PIEDMONT, Okla. - Jets Softball will travel to Piedmont to face East Central University for the first three games of the season. The games are scheduled for Thursday at 4 and 6 PM, and Friday at 1 PM. The weather forecast for the weekend has forced the teams to shift the dates forward one day. Piedmont High School will be the neutral host institution for all three games. 

The Jets are back and ready to go. The team has been preparing for this moment. Andrea Gustafson, who is entering her 5th season as a Jet head coach with a 66-151 record, has armed the team with a roster of 14 new players that are pumped to make their mark on the field. The 12 returning players will be key for this year's program. Building a winning culture after the 2023 season left the Jets hungry for more victories with a 17-39 record.

Senior pitcher Jackie Gold comes back one last time after a 4.74 ERA, 73 Ks, and 8 wins last season. Another senior that wants to go out with a bang is infielder, Anissa Ramos. She recorded a .282 batting average and 49 hits. Junior Madi Canez will look to maintain her good form after leading the team with 29 RBIs, and totaling 43 hits and 3 home runs. Another player to watch is junior Gianna Navarro. 
 
After being voted in the ALL-MIAA Honorable Mention team for the second straight year and leading the team with a .376 batting average and 70 hits, Navarro will be a player to keep an eye on throughout the season. 
 
The Tigers of East Central had a record of 21-27 last season. They finished their 2023 campaign losing to Harding in the GAC conference tournament. Head coach Destini Anderson has been very successful in the 18 seasons she has led the team. Her record (407-400-2) speaks for itself. The Tigers were voted 8th in the GAC preseason coaches' poll.
 
Some returning players to look out for are seniors, Gabi Quintanilla, who was voted in the GAC Honorable Mention team, and had a .336 batting average and 48 hits. Megan Lesko, who was also voted in the Honorable Mention team, averaged .317, had 46 hits, and 5 home runs. Taryn O'Brien, who led the team with a 3.42 ERA and 47 Ks. Sophomore Elyse LeClair is also someone to look out for after she led the team in batting average (.338) and in hits (53). 
 
The Jets had a 4-8 neutral record last season, while the Tigers lost both of the neutral games they played.
 
After this opening series, the Jets will head to Bentonville, AR to compete in the Alvy Early Memorial Classic. 
 
The Jets will have their home opener on February 14th, hosting local rivals Friends in a midweek doubleheader.