Tristin McTavish (Photo via LRSC)
The softball program at Lake Region State College is adding 11 freshmen to its roster for the upcoming school year.
That brings the roster total to 17, up from last year’s 14.
Eight of the 11 recruits come from Canada. Of the remaining three, two are from North Dakota and one is from Wyoming.
LRSC had three pitchers throw enough innings to qualify last year. Zero of those pitchers are still with the team, so finding pitching will likely be the focus for this new class.
At least six of the Royals’ new players have significant pitching experience on their resumes. Kamryn Allard, Tristin McTavish and Ireland Schmidt are listed primarily as pitchers.
Allard is the closest to home, coming from Bottineau, N.D. She made Bottineau’s varsity team when she was in seventh grade. She also competed in basketball, volleyball and track and field.
McTavish is a pitcher from Hamiota, Manitoba, while Schmidt is a pitcher from Regina, Saskatchewan.
Some of the other freshmen who at least have some varsity pitching experience include Payton Durand, Katie Haakenson and Sadie Mason.
Durand, a Winnipeg native, was named the Manitoba high school female athlete of the year at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in June. She was also the Manitoba High School Athletic Association AAAA female athlete of the year. She was a five-sport athlete in high school, and she’ll be joining the LRSC women’s hockey team as well.
In softball, Durand is listed as an infielder and pitcher.
Haakenson is the other in-state addition alongside Allard. She’s from Tioga, N.D., and is listed as a pitcher and a shortstop. In 2024, she hit .472/.623/.731 while stealing 51 bases, per the Williston Herald. Her performance earned her an invite to the Cup International Softball Tournament in the Netherlands.
Mason is the lone freshman from a U.S. state besides North Dakota. She comes to LRSC from Gillette, Wyo. She’s listed as a pitcher, second baseman and outfielder.
Ella Harkness, from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, is a middle infielder who also joins the hockey team with Durand. Faith Spence, meanwhile, is listed as a corner infielder from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Leta Schulz, from Carnduff, Saskatchewan, previously played with the South East Sun Devils Softball Club in her home province. Cass Lachance, another Winnipeg native, played for Minnesota Elite Fastpitch in Elk River, Minn., during the 2023-24 season.
Kaell Klisowsky comes to the Royals from Dysart, Saskatchewan. She’s one of three Saskatchewanians in the recruiting class to complement the five from Manitoba.
LRSC went just 10-39 last year, including a 4-19 mark in conference play. The last time the softball team had a winning record was the 2017-18 season.
Its 17 total players, though, would be tied for the most it’s ever had on a roster with the 2022-23 team. That squad went 9-33 overall, 7-17 in conference play and 4-11 in region play.
The full spring softball schedule is yet to be finalized.
