BEAVER TOWNSHIP — Last year was an atypical, yet learning season for the Youngstown State softball team.

The Penguins went 14-39 overall and for the first time since 2015, failed to win at least 25 games.

The experience that their newcomers and younger players gained, as they welcome back 13 players and five of their top six hitters, should go a long way in 2026.

Head coach Brian Campbell, who heads into his 18th season at the helm, is cautiously optimistic about his team’s chances this year.

“As far as our youth, we had an opportunity to play a lot of players last year because of graduation and several of the key players that we lost from our 2024 championship team,” Campbell told the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s meeting at Avion Banquet Center. “We came in as a young team, had a lot of freshmen and sophomores and they ended up getting plenty of experience, which was a positive for everyone. That playing time and experience is important and will go a long way this season as we ended up bringing in six freshmen and added five transfers to go along with our returning players.”

Of the 23 players that dot this year’s Penguin roster, there are six seniors and five juniors with six hopefuls representing both his sophomore and freshmen units.

“Our upper class players got plenty of experience last year, too,” added Campbell, who recorded his 400th victory and is the winningest coach in YSU history, falling just 11 wins shy of No. 700 all-time as a head coach. “That experience was one of the most important parts of the season and will help this year with an almost even split between our freshmen and sophomore classes, and junior-senior group.”

Recruiting local players has been paramount for Campbell since his arrival on campus in 2009.

This year, seven players have local ties with four players hailing from the Mahoning Valley – redshirt senior Bree Kohler of South Range, and sophomores Ayla Ray of Austintown Fitch, Isabella O’Brien of McDonald and Champion High graduate Bella Meyer – and three others – sophomore Kelsey Ogin and freshman Lily Vicari of Butler, and sophomore Autumn Boyd of Laurel High – boasting Western Pennsylvania ties.

“We do a great job with local players, obviously this year with Ayla Ray, Bree Kohler, Bella Meyer and Isabella O’Brien,” Campbell said. “Along with our Western Pennsylvania players Kelsey Ogin, Lily Vicari and Autumn Boyd, it makes it nice for them to be able to see that there is a great University in their backyard ready to pick up such talented players. We have had a good run with recruiting local talent and will continue that quest moving forward.”

The Penguins open their season February 6 at the Gardner-Webb Tournament in Boiling Springs, North Carolina when they take on Tarleton State and the host Bulldogs in a twin bill.

The team will play 22 games over three different tournaments down South before returning home for their opener March 18 when they meet St. Francis (PA) at the YSU Sports Complex.

The Horizon League remains a challenge once again as well.

“When we head down south, a lot of those teams are already playing on their fields but it seems like this year we have a good mix of northern teams coming down to those tournaments that we are in so they’ll have the same concept as us with facilities, batting cages, etc.,” Campbell said. “It seems like this year there will be a few more Northern teams in those tournaments.

“When we are traveling, it also gives us a chance to build the team, be around each other, get to know one another and be able to see different things in those 22 games before we return home. As far as the Horizon League, you have Robert Morris, who did a good job last year along with the other teams. There are seven teams this year so six will make the tournament, one will not but like I said before, every year when you line up for conference games the competition is there and very equal. You play three-game sets and count on all three being tough games. It’s definitely a wonderful conference and a great opportunity for these young ladies to compete.”

With pre-season practices already in full swing, Campbell’s depth chart is beginning to take shape with a group that he has said is interchangeable, versatile and can play multiple positions when called upon.

His pitching staff remains young in terms of letters earned with three sophomores – Boyd, Ogin and O’Brien a Tiffin University transfer – and two freshmen – Paiton Murphy and Kennedy Kimball – ready to toe the rubber.

Behind the plate calling signals will be transfer Gabbie Evans, who has logged playing time at both Michigan State and Ball State, and Lily Vicari with Alivia Boothe, Kennedy Dean and Emma Gilkerson also penciled in for dish duty.

Niagara University transfer Selah Moyer and Dean will battle it out at first base with Ray and Lydia Wilkerson all set for action at the Keystone sack.

At the hot corner, St. Peter’s (N.J.) University transfer Tai Turner and Grace Pilaczynski will be eyeing playing time with Gilkerson, the former Cleveland State University and All-Horizon League selection, and Bella Meyer shortstop candidates.

In left field, Macy Littler, Tatum Werley and Lauryn Swanson are in a battle, the centerfield candidates include Kohler, the lone redshirt senior, and Naomi Bottomlee with Leila Staszak and Ashlyn Bishop the right field hopefuls.

Multiple candidates from catcher to right field will be used as designated hitters.

Next week, Trevor Charpie, Youngstown State head baseball coach will serve as guest speaker.