OMAHA, Neb. – Optimism abounds as the College of Saint Mary gears for its 2025 softball season.

The Flames begin their 10th year under head coach Carolyn Todd Bray indoors on Saturday when they meet host St. Ambrose University at its Dome Tournament in Davenport, Iowa, with an 8:30 a.m. first pitch.

Six two-way starters return for CSM, which is eager to improve on last year's records of 11-31 overall and 3-18 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

"If we can piece the puzzle together effectively, we have a shot to be in the mix in the top of the conference,'' Bray said. "We were picked 11^th in the GPAC by the coaches, but I feel like that had more to do with where we finished last year – due to some serious adversity our squad faced – and less to do with our team now.''

Sophomore Shaylynn Campbell and senior Megan Garcia are back as the Flames' top two starting pitchers.

Campbell earned seven of CSM's 11 wins in the circle, compiling 89 strikeouts in 150.1 innings. Garcia picked up three pitching victories and threw 69.2 innings. They are also the top returnees by batting average, with Campbell – also a middle infielder – hitting at a team-best .314 clip and Garcia – also an outfielder – next at .275. Garcia also was a second-team All-GPAC performer as a sophomore.

The other four returning two-way starters are senior catcher Paige Stuck, junior center fielder Kayla Reed, sophomore shortstop Ella Watts and sophomore left fielder Macy Santoni. Watts and Reed were both honorable mention All-GPAC last season, with Watts batting .254 and Reed .244.

"We have a deeper pitching staff this year, with seven ladies who can throw innings for us – including experienced pitchers Shay Campbell and Megan Garcia,'' Bray said. "We will be stronger at the plate with a solid group of hitters. I expect our outfield to be one of the best in the conference. And I'm really happy with our group of freshmen and transfers – some of them will make immediate impacts.''

The biggest challenge will be replacing Savannah Schewe, who led the team in several offensive categories, including batting average (.333). She earned honorable mention All-GPAC honors at third base, but is still with the program as a volunteer coach.

Competition is fierce for starting spots, especially on the infield, Bray said. Depth at catcher will be an early concern as Stuck isn't slated to return from shoulder surgery until midseason.

"It's going to be tricky as coaches to figure out the best way to configure our lineup,'' Bray said. "We've got some big hitters on our pitching staff, and we're trying to find a way to get them in the lineup in games they aren't pitching. We've got some strong DP candidates who we'd like to see crack the hitting lineup, too.''

Recent workouts and scrimmages have Bray feeling good about her team's skills and mindset.

"I'm really happy with where our culture is right now,'' she said. "We have a great group of ladies who work hard, support each other and are passionate about the game of softball. The demands of being a student-athlete are hard, and our theme this year is to "Be where your feet are.'' When our ladies are at practice they are working hard! We can't control last season and we are 100 percent focused on the present.''

The college softball season is a marathon, not a sprint, and Bray knows that. She said her club will use the nonconference schedule to learn more about itself and be ready for league play.

"We are planning to qualify for the GPAC Postseason Tournament and be playing our best softball at the end of the season,'' she said.