Lady Matadors open season ranked, split opener at home
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Arizona Western College softball team opened the 2026 season with national recognition ranked 24th in the NJCAA Division I preseason poll, the only team from the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) to crack the Top 25.
But inside the Lady Matadors’ clubhouse, preseason rankings don’t mean much.
After a 33–23 season a year ago that ended with a Region I championship and a trip to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Yuma, head coach Joel Prickett says this group knows exactly what matters.
Arizona Western split its season opener Friday against the College of Southern Idaho at Charlie Dine Field, a reminder that nothing comes easy once the games begin to count.
One of the familiar faces back for the Matadors is Yuma native Laisha Ibarra, who says having local players on the roster helps keep the team grounded.
Ibarra says the community support around the program makes Arizona Western feel like home especially for teammates coming from out of town or even out of the country.
That sense of family extends well beyond the local players. Analy Trejo, a sophomore pitcher from El Paso, Texas, says the program and the Yuma community have given her opportunities she didn’t even know she needed.
International players are feeling that same support. Léa Fréchette, a sophomore from Quebec, Canada, says the Arizona Western softball family includes not just teammates and coaches, but the entire community around the program.
On the field, Prickett believes depth could be the difference this season.
While Arizona Western lost some key contributors from last year’s run, Prickett says this roster is deeper across the board, especially in the circle and on the bases. But expectations remain the same.
Rankings in January are nice. Wins in May are what matter.
Arizona Western continues its opening weekend schedule at home, with the Matadors looking to build momentum early and prove that their Top 25 ranking belongs on the dirt, not just on paper.
