-tier season, Mancillas went on to earn six accolades, including Citrus Conference North Pitcher of the Year, NJCAA DI All-American Third Team, and First Team All-FCSAA. She also earned the Dr. Portia Taylor Academic Award for the softball team, being recognized for her outstanding efforts in the classroom. 

Often following the ace efforts from Mancillas were Morgyn Stevens (9-5, 3.01 ERA, 48 strikeouts) and Chloe Woods (9-4, 3.66 ERA, and 45 strikeouts). Stevens was named First Team All-Citrus Conference North for her 9-5 record, 3.01 ERA, and 48 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Woods, with a record of 9-4, 3.66 ERA, and 45 strikeouts, was named to the Second Team All-Citrus Conference North. 

In the second-half stretch, the Saints closed out the regular season winning 19 of their final 28, finishing with a record of 43-13. For their efforts, the Saints earned an FCSAA DI Softball Championship bid, in which they went 2-2 with wins over Miami Dade College and Indian River State College.

The Saints awaited the NJCAA Softball selection show in hopes of hearing their name called as one of four at-large teams chosen for the NJCAA DI Softball World Series in Oxford, Alabama. The Saints felt that their strong record, strength of schedule, and overall body of work was enough to be chosen as one of the final at-large teams in the field - and to the selection committee, it was. 

Santa Fe Softball returned to the game's biggest stage for the first time since 2013, earning the #11 seed to face #6 Odessa College in the first round. The team was met with great celebration and relief, but knew that they had no easy task ahead of them. 

In their first game in Oxford at Choccolocco Park, Santa Fe was forced to battle through the elimination bracket after a close 4-2 loss to Odessa College. With their backs against the wall and fear of making a quick exit at the World Series, the Saints battled through both weather delays and championship-caliber opponents to win three straight elimination round games; first with an extra-inning comeback against #14 Gaston College and consecutive upsets of #5 Seminole State College (OK) and #9 Eastern Florida State College. The Saints took an early lead in the latter two games and stymied each comeback attempt, putting an end to each of their opponents' seasons. 

The Saints' World Series run, though hard-fought, came to an end against #4 Temple College as one of the final six teams remaining. The Saints, earning three wins in the 2026 NJCAA DI Softball World Series, reached the farthest of any Santa Fe team in over 15 years.

In her 5th year as head coach, Savanah Webster continued to set records at the helm of Santa Fe Softball. She led the Saints to their fifth-straight 30+ win season, earned her first 40+ win season, and her first-ever NJCAA DI Softball World Series at-large bid. Posting record numbers and making Santa Fe history, the 2025-26 softball team will go down as one of the greatest Saints seasons of all time.

The Saints had six total players commit to four-year schools to continue their careers.

Molly Bender - University of West Florida - Story

McKenzie Cox - University of West Florida - Story

Sydney English - Penn State University - Story

Tegan Grizzard - University of West Georgia - Story

Belle Mancillas - Florida Atlantic University - Story

Jazmyn Thompson - Florida Polytechnic University - Story