The Umatilla High School Lady Bulldogs Softball team celebrated their senior night recently. What a year it has been for Umatilla High School! This group of ladies has impressed us this year with some amazing moments. Senior night provided even more memories as families, friends, coaches, and the community gathered to celebrate these ladies’ accomplishments. This team of seniors have truly put Umatilla Softball on the map the past few years.

(#7 Danika Jones walks with her family. Jones is signed to play for Lake-Sumter State College in 2025.)

For Umatilla High School, this is a big senior class that is graduating. The seniors included Brooke Moss, Maddie Delpizzo, Camryn Bowcott, Danika Jones, Brooke Chatam, Kiersten Taylor, Bandi Rigdon, Carleigh Scott, Kiley Haugland, and Mackenzie Stoe.

All of these ladies have contributed to the team, and they were celebrated with love and support for their future endeavors. Danika Jones is the leading senior for batting average. #7 has been terrific this year in the batter’s box. She has 24 hits, 8 RBIs, and 18 runs scored. #1 Brooke Moss has taken 62 at-bats and has 23 hits along with 9 RBIs; she has 15 runs scored. Camryn Bowcott has 14 hits, 11 RBIs, and 15 runs scored. Kiersten Taylor has 13 hits and 13 runs scored.

(The 2024 Umatilla Bulldogs still have unfinished business this year but they have built a great legacy. They have left a solid foundation for the future of the program.)

So many others have contributed to the team in so many more ways than on the field. Carleigh Scott has 27 strikeouts on the mound this season and has pitched 64 innings. She, along with Cameryn Bowcott, has also taken the mound at times this season, pitching 21 innings with 14 strikeouts.

This is a team of leaders who have done a great job at Umatilla High School. Underclassmen like Mittie O’Brien, Jaelyn Larsen, Chloe Rumford, and others will now see a much different team come into the picture for 2024 and 2025. The Junior Varsity Lady Bulldogs have looked fantastic this year. They have an 11-2 record. I got to talk to some of the girls during the game against The Villages a few weeks ago, and they are chomping at the bit to play Varsity softball next year.

(Senior Cameryn Bowcott takes her senior night walk with her family.)

Also, a big shoutout to the junior varsity Umatilla Lady Bulldogs who were all busy doing homework after their game against The Villages in the grandstands, supporting the varsity team. That was so great to see and just shows the work that Umatilla High School is putting in for their student-athletes. As soon as these girls were done, it was straight back to the books. Rulers, laptops, and calculators were all over the place, so the future looks bright for the team.

(There was plenty of love and memories to be shared on senior night. Many of these girls have been playing together since elementary school. Tears of joy were certainly shed.)

We also have to give a shoutout to coach Jessica Meier, Josh Clark, and Randy Craft, who have stabilized this program. This is only the second time in modern history that Umatilla High has won 10 games in a season. The best season was two years ago when they won 12 games as a team.

This gives great hope for the future of the program. The work being put in by all parties at Umatilla High is the reason for the success. From Principal Brent Frazier to Patrick Todd and so many others who are truly changing Umatilla High School for the better. We love to see it!”

Photos Provided By – KD Photography