There’s been an invasion of youth onto the diamonds in Eugene.
Both Oregon’s softball and baseball teams have benefited early in their seasons from powerful freshmen — on the mound and also on the basepaths. Both have high expectations, but the rookies involved aren’t holding them back. They’re leading the charge.
At Jane Sanders Stadium, it’s freshmen who are powering the top of head coach Melyssa Lombardi’s lineup.
Rylee McCoy led all Ducks with a .489 batting average entering the month of March and a team-high nine home runs in her first season with the team. A California native, McCoy went 3-4 against San Diego State University on Feb. 21 in her best outing of the season.
Stefini Ma’ake smashed eight home runs in her first 52 at-bats in 2025, accumulating a .355 batting average. A high-school home run derby winner, Ma’ake has continued that trend at Oregon. Batting cleanup behind Kai Luschar, Dezianna Patmon and McCoy, she registered a hit in 15 of her first 20 games.
Catcher Emma Cox only adds to Oregon’s mountain of young talent. She comes from the same club team as current teammates Paige Sinicki and Ma’ake. Before suffering an injury against Portland State that ruled her out for the Oregon Classic, Cox was the first Duck to earn a weekly honor from the Big Ten, when she was named Freshman of the Week after a starring role during Oregon’s 5-0 run at the UNLV Desert Classic.
Behind the plate, she has been secure — just two errors through 16 games before her injury have amply bridged the gap after the Ducks lost veteran 2024 catcher Emma Kauf to graduation.
“I think what’s great about (the freshmen) is that they can be coached in a lot of different ways,” Oregon softball associate head coach Sam Marder said. “They’re energetic, they can be coached hard, they’re incredibly accountable. They’re going to make a lasting impact on this program.”
Across the Willamette River, Oregon baseball is going player-for-player with Lombardi’s group. Head coach Mark Wasikowski has stocked his bullpen with new arms and loaded the diamond with talent to back them up.
Pitchers Will Sanford and Kellan Knox both made their first appearances during the Ducks’ season-opening series against the University of Toledo. The two appeared in the fourth matchup of the weekend, where Sanford started in a 6-1 win.
Wasikowski called Sanford’s performance, “Just okay,” after the win — but admitted that that was only because he’s seen better from the rookie in practice.
Sanford, meanwhile, praised Knox, who he called, “A dog,” and said, “He’s always working for us. He has the mentality where he’s just going to attack you. He doesn’t care who’s in the box…I feel confident with this whole staff.”
Opposite the arms, it’s been all about catchers Burke-Lee Mabeus and Coen Niclai. Mabeus was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week after Oregon’s series win over Rhode Island University, where he boosted the Ducks to victory with a grand slam in a 15-2 win and registered eight RBIs over the weekend.
Niclai, meanwhile, joined the Ducks despite being drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 15th round last year. He started for Oregon in games against Rhode Island and Toledo, before smacking his first-career homer against Columbia. He’ll likely have to split time with Mabeus — and returner Chase Meggers — behind the dish, but it’s not a worry for their coach.
“They’re just both really good,” Wasikowski said of Mabeus and Niclai. “We’re lucky to have them both and they’ve caught extremely well…they don’t feel like freshmen back there.”
That might be the highest praise of all.
