KENOSHA, Wis. -- Coming off one of the most successful stretches in recent history, the Parkside softball team enters the 2026 season with growing expectations under the direction of tenth year head coach Kristin Ortman. The Rangers finished the 2025 campaign at 29–24 overall and 14–13 in GLIAC play, advancing to the GLIAC Tournament Championship game for the second time in the last three seasons.
 
Parkside returns a strong core of veteran talent, led by senior All-American Mia Johnson, one of the most accomplished players in Division II. The back-to-back reigning GLIAC Player of the Year hit .348 last season while leading the league with 17 home runs and driving in 43 runs. Her 30 career homers rank second among active NCAA Division II players, and she has been equally dominant on the defensive side, committing just ten errors over 152 career games in the Green and Black.
 
The Rangers' lineup will feature a blend of proven production and emerging talent. Ava Swain returns after an impressive freshman season in which she hit .304 with eight extra-base hits and posted an on-base percentage north of .400. Behind the plate, senior Megan Medlin provides stability and leadership after starting all 53 games last season, throwing out ten would-be base stealers. Taylor Utrata and Reese Valha also return after appearing in nearly every game a year ago.
 
In the circle, Parkside will feature some new faces, but the staff will be anchored by senior Ellie Curtis. Curtis is coming off a career-best season in 2025, posting a 2.71 ERA with a 10–4 record over 19 starts. She recorded five shutouts and 10 complete games, striking out 67 batters across 106 innings while holding opponents to a .258 batting average.
 
The 2026 roster includes seven freshmen and four transfers, all expected to play key roles as the season progresses. Parkside was picked fourth in the GLIAC preseason poll, finishing just two points behind Ferris State for third.
 
Parkside opens the 2026 season on February 18 at the Rosemont Dome Tournament at the Ballpark at Rosemont. The Rangers begin the year with a 6 p.m. matchup against Lewis before closing opening night against Missouri S&T. After six games in Rosemont, Parkside heads to Marion, Illinois, and the Oasis Sports Complex for another six-game weekend. A demanding non-conference schedule continues with trips to Missouri, Ohio, and Illinois before the Rangers return to Kenosha for their home and GLIAC opener on March 21 against Grand Valley State.
 
The Rangers are scheduled to play 16 home games in 2026 at the Case Softball Complex. All Parkside home games and GLIAC contests will once again be streamed live on FloCollege, with Dominic Liacone serving as the primary play-by-play voice for home broadcasts. Links to live coverage will be available throughout the season at ParksideRangers.com/coverage.