Hill College softball team uses rigorous fall schedule to prepare for upcoming season

Hill College Head Softball Coach Allora Letourneau is excited to see how this year’s team can perform against one of the most challenging conferences in the nation.

Letourneau, who enters her fourth year as head coach for the Rebels, said she hopes a rigorous off-season has helped prepare her squad for an exciting 2024 softball season.

“We played a really tough fall schedule in preparation for the spring,” Letourneau said, “including junior college teams all the way up to Division I programs like Texas A&M - Commerce, UTA, and Tarleton.”

Although this year’s Hill College team will be a relatively young squad that includes 14 freshmen and six sophomores, Letourneau hopes newcomers like Hazel Martinez (San Antonio), Mariel Medrano (Cypress) and Caydance Lobdell (Sweeny) will provide some offensive firepower.

“Martinez is a strong right-handed pitcher who should carry a lot of innings for us this season,” Letourneau added, “while Medrano and Lobdell will supply both speed and versatility at the plate.”

Key returners include sophomore pitcher Catalina Sanchez (Glen Rose) and sophomore infielder Celeste Cisneros (Buda).

“Sanchez will be a strong staple in the circle,” Letourneau said, “and Cisneros will be a huge leader for our team with her experience from last season.”

The Rebels officially begin their 2024 season Jan. 26 at Kilgore College. Their first home game will also be against Kilgore College on Jan. 31 in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Conference play is still about a month away as Hill College will host Vernon College in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) opener Feb. 28 in Hillsboro.

Going into this season, Hill College will be facing five Top 20 teams in the nation – including non-conference opponents Bossier Parish (No. 18) and Galveston College (No. 19).

However, the biggest challenge of the season will be in NTJCAC competition – as some of Hill College’s annual rivals are also nationally ranked.

Grayson College, who advanced to the National Tournament last year, is currently ranked No. 5 in the country, followed by McLennan Community College (No. 6) and Weatherford College (No. 20).

“I am very excited about this upcoming season,” Letourneau said. “We have lots of really great players, and the team chemistry has been wonderful. I can’t wait to see the impact each of student-athlete on our roster this season.”

Letourneau will be joined this season by assistant coaches Kaylynn Smith and Kaylie Herrell. Smith is in her second year with Hill College, and Herrell joined the team this season.

Another addition this year includes a new outdoor batting cage at the field, and Letourneau said additional renovations will begin this summer on the softball stadium.

For more information on the Hill College softball team, please visit https://hillcollegeathletics.com.