After a second place SCAC regular season finish, the University of St. Thomas-Houston Celt Softball team sets their goals high as they announce their 2023 Spring Schedule. In their third year of competition, the schedule features 19 non-conference games and 21 SCAC matchups. In addition, 22 games will take place at home on the grounds of the West University Softball Association.

Going for the Top Spot

St. Thomas will open their season on the road against non-conference opponents Concordia and Mary Hardin Baylor. The Celts will look to secure early victories before returning for their home opener on February 21 against UH-Victoria. They will complete non-conference play in mid-March against Eureka College before opening SCAC play against Centenary.

In the SCAC, St. Thomas will aim to improve on back-to-back second-place finishes. Last season the Celts impressed winning 14 SCAC games and two tournament matches. St. Thomas will look to best Texas Lutheran, which competed in the 2022 College World Series and lost in the championship round to Christopher Newport.

Softball Stars at the Plate and Circle

The Celts will return all but two of their seven all-conference players. One of those student athletes is sophomore Jaelyn Simmons. Simmons earned SCAC Newcomer and first-team honors for her outstanding season. At the plate, she hit a team high of seven home runs with a .400 batting average. Simmons was paired with junior Mallarie Munson who was right behind her with four home runs. Munson tied for the team high with 29 runs batted in and seven stolen bases. She also performed in the circle for the Celts pitching a 5.07 ERA, a category in which she leads all returners.

The first head coach of the program Angela Froboese returns for her third season leading Celt softball and has already amassed a stellar 44-26 (.629) record. Froboese and her staff were responsible for starting the program back in 2020 and for guiding St. Thomas into NCAA Division III. Furthermore, a SCAC Tournament Championship automatically qualifies them for the NCAA softball championships.

“When you start a program, sometimes you might have holes here or there. We feel like this squad is the complete package,” Froboese said. “Our defense is as strong as it has ever been, and our hitting will hopefully continue from the past two seasons. I think the best quality of team three is how they push each other. Whether in the weight room, in school, or playing paper-rock scissors, they are constantly competing!” 

For the full UST Celt Softball schedule, click here!