WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College’s softball team is prepared for the 2025 season under new leadership for the Lancers.
Grace enters the season under the tutelage of former Lancer standout Bethany Carpenter. Carpenter was tabbed as the interim coach for the 2025 season; she will be joined on staff by fellow Grace alums Cassie Hayes, Bri Flanegan and Jeri Ellis.
“As a coaching staff, we are very competitive,” commented Carpenter. "We are here to win games and have made it clear to the players that this year won’t be viewed as a year off. We are very proud of how they have adapted that approach.”
The Lancers boast a full complement of upperclassmen and return eight players who made significant starts last season.
Tia O’Connor started in all 44 games for the Lancers a year ago and led the team with 15 extra base hits and was second on the team for RBIs (18). She was also a steady presence at third base and boasted a .931 fielding percentage.
Bela Duran returns for her senior season after playing both middle infield positions over her first three years. She has seen over 100 career starts and has a career fielding percentage of .917. Last season she had a breakout campaign from the plate as she hit at a .306 clip. She earned All-Crossroads League honorable mention last season.
Also returning for a sophomore campaign is Halle Nett who played all 44 games for the Lancers in the shortstop position. She secured a high spot in Grace’s batting lineup and also led the Lancers in stolen bases.
Grace also returns Chloe Huff who pitched 82 innings during her freshman season. Huff led the team with a 4.72 ERA while racking up 43 strikeouts. Sage Ladig will also make a return to the circle for Grace.
“All of our upperclassmen have a lot of talent and have played a lot of games for us,” Carpenter added. “We are excited to see how they propel us into the year with their talent and leadership.”
Grace will also bolster its lineup with a trio of newcomers. Izzy Waddle and Sami Lemler are a pair of two-way freshmen, and Daylie Rickard transferred from NCAA Division II Malone after hitting .368 for the Pioneers a year ago.
“We want to focus on playing our best softball each and every game regardless of the opponent,” Carpenter raved. “This team has so much talent and has put in the work all year. We are excited to see how it pays off once we start playing games.”
The Lancers will begin the season on Friday against Johnson C. Smith, which will start a six game road trip in North Carolina. Grace’s first home game is scheduled for March 21 against Taylor.

Grace Selected To Host NAIA First And Second Rounds
WINONA LAKE, Ind. - For the third straight year, Grace College was selected as a host site for the NAIA First and Second Rounds for men’s basketball.
The Lancers will welcome three other teams to the Winona Lake Bracket on March 14-15. The Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center will host a pair of games on March 14. The winner of the two games will play in the NAIA Second Round on March 15.
The winner of the Winona Lake Bracket will earn a spot to the NAIA’s final site in Kansas City, Mo.
The NAIA will announce the complete 64-team field and bracket on March 6, which will reveal the teams coming to Winona Lake.
Grace has now hosted for three consecutive years as part of the NAIA National Championships. It marks the first three times that Grace has hosted as part of the NAIA’s championship tournament.
“We are extremely honored and humbled to be selected as an NAIA host site. We look forward to showcasing the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center and our community in Kosciusko County,” said Grace Director of Athletics Chad Briscoe. “We are excited to welcome the selected three teams and their fans to our campus and look forward to creating a first-class environment for the tournament.”
The Lancers just clinched their third straight regular season championship in the Crossroads League.
Grace is the No. 1 seed in the CL Tournament and is in the midst of hosting the CL Tournament. The Lancers will host Indiana Wesleyan on Friday at 7 p.m. in the semifinals.
With a win, Grace would host the tournament championship game on Monday at 7 p.m.
To purchase tickets to Grace’s postseason games, visit www.gclancers.com/tickets. To watch Grace’s tournament games, watch online at www.gclancers.com/live.