Redhawks Picked First in 2025 OVC Softball Predicted Order of Finish
1/30/2025 1:08:00 PM | Softball
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – For the fifth time in six years, Southeast Missouri is the Ohio Valley Conference preseason favorite. SEMO was picked first in the league's annual predicted order of finish ahead of the 2025 campaign which opens in two weeks.
SEMO, which went 28-26 overall and 19-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference a year ago, won the 2024 OVC Tournament and made its third NCAA Division I Softball Tournament appearance.
The Redhawks accumulated 152 points and nine of the possible 20 first-place votes in the balloting among the league's head coaches and communication directors.
Prior to 2025, SEMO was also tabbed the OVC preseason favorite in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024.
Southern Indiana is second with 140 points and six first-place nods, while Eastern Illinois rounds out the top three with the remaining five first-place votes and 139 total points.
Tennessee State (107 pts.), Tennessee Tech (82 pts.), Lindenwood (80 pts.), UT Martin (74 pts.), SIU Edwardsville (73 pts.), Morehead State (30 pts.) and Western Illinois (23 pts.) complete the poll.
Senior first baseman Aubrie Shore is among the OVC Softball Players to Watch. A native of Mahomet, Illinois, Shore garnered Second-Team All-OVC honors in 2024. She hit .338 with a team-high 16 doubles, 54 hits and 32 RBI as the only Redhawk who started every game.
Mark Redburn is in his 11th year as SEMO's head coach. Since 2019, Redburn has led the Redhawks to three OVC regular-season championships, two OVC Tournament titles and two NCAA Tournament berths.
2025 OVC Softball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Southeast Missouri (9) - 152
2. Southern Indiana (6) - 140
3. Eastern Illinois (5) - 139
4. Tennessee State - 107
5. Tennessee Tech -82
6. Lindenwood - 80
7. UT Martin - 74
8. SIUE - 73
9. Morehead State - 30
10. Western Illinois - 23
2025 OVC Softball Players to Watch
Eastern Illinois
Briana Gonzalez, Sr., IF, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Lindenwood
Irelynn West, Sr., OF, Kansas City, Mo
Morehead State
Darlene Montoya, Sr., OF, San Bernardino, Calif.
Southeast Missouri
Aubrie Shore, Sr., 1B, Mahomet, Ill.
Southern Indiana
Josie Newman, Sr., P, Indianapolis, Ind.
SIUE
Lauryn Yslava, Sr., OF, Gilroy, Calif.
Tennessee State
Anayah Baker-Rowell, Gr., 3B, Douglassville, Ga.
Tennessee Tech
1B, Sydney Kirby, Sr., 1B, Cypress, Texas
UT Martin
Kennedy Brown, Jr., 3B, Lexington, Tenn.
Western Illinois
Rylee Boone, Jr., OF, LaCygne, Kan.
SEMO opens its season at the Troy University Cardinal Clash Feb. 13-15.
SEMO, which went 28-26 overall and 19-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference a year ago, won the 2024 OVC Tournament and made its third NCAA Division I Softball Tournament appearance.
The Redhawks accumulated 152 points and nine of the possible 20 first-place votes in the balloting among the league's head coaches and communication directors.
Prior to 2025, SEMO was also tabbed the OVC preseason favorite in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024.
Southern Indiana is second with 140 points and six first-place nods, while Eastern Illinois rounds out the top three with the remaining five first-place votes and 139 total points.
Tennessee State (107 pts.), Tennessee Tech (82 pts.), Lindenwood (80 pts.), UT Martin (74 pts.), SIU Edwardsville (73 pts.), Morehead State (30 pts.) and Western Illinois (23 pts.) complete the poll.
Senior first baseman Aubrie Shore is among the OVC Softball Players to Watch. A native of Mahomet, Illinois, Shore garnered Second-Team All-OVC honors in 2024. She hit .338 with a team-high 16 doubles, 54 hits and 32 RBI as the only Redhawk who started every game.
Mark Redburn is in his 11th year as SEMO's head coach. Since 2019, Redburn has led the Redhawks to three OVC regular-season championships, two OVC Tournament titles and two NCAA Tournament berths.
2025 OVC Softball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Southeast Missouri (9) - 152
2. Southern Indiana (6) - 140
3. Eastern Illinois (5) - 139
4. Tennessee State - 107
5. Tennessee Tech -82
6. Lindenwood - 80
7. UT Martin - 74
8. SIUE - 73
9. Morehead State - 30
10. Western Illinois - 23
2025 OVC Softball Players to Watch
Eastern Illinois
Briana Gonzalez, Sr., IF, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Lindenwood
Irelynn West, Sr., OF, Kansas City, Mo
Morehead State
Darlene Montoya, Sr., OF, San Bernardino, Calif.
Southeast Missouri
Aubrie Shore, Sr., 1B, Mahomet, Ill.
Southern Indiana
Josie Newman, Sr., P, Indianapolis, Ind.
SIUE
Lauryn Yslava, Sr., OF, Gilroy, Calif.
Tennessee State
Anayah Baker-Rowell, Gr., 3B, Douglassville, Ga.
Tennessee Tech
1B, Sydney Kirby, Sr., 1B, Cypress, Texas
UT Martin
Kennedy Brown, Jr., 3B, Lexington, Tenn.
Western Illinois
Rylee Boone, Jr., OF, LaCygne, Kan.
SEMO opens its season at the Troy University Cardinal Clash Feb. 13-15.
Players Mentioned
INF
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